Honeysuckle - planting and care outdoors

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Honeysuckle was domesticated by Russian scientists not so long ago. Its berries are known for their unique properties; they perfectly restore the body's strength. Planting honeysuckle and caring for it in the open field have some peculiarities.

Growing conditions

This plant is considered unpretentious, so it does not need special care. Honeysuckle is frost-resistant, as it can easily withstand temperatures down to -50 degrees. Even in spring, during the blooming season, it can withstand frosts down to -7 degrees. And the buds grow even at -14.

The bush bears fruit for many years. And if favorable conditions are provided, it gives a bountiful harvest. The plant can even live in sandy or rocky soil. But to get a good harvest, you need a fertile loose land.

It is advisable to land in an open, bright place. In this case, protection from the wind is needed. Shaded, blown areas are also suitable, but then its development will be slow, and the harvest will not be rich.

Boarding time

The landing date does not really matter. It can be planted in spring and autumn, but you should not do this in May and June, as in these months there is a growth of shoots and ripening of fruits.

In the Urals and Siberia, work is carried out in the fall. In other regions, planting is carried out in the spring after the snow melts. But it is important to be in time before the growing season, which is observed very early.

Landing

Planting honeysuckle and caring for it outdoors is not difficult. And it doesn't matter what is used - seedlings or adult bushes.

Procedure:

1. It is necessary to dig a hole for the plant. It is important that its diameter and depth are 0.5 m each.
2. You need to prepare a bucket of humus. The contents are mixed with potassium salt (200 g), superphosphate (250 g). It is allowed to add 3 liters of vermiculite, which is required to saturate the root system with the required amount of moisture.
3. With the prepared mixture, fill the pit in half, place the seedling. The roots should be spread.
4. The pit is covered with earth until the root collar is closed by 4-5 cm.
5. The soil near the plant is mulched with peat, sawdust, chopped straw.

Planting is carried out at a distance of 2 m. It is important that there is at least 2.5 m between the rows. Compliance with these rules will help to grow a healthy and beautiful plant.

Moistening the soil

With proper planting and care of honeysuckle in the open field, a rich harvest can be expected next year. This plant is considered to be moisture-loving. With sufficient watering, the bush will produce large and tasty berries.

Watering is especially necessary in May and June, when the fruit is being formed. It is important not to save on water. An adult shrub needs at least 3 buckets of liquid. Watering is performed as the earth dries up.

Fertilizer

Honeysuckle, unlike other berry crops, is considered economical. In order for it to grow well and bear fruit, it does not need a large amount of valuable substances. Top dressing is done several times during the season.

The following tools are suitable for this:

1. Mineral nitrogen fertilizers are needed in April - May. At this time, the growth of green mass and the appearance of flowers are observed.
2. Phosphorous - the plant needs in June with active growth and formation of ovaries, from which berries appear. Summer residents who need a shrub for decorative purposes skip this treatment.
3. Potash dressings are required in mid-August - early September. At this time, the rooting of the bushes takes place.

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The rules for the cultivation of fertilizers are indicated on the packaging for each product. It is important to observe the proportions and timing of feeding so as not to harm the plant.

Bush formation

Over time, the plant becomes bushy, so it needs pruning. It is easy to do: it is enough to eliminate all unnecessary things. Broken and dry twigs are removed. Then thinning and harvesting of old shoots is carried out.

Pruning is done in early spring or after the leaves have fallen in the fall. The second procedure is in the spring, before sap flow.

Serious pruning over 2-3 years is unnecessary. During this period, only damaged and excess branches are removed. After 5-6 years, pruning is done every year.

The bush tolerates autumn pruning easily, so if you wish, you can form different geometric shapes. Of the shoots of the first order, only the strong should be left, and the frail ones should be removed. When pruning, keep in mind that the best berries grow on strong young shoots. Wound treatment is optional. But if the branches are thick, it is advisable to use a garden variety.

Is support required

Shrub honeysuckle does not need support. But if it grows in a windy place, you need a reliable large stake, to which some branches should be tied.

Ornamental crops cannot be grown without the use of a support: the branches should cling to something. Trellises, natural barriers, to decorate which such honeysuckle is used as a support: fences, walls, arches.

Transplant rules

If the plant is in the wrong place, then young bushes (up to 6 years old) can be transplanted. The procedure is performed in September. A large pit should be created to which double the feeding rate is added.

The bush must be cut: even the remaining branches must be shortened by 1/3 part, and all the extra ones must be removed. It is best to leave a shrub up to 0.5 m high.

The transplant must be done carefully, since the roots can be located far from the center. The plant is taken out with a lump of earth, placed on a litter. The damaged roots are cut off.

In the created hole, it is necessary to plant a bush at the same depth to which it grew before. All empty areas are filled with fertile soil. Then the soil is watered and mulched.

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Preparing for winter

Honeysuckle is considered a hardy plant. Shelter for the winter is necessary only in the first year. Twigs freezing is possible only in very cold regions. It is necessary to perform sub-winter watering and mulching of the land.

If ornamental climbing plants, they act differently. The bushes need to be removed from the supports and the shoots should be slightly insulated with the help of coniferous spruce branches or spunbond for the winter.

Elimination of pests

In addition to properly planting honeysuckle and caring for it in the open field, you also need to remember about pest control. Most often, honeysuckle is attacked by:

1. Shield. It absorbs useful juice from the trunk, bush stems. If this parasite appears on the plant, the honeysuckle dies without treatment. For prevention, Rogor is used. The procedure is performed after harvesting, 2 times with intervals of 10 days.
2. Caterpillars. They must be collected by hand. If there are too many caterpillars, then the bush should be treated with Eleksar or Intavir.
3. Aphid. It is easy to determine that this parasite has appeared. The leaves turn yellowish, curl, crumble. And new shoots stop growing. From aphids, Confidor, Actellik is used.
4. Ticks. The leaves turn brown, curl. Black plaque and small holes form on their surface. For prevention, pruning of shoots is performed or Mavrik, Tedion are used.
5. Fungi. To eliminate the infection, water (10 l) is used, to which vitriol (10 g), crushed laundry soap (1 tbsp) are added. Shrubs must be processed three times, giving a rest of 5 days.

Honeysuckle is a perennial plant that produces valuable berries. By using them, you can forget about vitamin deficiency. Planting and caring for honeysuckle in the open field will be easy even for beginners, since this plant is unpretentious. It is enough to follow simple rules to get a good harvest.

Summarize

1. Honeysuckle is considered an unpretentious plant, therefore it is suitable even for beginners in gardening.
2. Both seedlings and adult plants are planted.
3. The shrub needs abundant watering.
4. Honeysuckle is not fertilized as often as many other crops.
5. Various preparations are used to eliminate pests.