Honeysuckle bushes - hoping just maybe we'll see growth?
janicej03
7 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (36)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agojanicej03
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Planting blueberry bushes, just a little help�.
Comments (27)Hi Charina, those are good suggestions about using baskets and pots and physical barriers. It’s just that I’ve taken the approach of disturbing the tree roots as little as possible and using small plants so I didn’t have to dig large holes in the root zone of the tree. It is actually very difficult to dig even a small or moderate size hole, let alone a large one. And after much discussion with others who had experience with Silver Maple trees, there really is very little in the way of a physical barrier that could stop their roots. [g] So I’ve taken the approach of right plant right place, thinking there has to be plants that will grow in these conditions. And I haven’t done too bad. After a lot of experimentation, I have Cornus racemosa, Blue hollies, Viburnum ‘Wentworth’, Oakleaf Hydrangea and Clethra all growing well close to the trees. I’m trying to get a Rhododendron established and even that is going better than I expected after a slow start. I think my PH is more an issue with that right now. And I’ve found a number of perennials that do fine. As for the peat being added to the blueberry planting, I’m glad that will be a pretty good solution short term. I wish I had done that with some of my Rhododendron experiments. I may go back and replant a couple of them. I have been reading posts on watering the blueberries with acidified water, adding vinegar to it. Is that something you think would be beneficial and would it have any drawbacks? When you say ‘amend continually’ you mean adding sulfur once a year? I would imagine in the Fall? And if I am adding sulfur once a year, is there going to be any drawbacks to doing that? I read something about salts building up, but I didn’t really understand that conversation. As for fertilization to offset the sawdust mulch, I would be adding organic fertilizer with low NPK composition as a topdressing periodically anyway, so that perhaps will not be a big issue. If I miss the mark somehow, the plant will probably tell me that pretty quickly, would you say? And at the point where it shows any signs of a problem, could I correct it then? Drew, I have never actually lived in a wooded location, I wonder if your experiences are typical of living in such close proximity to so many trees? When I was a kid we moved a lot, maybe 12 times, and never had the roof pierced by a tree or had to have the electrical service replaced even once. [g] I'm glad no one has been hurt. I wonder if you sleep with one eye open. :-)...See MoreDon't worry, we'll be careful with your plants........
Comments (31)newhostalady, if my experience can be a cautionary tale, then, yes, that is a good thing. But they told me that they'd be dropping all the shingles into the dumpster on the driveway and you see what happened in the back. Get things like bird baths, feeders, pots of plants, etc. safely put away because you don't know for sure where things will land, lol. But a solid roof, ....gotta have it, right? Good luck on yours! Phil, I was just thinking that I should get my windows washed because how much worse can it get now with more ladders out there?.....a roofing nail in your shoe, and ilovetogrow finding nails nine months later, those are both good reasons for me to wear better shoes and get a magnet out there. As the plants die back this fall I'll probably be able to find a lot more. Just today I found a piece of shingle and a nail close to one of the bird baths I was filling. For one moment I thought about how bernd said the nail is good for my soil. Then I imagined hitting that nail with my shovel some day and tossed it in the trash. littlebug5, I understand the apprehension that goes with any projects like this. My DH still thinks we need new gutters, ~sigh~. When they built the decks, I got some of that bright caution tape and bamboo stakes. They managed not to ruin some shrubs I had blocked off that way. Maybe that will work for your cherry tree and hydrangea. Good luck to you, too!...See Moremessy looking honeysuckle bushes
Comments (4)Hi Toad, From your description Im guessing they need a really, really good deep watering. When I moved into this house there was an old honeysuckle bush in the backyard that had, apparently, not been watered well for a long, long time. There were a few straggly, terrible looking leaves, and I assumed it was dying for some reason. Because the bush was "dead" in my opinion, when I needed a place to pile all the rock mulch I had to get rid of to plant my perennials, I mounded it up around the bushÂthree feet deep in the middle! Then we got a couple really heavy rains and I noticed the leaves perked up and a few more started growing! I wondered if it was just too dry and if it might still live if it was watered! I laid a hoseÂon top of the rock pileÂright at the center of the bush and left it run on a trickle for over an hour. The bush started growing! IÂm not a big fan of honeysuckle bushes (if they were fragrant it would change my opinion!), but the top of this thing was past the top of my privacy fence, so it helped a little bit to block the neighborÂs bare-dirt-with-3-big-dogs yard! I got rid of the rock when I could find somebody to take itÂtho it didnÂt seem to impede the growth at all once it was watered well! I kept using the "trickle" method of watering about once a month for the rest of that summer, and the thing started growing like gang bustersÂgetting lots of new growth at the bottom! Then my problem was that the original bush had developed a base in 2 places, about 6" apart. I didnÂt really have room for even one of them, and definitely didnÂt have room for two! I cut the one all the way down to the groundÂand it came back (looking better than ever!) I cut it downÂand it came back! I cut it downÂand it came back!!! In other words, cutting yours down to the ground will not get rid of it! I even sprayed it with Roundup onceÂand it still came back! (Not lookin so good by now!) I finally sprayed it again with Roundup and inverted a large, black nursery pot over it. The steam oven effect, combined with the Roundup, finally killed it. IÂm still waiting for the old stumps to rot off, but I have Ajuga growing all around it, so theyÂre not that visible anymore! If