Why is My Honeysuckle Dying? (How to Save it)


Why is my honeysuckle dying

A flowering honeysuckle is one of the moments I look forward to most during summer. But what if yours is dying? I have been growing and caring for honeysuckles for decades and generally find them less troublesome than most garden plants, but I have encountered some problems with some of my clients’ honeysuckles over the years as a landscape gardener.

In this article, I am going to share my experience in diagnosing the problem and give you a step-by-step guide on how to save your honeysuckle if it’s dying…

Let’s get straight to it, shall we?

A dying honeysuckle is usually caused by dry or low-nutrient soil. Honeysuckle requires consistently moist, nutrient-rich soil, so if the soil is nutrient-poor and too dry, the honeysuckle leaves turn yellow and drop off, giving the plant a dying appearance.

Here are the most common reasons I encounter for dying honeysuckle:

  • Drought (honeysuckle requires consistently moist soil).
  • Low-nutrient soil and lack of fertilizer (causes yellow leaves and leaf drop).
  • Not enough sunlight (Honeysuckle prefers sun at the vines and shade at the roots).
  • Fungal disease (Powdery mildew turns honeysuckle leaves grey with black dots).

I would like to emphasize I have had to revive dying honeysuckles myself andall my advice comes from hands on experience, and its a pleeasure to help you all. Infact one of my readers commented…

Excellent advice easy to understand and I’m wont lose my plant
Thanks
” -Mags

Keep reading to learn what has caused your dying honeysuckle and what you can do to save it…

Is Your Honeysuckle Dying from Drought? (Yellow leaves that Drop off)

One of the most common causes of honeysuckle leaves turning yellow and leaf drop is due to drought and dry soil at the roots of your honeysuckle. (Please note that a lack of nutrients in the soil also causes the symptoms of yellowing leaves that drop off, which I have covered under the next subheading).

So to understand why your honeysuckle is dying, I find it helps to appreciate how they grow in their native environment…Honeysuckles grow naturally in woodlands and in hedgerows in soil that is rich in organic material with a high proportion of decomposed leaves.

The key takeaway from this that we need to consider is that decomposed leaves have an exceptional capacity to hold moisture, yet they retain a porous structure that allows excess water to drain away.

This provides the optimal balance of soil moisture for honeysuckles as they require consistently moist soil and suffer if there is a temporary drought.

But this is not the whole story. What else do we need to consider? When honeysuckles are planted in gardens, they can suffer from drought despite high rainfall for a few reasons:

  • Is your honeysuckle planted too close to a wall or fence? To be honest, this is the problem that I see most often. If your honeysuckle is planted too close to its supporting structure, then it can suffer drought as the wall, fence, or structure can form a rain shadow, and the soil directly near the wall can remain somewhat dryer than the rest of the garden soil. Is this the case with your honeysuckle?
  • The soil is too sandy/stony and does not retain moisture. Sandy or stony soils are fast draining, which is in contrast to the honeysuckle’s preferred soil type, which is moisture-retentive yet well-draining in the sense that it allows excess water to drain away from the roots so that the ground does not become boggy, which can promote root rot.
  • The base of the honeysuckle is in the sun, which can dry out the soil. Honeysuckles prefer to have the base of the plant shaded to help keep the roots cool and retain moisture and their vines in the sun which helps to promote flowering.

For more information and best practices for flowering, read my article on why your honeysuckle isn’t flowering.

Here is the secret to growing honeysuckle: Ideally, the honeysuckle should be planted into soil that has been amended with lots of organic matter to retain moisture. This replicates natural conditions in its native woodland habitat and reduces the risk of drought, which causes yellow leaves and leaf drops.

What I have been able to do in the past with a client’s dying honeysuckle (that was planted in dry sandy soil) was to gently level the plant out of the ground with a garden fork (it was a younger plant with a less extensive root system).

Whilst the honeysuckle was out of the ground, I amended the planting area around the honeysuckle with lots of leaf mold (which is just composted leaves), which mimicked its natural conditions and made the honeysuckle more resistant to drought, and the plant was able to flower the following year.

