Good afternoon, my reader. To get large and fragrant honeysuckle berries, it is important to properly care for the plant in the fall. Shrubs tolerate winter well, but still there are certain nuances that should be observed when preparing for frost.
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Autumn activities
They begin to prepare the plant for the winter cold in September. The specific procedures depend on the soil, the number of branches on the shrub and its age.
Pruning
Full pruning is carried out for the first time only at 5-6 years old. In autumn, damaged, dry and short branches are cut. Annual shoots are not removed, since it is on them that the fruits ripen.
Honeysuckle does not require annual pruning. The procedure is carried out once every 2-3 years.
After reaching the age of 8 years, the plant is rejuvenated. It is necessary to cut off all old branches and shoots that grow from the bottom of the bush.
Plants under 3 years of age are not heavily pruned. But some experts argue that thickening shoots need to be removed. This will allow more light and fresh air to enter the bush.
Full pruning is done as follows:
- Sick, dry and damaged branches are cut off.
- On skeletal shoots, remove the top and those branches that are directed inside the bush.
- Strongly bent branches are also cut off.
- After pruning, the bush should have about 8-15 branches.
Places of cut branches must be treated with oil paint or garden varnish. The slices are open wounds. Through them, pests and pathogenic microorganisms can enter the plant.
Top dressing
For good fruiting in the next season, honeysuckle needs to be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers. In the fall, use the following tools:
- superphosphate;
- potassium salt;
- nitroammofoska (required at the beginning of September);
- compost;
- wood ash.
Fertilizers are used to make special combined agents or they are applied alternately.
The land around the honeysuckle is planted with green manure. Such plants are capable of carrying nutrients to the soil surface that lie deep underground. During decay, a fairly large amount of organic matter remains after them.
Suitable for planting:
- Vika;
- clover;
- peas;
- mustard;
- lupine.
Watering
If there is no rain or in hot weather, the bushes should be watered at least once a week. Pour 2 buckets under each plant. In dry autumn, this irrigation regime is maintained.
If you regularly moisten the soil, the plant will not retire prematurely.
Protection against diseases and pests
To protect honeysuckle from diseases and pest attacks in the spring, it is necessary to carry out prevention in the fall. The land around the bushes should be treated with fungicides.
It is also important to collect all the fallen leaves under the bushes and from the surrounding areas. Plant waste is a wintering place for pathogens.
Shelter honeysuckle for the winter
Honeysuckle is prepared for the winter season in different ways. It all depends on the variety:
- Frost resistant. Such plants do well even in very severe frosts, so they do not need shelter. Winter-hardy honeysuckle can tolerate temperatures down to -40 degrees. To protect the bushes, you only need to tie the branches into a tight bunch and bend them towards the ground. This way, the branches do not break under a large layer of snow.
- Decorative. These varieties are not so hardy, so you need to build a shelter for them. At the end of autumn, the branches of honeysuckle are bent to the ground, after which they are covered with sawdust or spruce branches. Additionally, you can use roll material, but you need it to let air through normally.
A layer of snow will additionally protect the honeysuckle from frost in cold winters.
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Read about planting honeysuckle in the following article:Planting honeysuckle: basic rules