youÂre interested in keeping yours, I recommend cutting them down about 1/2 to 2/3rds, and then doing a really deep, trickle watering at each one. Lay the hose right in the middle of the base, turn it on to just barely a trickle, and leave it on for at least an hour. If you want to get rid of it I recommend cutting it all the way down, water it at least some, and wait for new growth to start developing. Then spray it with Roundup and cover it with a big enough black pot! I think using black plastic might work, but I think a pot develops more of an oven effect! With mine, because of my very limited space for perennials, I didnÂt really want a big bush taking up a bunch of space, so I "shaped" mine the way I wanted it! I call it my bonsaiÂd honeysuckle bush! I constantly kept getting new growth at the bottom, so for the last 3 years IÂve kept all the new shoots tied together pretty much up to the top of the fence. It made for a real mess, because all the leaves that were tied together died off and got all over everything! Now itÂs reached above the top of the fence and I just keep any new shoots coming up from the bottom cut off and let the tall ones keep developing. ItÂs 8-10' tall and has become a very effective screen for that corner of the yard. I thought I had a picture of it I could post, but apparently itÂs still in the cameraÂso some day IÂll post it. Now that theyÂre well watered, I lose very, very few leaves during the summer, but one problem I do have with it is that by this time of the year it starts getting mildew. Mostly the problem has been near where the branches are tied together, and I think the mildew will be less and less of a problem now that IÂm starting to leave it branch out the way it wants to so itÂll have more air circulation. AND I always make sure it stays well watered. There are lots of plants growing around the base that get watered, but they have shallow roots, so every now and then I do a trickle watering to be sure the soil is deeply saturated. Whether you decide to keep it or to get rid of it, good luck, Skybird...See MorePruned lilac bush today...is there hope?
Comments (12)I was aiming for a restorative pruning, so I cut the large branches as close to the ground as I could with my pathetic little saw, and cut the 1" and thinner branches to about 30" in height. There does seem to be patches of lilac shoots popping up several feet away from the shrub that I can seem to get rid of, so maybe I didn't kill the thing afterall! If I do end up ditching it, what would grow good in partial sun? This spot stays covered in snow for several weeks in the winter, so it gets plenty of moisture. I thought about digging the whole thing up to make room for more perennials, but I'm working on two other areas right now as well. In the front of my house, facing South, are two unidentified shrubs that grow ridiculously fast, have to be pruned several times every summer, and make my arms itch if I touch them! They have clusters of white blossoms which turn into pea sized white berries. I'll try and post a picture to see it anyone knows what they are. My plan is to replace them with an ornamental grass, maybe "Shenandoah", but I was told to wait until spring to plant that. Last week I pulled up an enormous rose bush in another area that was also too big for the space, and replaced it with a Russian Sage. I still had room left over, so I've ordered a couple of Coreopsis "Creme Brulee". With all the plans and progress I've been making in the flower beds, my yard itself is a mess, but that's another forum, and another long story....See Morefloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years agojanicej03
7 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years agojanicej03
7 years agoLogan L Johnson
7 years agoindianagardengirl
7 years agosam_md
7 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years agojanicej03
7 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years agojanicej03
7 years agoEmbothrium
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agojanicej03
7 years agoEmbothrium
7 years agojanicej03
7 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
7 years agoLogan L Johnson
7 years agojanicej03
7 years agoEmbothrium
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoMike McGarvey
7 years agoEmbothrium
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
7 years agoLogan L Johnson
7 years agoMike McGarvey
7 years agoLogan L Johnson
7 years agoEmbothrium
7 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
7 years agoLogan L Johnson
7 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years agoMike McGarvey
7 years agoEmbothrium
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Northern Bush Honeysuckle, a Bronze Beauty
It helps control erosion and takes sun or shade. The butterflies love it. But the best part of this shrub may be the vivid foliage
Full StoryBLUE AND GRAY FOLIAGEGreat Design Plant: Kintzley's Ghost Honeysuckle
Looking for a versatile plant with beautiful color and texture? This unusual honeysuckle may be just the ticket
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNSee 5 Unexpected Ways to Use Vines
Vines can grow over slopes, trail off pergolas and add seasonal color to the garden
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESThe Quotable Garden: Writings That Will Grab Your Heart
Maybe you’ll see yourself in these reflections. Or maybe you’ll find a whole new way of looking at gardening
Full StoryCONTAINER GARDENSPatio-Perfect Berry Bushes Like You’ve Never Seen
Small enough for pots but offering abundant fruit, these remarkable bred berries are a boon for gardeners short on space
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw
It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES8 Plants That Snobs Love to Hate — and You'll Love to Grow
Don't dismiss these common annuals, perennials and shrubs — there are reasons they've been popular for so long
Full StoryPETSWe Want to See the Most Creative Pet Spaces in the World
Houzz is seeking pet-friendly designs from around the globe. Get out your camera and post your photos now!
Full StoryPETSSee a Deluxe 'Catio' Built for Feline Fun
Sixteen lucky cats get the run of a protected outdoor patio with ramps, steps and even a koi pond
Full StorySTORAGESee a Hollywood Actor's Ship-Inspired Storage That's Boatloads of Cool
All hands on deck to check out this spacious storage and sleeping room featuring a steel gangplank, a pulley system and nautical rope
Full Story
indianagardengirl