Old honeysuckes

[workhorse]

I have an old honeysuckle which has grown to the top our a trellis with no growth at all for the first five feet.. Can I cut this down to soil level, and if so, will it shoot again, or will the old wood stop this happening.

[smallblueplanet]

Can't see why not, it just might take a while? If you don't want to cut it back could you grow a smaller clematis or suchlike up the lower bare stem?

[lainey lou]

If you don't want to cut it back could you grow a smaller clematis or suchlike up the lower bare stem?

What a great idea, nice one SBP.

[workhorse]

Great idea; only trouble, its in a pot, so the idea was to remove it from the pot and plant it in the garden, hence the cutting it right back, and letting it start again, but this time with a bit more growth control.

[srodders]

I moved house just over a year ago. There was a plant (one of many) that was REALLY wild, with no decent new growth and looking very sorry fo itself. I cut it down to near enough ground level (left about 4" above ground) and left it, thinking it would be dead and I would dig it up when I got chance.

Anyway, it grew about 6 foot last year and is a lovely honeysuckle. Shame it's not in the right place so I have to dig it up anyway but have taken several cuttings.

[workhorse]

Hi Srodders

Well, that's given me heart, because I felt sure, knowing my luck, that I would cut mine down, never to be seen again.

I can now attack it with a clear mind knowing I stand a chance.

Out of interest; was the stem of your Honeysuckle old and hard.

[srodders]

The stem was about 15mm in diameter and hard wood. Leave a few inches above ground for the new shoots to grow from and you should be fine. I did the same with two old climbing roses over an arch. They grew all over the arch last year but no flowers - hopefully this year they will be full of flowers on the new shoots just showing.

My theory is, if it's no good as it is cut it down and see what happens. If it doesn't grow, get rid of it - it was no good anyway, if it does grow it's a bonus.