What Happens When Mexican Honeysuckle Freezes?

Temperature Range

• Mexican honeysuckle will survive temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. After a cold snap, some or all of the top growth can die back, but the roots, insulated by the soil, will survive and send out new growth in the spring. In areas outside USDA zone 9, where temperatures drop below 20 F, this plant may be killed off at the root level in winter.

After a Freeze

• Resist the urge to cut back or remove Mexican honeysuckle after a hard freeze, even if the plant looks damaged or dead. Pruning will stimulate new growth, making the plant more susceptible to additional winter frosts. After a freeze, water the root zone to hydrate the plant. Avoid fertilizing until spring, or you could stimulate a new flush of tender growth too early in the season.

Pruning Frost Damaged Plants

• In spring, after all danger of frost has passed, look for new growth on the branches. Prune out dead branches. When the whole shrub looks dead, cut it back to the ground using a pair of pruning shears. Look for new shoots coming up from the root zone. Spring is also the best time for general pruning. Mexican honeysuckle tolerates heavy pruning. Cut it back to the desired shape and size and remove any dead wood. Clean your tools before and after pruning to avoid spreading disease. Mix one part bleach with three parts water in a bucket and soak your tools for at least five minutes.

Minimize Frost Damage

• Keeping your Mexican honeysuckle healthy through the growing season will increase its ability to handle a dip in temperature in winter. Apply fertilizer once a year using a complete fertilizer. Late winter, as long as no frosts threaten, or early spring, are the best time to fertilize. Examples of a complete fertilizer include a 10-10-10, 12-4-8 or an 18-6-2 slow-release formula. Use 1/4 cup for each shrub, unless the package label indicates an alternate amount. Sprinkle the fertilizer on the soil in a circle two times the diameter of the shrub. For example, fertilize an 8 foot area surrounding a 4 foot Mexican honeysuckle. Stop fertilizing in late summer or early fall and avoid late season pruning.