However, I acknowledge that this is not always possible. If your honeysuckle is too mature and established, then the steps you should follow are to…

  1. Water the honeysuckle regularly in the Spring and Summer. Ideally, water the honeysuckle with a generous soak once per week to help mitigate the risk of drought and encourage the roots to establish, which further increases drought resistance.
  2. Add a moisture-retaining mulch around the base of the honeysuckle. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of this. In the honeysuckle’s native woodland environment, leaf litter acts as a natural mulch and helps conserve moisture around the roots. What I recommend that you do is to mimic the natural effect of leaf litter by applying a 1-inch layer of mulch around the base of the honeysuckle composed of compost or leaf mold. This should help conserve moisture, improve the soil structure, and add nutrients to the soil so that your honeysuckle recovers.

What I have personally found that works is to consistently add mulch once or twice per year (ideally in the Spring or Summer). This improves the soil’s capacity for retaining moisture, making the conditions of your garden soil more favorable for growing honeysuckles.

So remember it is these two key steps: consistent watering and the addition of mulch, that are going to help your honeysuckle should recover.

While the yellow leaves may still drop off the following year, what I found happened was that the honeysuckle should grow more healthy green leaves and be in better condition to grow and display flowers.

Whilst drought is probably the most common cause of honeysuckle yellow leaves and leaf drop other factors may cause this such as lack of sun and a deficit of nutrients in the soil…

Lack of Nutrients (Yellow Leaves and Leaf Drop)

As we discussed, honeysuckles grow best in soil rich in organic matter. If your soil is poor, honeysuckles can die back, not flower as well, and the leaves can drop and turn yellow.

From experience, your honeysuckle may be suffering from low nutrients in the soil for several reasons.

  • If the honeysuckle has been in the same place for soil for a long time without any additional nutrients from fertilizer or mulch then the roots can exhaust the soil of nutrients.
  • Honeysuckles that are planted close to a wall have a limited area for their roots to grow and access nutrients (because of the foundations of the wall) compared to honeysuckles growing on a trellis or fence. (This is one that I see often)
  • As we talked about, Honeysuckles are woodland plants, so the leaf litter acts like mulch every year adding nutrients to the soil so it stays healthy. If you do not apply any mulch to your honeysuckle, then what I typically find is that the roots can exhaust the nutrients of the soil, which can cause it to die back.
  • Is your honeysuckle planted in a pot or container? Pots and containers have less capacity for soil and, therefore, less capacity for nutrients and moisture, which can cause yellow leaves and a dying appearance for the honeysuckle.

There are two steps that I always take when trying to revive a honeysuckle suffering because of a nutrient deficit in the soil:

  1. Mimic the effect of woodland leaf litter by adding mulch around the base of your honeysuckle every year to add nutrients and conserve moisture, creating more favorable conditions for your honeysuckle.
  2. Apply a balanced fertilizer to the soil in the Spring for additional nutrients.

I love to apply leaf mold around the base of the honeysuckle in the Spring but I have also had success using garden compost and even well rotted horse manure.

I recommend Applying a 1 to 2-inch layer of compost or leaf mold around the base of your honeysuckle in the Spring and perhaps again in the Summer, but always ensure the mulch is not in contact with the wood of the honeysuckle as this can cause root (although it is unlikely to).

This should mitigate the risk of drought and improve the soil’s nutrient profile so that your honeysuckle has all the resources to thrive and display flowers.

I can tell you from experience that consistent mulch application can improve nutrient-poor soils so that they emulate the soil of the honeysuckle’s natural environment. This is an incredibly effective tactic that should help your honeysuckle thrive!

I would also recommend using additional fertilizer as I’ve seen the effectiveness of this in improving the appearance of your honeysuckle, and it is important to help revive the plant.

However, I must emphasize the importance of always using a balanced fertilizer rather than a nitrogen-based fertilizer.

I personally recommend a product such as miracle-gro granulated fertilizer as it is easy to apply with the correct balance of nutrients at the right concentration.

