Cutting Back a Honeysuckle After Freezing

Honeysuckle is the common name for several species of flowering vine or shrub belonging to the genus Lonicera. All species tolerate cold weather and will survive light frost with minimal damage, but heavy freezing will cause damage to newer growth and give the plants an untidy appearance. Cutting back honeysuckles after freezing will rejuvenate the plants and improve their appearance, but it must be performed after the last expected frost to provide the most benefit.

Garden hose
Measuring tape
Bypass shears

Instructions

- 1
  Wait until after the last winter frost before cutting back freeze-damaged honeysuckles. Watch for a flush of new growth at the tips of the vines, which indicates it is the appropriate time to prune them.
- 2
  Water the honeysuckle deeply the day before cutting it back. Run a garden hose onto the soil at the base of the plant for five to 10 minutes. Let the water soak in overnight so the branches are plump and well-hydrated when you prune.
- 3
  Measure 2 feet up from the base of the honeysuckle. Cut off the branches at the 2-foot mark. Make the cuts straight across with a pair of very sharp and clean bypass shears.
- 4
  Discard the removed branches or use them to propagate new honeysuckle plants.
- 5
  Water the honeysuckle as you normally would after pruning. Watch for renewed growth in two weeks.
- 6
  Thin out any densely tangled growth to improve air circulation in the plant. Snip off the tangled branches at their point of origin using the bypass shears.

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