If you want to spruce up your garden and do something good for nature at the same time, you are making exactly the right choice with honeysuckle. They not only offer natural privacy protection, but also provide food for birds and insects. In addition, the roots of the shrub spread widely, which can strengthen soil that is too loose. So as you can see, this is a very useful garden plant that you should definitely consider. Would you like to plant the fast-growing red honeysuckle? Then our care tips are guaranteed to help you!
The hedge plant likes this location best
In order for a plant to feel comfortable and develop well, it is of course important to give it the best possible conditions while taking your requirements into account. Luckily the red honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum) an extremely adaptable andeasy-care hedge shrub, which even beginner gardeners can try. The following site conditions apply to it in terms of the amount of light and the nature of the soil:
- sunny to shady– the plant is quite tolerant of light conditions
- calcareous, nutrient-rich and permeableare optimal properties, but the shrub also tolerates other soils very well
When and how do you plant the hedge bush?
Spring is the best time to plant the red honeysuckle as it gives it enough time to develop its roots well until winter. The hole you prepare for the plant, which grows one to three meters tall and wide, should be twice the size of the root ball when you remove it from the pot. You should allow three plants per meter for a hedge. It is beneficial if you enrich the soil with nutrients. For this you can incorporate simple compost. Horn shavings are also very suitable as an additive. Dig the hole after placing the plant in it and water it well.
In the beginning, the young plant still needs sufficient moisture and, especially in the first, still fresh, spring months, warmth. You can guarantee both with a simple layer of mulch.
How to care for the red honeysuckle – watering and fertilizer
After you take the newly planted red honeysuckle withCompost and horn shavingsIf you have fertilized them, you no longer need to supply them with nutrients this season. From next year onwards, fertilize the plant only once a year, namely in spring. Horn meal is ideal for this purpose. Make sure the soil is moderately moist. You should not neglect watering, especially in summer, as the soil dries out more quickly, which is not good for the plant.
If you want to grow the plants as a hedge, the right cut at the right time of the year is of course also important. What should be taken into account here?
The plant is also not particularly sensitive when it comes to cutting. This good cutting tolerance also makes it easy for beginners. It is best to give the hedge small topiary cuts after flowering. This is also the best time to thin them out a bit, which will allow more light to penetrate inside. If the hedge is to serve as a privacy screen, opaque growth is desired. You can achieve this by trimming the young shoots from time to time in the first few years.
Is the Lonicera poisonous or can the fruits be eaten?
Despite their simple, yellow-white color, the flowers of the hedge plant are really pretty to look at and also exude a pleasant scent that you can enjoy in May and/or June. Since these flowers produce a lot of nectar, they are a welcome source of foodfor numerous insects, including butterflies, which will additionally decorate your garden.
These impressive flowers then form on the hedge in July or Augustred berries– another beautiful eye-catcher. Families with children or pets in particular ask themselves whether there are concerns about the fruit. The bright red berries attract everyone's attention, look very tempting and can quickly end up in the mouths of small children. Is the red honeysuckle edible?
No, the red honeysuckle is poisonous to humans and some animals and should therefore not be consumed. Birds, on the other hand, love the red berries and like to use them as a source of food.
What else might interest you: Pests, diseases and reproduction
We have already mentioned a few times that honeysuckles are really easy to care for plants. And fortunately, this also applies to pests and diseases. The biggest problem that could arise with this plant is aphids, but they can be controlled quite easily. You can also do something preventative: simply give it plant manure, although nettle manure has proven to be very effective on many plants.
Propagation is also quite easy. For this purpose, simply stick cuttings with a length of 10 to 15 centimeters into soil, but only up to the top bud. It is important that you choose a semi-shady to shady location to avoid drying out due to the heat. Afterwards, always keep the soil, which is ideally rich in humus, moist.
Tipp: If the normal honeysuckle seems a little too big for your garden, you can also choose a short honeysuckle. Such a variety is, for example, 'Clavey's Dwarf' (1 - 1.5 meters).
