How to Grow Honeysuckle Hedge - Plant Care & Tips

By NorwichGardener Team   /   2024

Honeysuckle hedge is a beautiful and easy to grow plant that can make any garden look great. They are known for their sweet fragrance and beautiful flowers.

How to Grow Honeysuckle Hedge - Plant Care & Tips

Popular name

  • Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle family)
  • Lonicera (genus)
  • L. japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)
  • L. x bella (bell honeysuckle)
  • L. x purpusii (purple-flowered honeysuckle)

Things to Know

  • A honeysuckle hedge can provide your home with privacy and security.
  • A honeysuckle hedge can also provide your home with a natural windbreak.
  • Planting a honeysuckle hedge is a great way to attract butterflies and other pollinators to your garden.
  • Honeysuckle hedges are relatively easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions.
  • Honeysuckle hedges can be pruned to maintain a desired shape and size.
  • Honeysuckle hedges are relatively drought tolerant once they are established.
  • Honeysuckle hedges can be susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, so it is important to choose a healthy plant and to monitor it regularly for problems.
  • Honeysuckle hedges can provide your home with years of beauty and enjoyment.
  • Honeysuckle hedges can be an excellent choice for those who are looking for an alternative to traditional evergreen hedges.
  • Honeysuckle hedges can be an excellent addition to any home landscape.

Related plant:
Northern Bush Honeysuckle

Growing Steps

  1. For honeysuckle hedge, first step is to clear the area where you want to plant it.
  2. Loosen the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches (30 cm).
  3. Add some organic matter to the soil, such as compost or manure.
  4. Create a raised bed if necessary.
  5. Place the plants 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm) apart.
  6. Dig a hole that is twice the width of the plant’s root ball.
  7. Place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil.
  8. Water the plants deeply.
  9. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plants.
  10. Prune the plants regularly to encourage new growth.

Related plant:
Amur Honeysuckle

The Soil

About soil condition, a honeysuckle hedge will do just fine in average garden soil as long as it is not allowed to dry out. If your soil is on the sandy side, consider adding some organic matter to help retain moisture.

Light requirement

Like the other honeysuckle plants, the hedge version of this species also requires full sun to partial shade in order to prosper. If you live in an area with very hot summers, it’s best to plant your hedge in a spot that gets some afternoon shade.

The Temperature

The temperature condition of the honeysuckle hedge is warm. The average temperature of the honeysuckle hedge is warm. The temperature of the honeysuckle hedge is determined by the temperature of the air and the amount of sunlight that the honeysuckle hedge receives.

Humidity Level

Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 70%. If the humidity drops below this, the leaves will start to wilt and the plant will become stressed. If the humidity gets too high, the leaves will start to yellow and the plant will become susceptible to fungal diseases.

Fertilizer Requirement

Discussing fertilizer, usually the plant type is not as important as the nutrients the fertilizer contains. However, when discussing a honeysuckle hedge, the type of fertilizer is very important. A honeysuckle hedge is a fast-growing, woody shrub that can reach up to 15 feet in height. It has a shallow root system, so it does not need a lot of fertilizer. In fact, too much fertilizer can actually harm the plant. The best fertilizer for a honeysuckle hedge is a slow-release, balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Light requirement

Pruning your honeysuckle hedge is important to encourage new growth and maintain the overall health of the plant. When pruning, be sure to cut at an angle just above a node (where the leaves attach to the stem). This will encourage new growth to emerge from the node.

Plant Propagation

Propagation is typically done through cuttings taken from the parent plant. The cuttings should be about 6 inches long and taken from new growth. The bottom 2 inches of the cutting should be submerged in water. After a few weeks, the cutting should have roots and can be planted in soil.

Plant Growth

Usually, the plant growth rate plants are fast growers, so you'll need to prune them regularly to keep them from getting too large. If you let them grow unchecked, they can quickly become overgrown and difficult to control.

Basic Problems

Common problems for this kind of plant are scale, Crown Gall, and root rot. The best way to avoid these problems is to plant your hedge in a well-drained area and to water it regularly. If you notice any of these problems, you should contact a professional immediately.

List to Know

  • Remember to water your honeysuckle hedge regularly, especially when it is first getting established.
  • Fertilize your hedge a few times a year to help it stay healthy and grow thick and lush.
  • Prune your hedge regularly to keep it shaping and to encourage new growth.
  • Mulch around your honeysuckle hedge to help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
  • Place your hedge in an area that gets full sun for best growth.
  • Be sure to plant your hedge at the correct depth, leaving the roots uncovered.
  • Space your plants evenly when planting to ensure they have room to grow.
  • Do not overcrowd your honeysuckle hedge, as this can lead to problems with air circulation and growth.
  • When choosing a location for your hedge, be sure to consider the size of the mature plants so that they will not outgrow the space.

Similar Plants

  • Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
  • Common Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
  • Sweet Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica)
  • Honeysuckle rose (Rosa x hybrida)
  • Berberis buxifolia honeysuckle (Berberis buxifolia)
  • Bigleaf Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
  • Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis)
  • Evergreen Honeysuckle (Lonicera purpusii)
  • Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
  • European Honeysuckle (Lonicera x purpusii)

Source:
Shrub Honeysuckle: Accurate Identification - Penn State Extension
Honeysuckle - uaex.uada.edu
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