Honeysuckle (Lonicera) is cherished for its fragrant blooms and vibrant berries, but it requires specific preparation to successfully endure colder months. These plants are hardy across a wide range of climates, though their winter needs differ by variety. Deciduous honeysuckle sheds its leaves and enters dormancy, while evergreen varieties retain foliage, making them more susceptible to winter drying. Proper care throughout the winter is necessary for survival and encourages robust growth and abundant flowering in the spring.
Essential Steps Before Winter Dormancy
Preparation for winter begins in late autumn, focusing on structural care and adjusting nutritional intake to encourage hardening. Cease all fertilization by late summer or early fall. Adding nitrogen-rich feed too late promotes tender new growth highly vulnerable to frost damage. The plant must naturally slow its growth and allocate resources to preparing existing tissue for cold temperatures.
Structural maintenance involves a light pruning to remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches that could become entry points for pests or pathogens during dormancy. While heavy rejuvenation pruning is reserved for deep winter, this late-fall cleanup minimizes potential wind or snow damage. Clear away leaf debris or spent foliage around the base of the honeysuckle to reduce hiding spots for overwintering pests and fungal spores. This debris management helps maintain a clean environment, lowering the risk of disease transmission when the plant breaks dormancy.
Physical Protection Against Extreme Cold
The focus of winter protection is to insulate the root zone from freeze-thaw cycles that can heave the plant out of the ground and damage fine roots. Apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base once the ground begins to freeze to moderate soil temperature. Spreading a 3- to 4-inch layer of material, such as straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves, creates a protective barrier. Keep the mulch several inches away from the main stem to prevent moisture buildup that could lead to rot.
For climbing honeysuckle vines, especially those newly planted or in exposed locations, additional measures guard against desiccating winter winds. Wrapping the vines loosely in burlap or a specialized floating row cover shields them from windburn and temperature fluctuations. Container-grown honeysuckle requires the most physical protection, as the roots lack the insulation of the surrounding earth and are susceptible to freezing damage. Moving the container to an unheated, sheltered location, such as a garage or shed, is the most effective solution for overwintering potted plants.
If moving a large container is not feasible, insulate the pot by wrapping it in burlap, bubble wrap, or straw bales to create a thermal buffer. This insulation prevents the root ball from repeated freezing and thawing, which can destroy root tissue. Even for hardy varieties, protection from heavy snow loads is sometimes necessary; if snow accumulates heavily on the vines, gently knocking it off with a soft broom prevents structural breakage.
Managing Hydration During Winter
Although honeysuckle is dormant, it still requires moisture. Winter desiccation—drying out due to wind and frozen ground—is a threat, especially for evergreen varieties. Before the ground freezes solid, give the plant a deep, thorough watering to ensure the roots have a reservoir of moisture throughout the winter. This soaking helps prevent the roots from drying out when water uptake is restricted by frozen soil.
Throughout the winter, monitor the soil moisture, particularly during extended dry spells with no snow cover. If the ground is not frozen and the top few inches of soil are dry, supplemental watering is advisable to prevent tissue damage. This winter watering should only be done when the air temperature is above freezing, allowing the water to be absorbed before it turns to ice. Container-grown honeysuckle will dry out much faster than in-ground plants and should be checked periodically, requiring a light application of water on warmer days.