Common Mistakes to Avoid when Growing Honeysuckle Vine

The honeysuckle vine is a flowering vine with trumpet shaped flowers that produce a lovely honey-like scent and sweet nectar that many people like to drink. The flowers also attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This type of vine is easy to grow if correctly planted and maintained. To grow a thriving honeysuckle vine, it's important to avoid these common mistakes.

Planting Too Late in the Season

Honeysuckle vines should be planted during the spring in cooler climates because their roots thrive when cool and shaded. Make sure to wait until the final frost before planting them. Plant them in a soil depth of 18 inches and lay organic fertilizer, like compost, over the top 3 inches.

These vines should be planted where they'll grow in full sun or at least partial sun.

Too Much or Too Little Water

This type of vine is sensitive to the amount of water and moisture it receives. Once planted, it will need a considerable amount of water to help it grow. But when summer arrives, the honeysuckle will only need small amounts of water during very dry spells. To help retain moisture, be sure to mulch the base of the plant heavily. A 2-inch layer of dried leaves, pine needles or shredded bark is ideal.

Incorrect Use of Fertilizer

At the beginning of the growing season, add a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) around the base of the plant. Make sure you choose one that is controlled release. In midsummer, fertilize again with a balanced formula liquid fertilizer to encourage the flowers to continue to bloom.

Be especially careful not to fertilize too much. Too much fertilizer will cause the foliage to thrive, but there won't be many flowers. Keep the soil pH between 6.1 and 7.8.

Poor Timing When Pruning

Allow plants to become well established before pruning. Pruning them too early can either kill the vines or reduce the number of blooms the vine produces. The vine should be allowed to grow for two years before pruning. Older shoots on established plants should be removed during the spring to encourage later flowering. It's safe to cut the plant back 1/3 for a major pruning.

Late February to March are the ideal times to prune most honeysuckle vines. Prune very lightly during the growing season to encourage new growth. With light pruning, only remove old and bloomed-out flowers.

Inadequate Ventilation

Honeysuckle vines are prone to powdery mildews and molds. To reduce the chance of this happening, it's important to make sure there is adequate air movement around the plants. Always plant in open air.

Improper Support

Most honeysuckle vines are grown with support systems although sometimes they're grown as ground cover for erosion control. If using support systems, it's important to use them correctly.

The trellis or arbor should be in place before planting to avoid damaging the plant. Plant the vine 6 to 12 inches away from the support to allow enough room for it to grow. Once the vine starts climbing the support system, tie it to the arbor or trellis with strong, stretchy materials like strips of old nylon hosiery. Cross the material between the stem and the support system to prevent the stems from rubbing together.