How to Grow Japanese Honeysuckle
- 1). Choose a location that has a structure or trellis where the Japanese honeysuckle can grow. If you don’t give the plant something to climb, it may spread out until it finds a tree or brush to climb, and hurt the tree or brush in the process. If you are growing it on a property fence, make sure that the fence extends into the ground, as Japanese Honeysuckle can propagate beneath fences and spread to a neighbor’s property. Ensure that the location of the plant will have a decent amount of sunlight. While Japanese Honeysuckle can survive in the shade, it needs a least a few hours of sunlight each day.
- 2). Plant the bulb of the Japanese honeysuckle just below the surface of the soil. Fill in the hole with soil and water, letting the bottom settle in the water before adding the rest of the soil.
- 3). Apply a layer of compost at the start of every spring. The compost should cover the base of the plant. Also place a layer of mulch around the plant each spring to help retain moisture.
- 4). Water the Japanese honeysuckle once a week, unless the area has received at least an inch of rainfall. If you do water it, drench the area once a week rather than lightly watering it every day.
- 5). Prune the berries as they appear, long before they mature. If you let them mature, the seeds in the berries will spread throughout your garden and you will end up with much more honeysuckle than you wanted. Prune the tips of the plant to maintain its shape during summer. Prune it again at the start of winter, to the ground if necessary, to control its growth.
