Garden Care Guide

Woodbine Honeysuckle Care

Lonicera periclymenum

A deciduous, climbing species with very pleasantly scented flowers that intensify in the evenings. It likes to have its roots cool and shaded and its upper parts in the sun. It is ideal for arbors and fences.

Hardy · -25 °C / -13 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Not required; only if the soil is bone dry, a very small amount, 5 L/m²; reduce if it rains.
  • Pruning: Rejuvenate the plant by cutting crowded and old branches at the base (about 1/3 of them).
  • Plant protection: Apply dormant oil (mineral oil) against aphid eggs.
  • General care: Spread a thick layer of mulch (compost, leaf mold) to keep the roots cool.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for scale insects on the trunk.
February
  • Watering: Not required; only during prolonged drought, 5 L/m²; reduce if it rains.
  • Pruning: This is the late period for rejuvenation pruning. Check and repair supports.
  • Plant protection: You can repeat the dormant oil application.
  • General care: Check the mulch layer.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for overwintering pests.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy. Because yield and fruit quality depend on nutrient balance, having a soil analysis done is especially useful for this plant.
  • Pruning: Finish the last pruning before the new shoots wake up.
  • Plant protection: Start checking the new shoots for aphids.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Watch for the first aphids. Late frosts can damage new shoots.
April
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: To encourage flowering, start giving a potassium-heavy liquid fertilizer (drip/foliar) every 2-3 weeks; do not overapply.
  • Pruning: Do not do it during the flowering period.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Continue potassium-rich liquid fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Do not do it.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
June
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
  • Fertilizing: Continue liquid fertilizing.
  • Pruning: After the main flowering ends, lightly cut back the shoots carrying spent flowers. This encourages new blooms.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves. Check the fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water.
July
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. The area around the roots should be wetted to a depth of 20-30 cm.
  • Fertilizing: Continue liquid fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Keep deadheading.
  • Plant protection: The risks of spider mites and aphids continue; use a miticide/insecticide if necessary.
  • General care: Flowering continues. Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
  • Pests & diseases: Drought stress weakens the plant against pests; water regularly.
August
  • Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. The area around the roots should be wetted to a depth of 20-30 cm.
  • Fertilizing: At the end of the month, stop fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Cut only shoots growing out of control.
  • Plant protection: Keep up checks for spider mites and other sucking insects.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Powdery mildew can increase on hot, humid evenings.
September
  • Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month. Water newly planted specimens more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Do not fertilize.
  • Pruning: Prune as soon as flowering ends. Next year's flower buds form over the summer; late pruning reduces flowering. To encourage a second flush of flowers, prune the branches back by one third after the main flowering. Avoid heavy pruning; the natural growth form should be preserved.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see black spots with yellow halos on the leaves (black spot), collect the diseased leaves and remove them from the garden; the disease overwinters in fallen leaves.
October
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Do not do it.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Cleanup reduces the disease load of the next season.
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: You can begin rejuvenation pruning once the leaves have completely fallen.
  • Plant protection: After the leaves have fallen, make a protective spray with a copper-based fungicide on the bare branches.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk for overwintering pests.
December
  • Pruning: This is a suitable time for rejuvenation or thinning pruning.
  • Plant protection: None, observation only.
  • General care: Check the mulch layer.
  • Pests & diseases: Carry out a general condition check.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

Browse all plant guides