How to prune honeysuckle

When to prune honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is generally pruned after the leaves fall in autumn and before sprouting in spring, cutting off crossing branches, drooping branches, dead branches, weak branches, diseased branches, dense branches, etc., and also cutting off old branches to promote new branches.

Honeysuckle can be propagated by cuttings all year round, and the survival rate is highest in spring and autumn. When propagating, you need to pick 10-15 cm strong branches and make loose and fertile soil as the substrate. After inserting the branches into the soil, water them every 3 days and maintain them under diffuse light for about half a month, and the branches will sprout.

Honeysuckle pruning

The height of potted honeysuckle must be controlled, otherwise, it is easy to overgrow. When the plant grows to 40 cm, the top branches and leaves should be removed. This will not only help the plant save nutrients, but also promote the germination of side branches.

After honeysuckle blooms, it should be pruned immediately, mainly to remove the remaining flowers in time, and at the same time prune away the dry branches to reduce nutrient consumption and facilitate the subsequent growth of the plant.

Honeysuckle pruning tips

Honeysuckle should be pruned from bottom to top. Its first-level branches are the main trunk, and the second-level branches grow on the first-level branches, and the third-level branches grow on the second-level branches. The new buds and new branches sprouting on the first, second, and third-level branches can bloom a lot. When pruning, the branches above the third level should be cut to four-fifths, leaving only a little.

In addition to cutting off overly long branches, honeysuckle should also be properly thinned out, cutting off crossed and overlapping branches, and ensuring that there is a certain amount of light and air circulation inside.

Honeysuckle pruning and flowering

If you want the honeysuckle to bloom more, you must top it when it grows to a certain height. Usually, the top branches and leaves are picked off when the plant grows to 40 cm to reduce nutrient loss, ensure internal ventilation of the plant, and help flowering.

Precautions for pruning honeysuckle

When cultivating honeysuckle, it must be disinfected before and after pruning. The knife must be disinfected before pruning, and the wounds of the plant need to be disinfected after pruning to avoid infection of the plant.