Photo: Nicolás Joseph Jacquin, Public domain · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Black-berried honeysuckle: when and how to prune
Lonicera nigra
Black-berried honeysuckle is best pruned in February–March.
| Pruning months | February–March |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in March |
| Flowering | May–June |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Black-berried honeysuckle: when to prune it?
Little needed. Thin out in February–March, before the leaves come out.
Black-berried honeysuckle: how to prune it?
- Every few years, remove one or two of the oldest branches at the base: this keeps the shrub young and open.
- Cut out dead, weak and crossing branches.
- Do not trim the whole outside of the shrub: this keeps its natural shape and its flower buds.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: February–March.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in March can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- 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.
Caution: It flowers on last year’s wood: if you cut everything back in winter, you will have few flowers and berries that year.
Nearby: related pruning guides
- Fly honeysuckle
- Honeyberry
- Honeysuckle
- Box-leaved honeysuckle
- Japanese honeysuckle
- Perfoliate honeysuckle
Plant profile: Black-berried honeysuckle · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.