How to Cut Back Honeysuckle

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Overview

Honeysuckle vines and shrubs can be a blessing, with their fragrant blossoms and flourishing growth habit. They can also be a curse, growing out of control easily and becoming difficult to remove from the ground. To keep them in check, prune your honeysuckle plants in the winter.

Step 1

Cut back the top of the plant with pruning shears until about 2 feet of growth remains at the base. Use a ladder if necessary to reach taller parts of the plant.

Step 2

Spread 2 or 3 inches of mulch around the base of the plant to prevent weed growth and to conserve water. The plant will need extra hydration after being cut back.

Step 3

Collect all of the pruned sections and discard them. They aren't suitable for compost piles.

Things You'll Need

Gardening gloves
Pruning shears
Pruning scissors
Ladder
Mulch
Trash bin

References

Pruning Flowering Shrubs and Vines
Trimming Back Honeysuckle
Caring for Honeysuckle

Keywords: pruning honeysuckle, caring for honeysuckle, trimming back flowering vines

About this Author

Lauren Wise is a journalism major from Arizona State University with over forty published magazine and media articles and over 400 Web site articles. Wise owns Midnight Publishing with over eight years experience as a writer, editor, copywriter and columnist. She specializes in food and wine, music and pop culture. Her writing has appeared in magazines including Runway, A2Z, Scottsdale Luxury Living and True West.