How to Grow Blue Honeysuckle Bushes

Dig planting holes twice as wide and two inches deeper than the honeysuckle plant's root system. When planting several plants, leave a space of six inches between holes. For a thick hedge, leave only three to four inches between plant holes.

Mix a natural mulch such as sawdust or peat moss into the dirt from the planting holes to help with retaining water and to give the plant nutrition.

Place the young honeysuckle plants into the planting holes and backfill the mulched planting dirt over the roots. Part of the stem needs to be covered, one to two inches or so, to help with stability as the plants grow. The plants may fall over slightly, but will still grow upwards eventually.

Water the bushes regularly as needed for the first three years until they're fully established and mature enough to survive drier weather unaided. Don't overwater the plants; if the weather has been dry, make sure that the ground around the bushes is wet.

Fertilize the bushes in the early spring using a low ammonia fertilizer or a more natural manure compost. The plants can be delicate for the first few years and ammonia-based fertilizers can damage leaves.

Remove any dead branches that occur in the first few years; this is best done in the early spring. Pruning away dead branches will keep the general health of the plant up as it develops.