Box-leaved honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata): when and how to prune

Box-leaved honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata): when to prune it?

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In May or June, if it becomes too tall or too wide. Unpruned it still looks good; then just snip off the odd stray shoot.

What else to prune in those months? May · June

Box-leaved honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata): how to prune it?

1. Cut back upright and over-long shoots to a side branch, so the horizontal shape is kept.
2. A plant that is too tall or bare can be cut back hard to 20–30 cm in May: it regrows well.
3. Remove dead wood, especially after a hard winter.
4. Use hedge shears for a crisp edge, or secateurs for a natural shape.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: May–June.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in May–June can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Box-leaved honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata) flowers in April–May, when it attracts bees.
• If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Box-leaved honeysuckle
• Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)
• Fly honeysuckle
• Honeyberry
• Honeysuckle
• Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata)

Plant profile: Box-leaved honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata) · Pruning calendar and basic rules