All purpose granular fertilizer

This product also ensures that the nutrients are released slowly which reduces the risk of problems associated with too much fertilizer (which can prevent honeysuckle from flowering).

When I applied these two steps ( the mulch and the fertilizer), The additional fertilizer was most effective at greening up the yellow leaves, whereas the leaf mold whilst equally important is slightly slower to act. This is why I recommend using both steps in synergy to increase the chance of your honeysuckle recovering.

Not Enough Sunlight?

As I mentioned previously, Honeysuckles thrive when the roots are in the shade and the vines are in the sun. Whilst full sun is not necessary, partial sun or significant dappled light is required to promote flowering. I personally always see the most flowers on honeysuckle that is in sull sunlight.

Remember how we talked about how honeysuckle grows in its native environment? Well, Honeysuckle uses its climbing vines to find sunlight so that it has the energy to flower.

What I’ve observed is that Full shade is not only detrimental to flowering but also can cause leaf drop and a yellowing of the leaves.

Take a look at your own honeysuckle. Is the leaf drop and yellowing of leaves localized to perhaps the lower half of the honeysuckle, and does the rest of the plant look in good health? Then this may be because the upper half has climbed, so it is in direct sun.

I’ve noticed, the honeysuckle often only invests in the growth of leaves that are in a position of sun which causes the plant to drop leaves lower down the plant.

If the vines of the honeysuckle are healthy and in the sun yet the lower half is dropping leaves then there is not immediate concern for the rest of the honeysuckle and it is unlikely that the plant is dying.

If necessary, you can plant a shrub that prefers shade (hydrangea or rhododendron) in front of the honeysuckle’s lower half so you can’t see the sparse growth, or you can be assured that the honeysuckle is likely in good health and the vines that are in the sun should flower.

In areas of full shade, what I have done is to either cut back the canopy of any overhanging branches for more light or transplant your honeysuckle to a sunnier location as they often do not live long or flower well in full shade.

I recommend transplanting in either Spring or Fall as the ground is warm (which helps the roots establish) yet it does not have to contend with the heat of the sun.

Whenever I’ve had to do this it may take a year or so for the honeysuckle to recover.

Honeysuckle with Fungal Disease

If your honeysuckle has a grey/white mold on the leaves often with black dots and potentially the leaves are dropping, then your honeysuckle has a fungal disease called powdery mildew.

Honeysuckle is unfortunately susceptible to powdery mildew, however, it does not necessarily mean your honeysuckle is dying, and with the right care, the honeysuckle can be revived. However, recovery depends on how early you catch the infection.

I’ve listed the most common risk factors for honeysuckle with powdery mildew:

  • Regular drought stress. Is your soil too dry? If the honeysuckle frequently experiences drought or dry soil because of weather, sandy soil profile, lack of mulch, or regular watering then it is less resistant to infection.
  • Too much fertilizer. This is why I always recommend a well balanced fertilizer like miracle gro. Too much nitrogen in the soil because of frequent application of fertilizer or high concentration of fertilizer (or runoff from lawn feed) can increase foliage growth that is more susceptible to powdery mildew. Always use a balanced fertilizer with equal parts Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) rather than a nitrogen-based fertilizer.
  • There is not enough sun. Although a lack of sun is not usually the main cause of powdery mildew infection susceptibility, I’ve found that it is nonetheless a contributing factor. Most honeysuckles require some sun on the vines to flower and stay healthy.
  • Higher levels of humidity. Do you live in a humid climate? I would avoid watering overhead and water at the base of the honeysuckle and prevent a humid microclimate by trimming back surrounding vegetation and cutting back any unproductive wood on the honeysuckle to improve airflow.
  • Nutrient-poor soil. If the soil is sandy or there has not been any applications of mulch or fertilizer then the honeysuckle is more vulnerable to powdery mildew.

To treat powdery mildew, the most important step is to:

  • Cut back any infected foliage with a sterile pair of pruners.
  • I use a cloth soaked in disinfectant to wipe the blades between each cut to prevent transferring the fungal spores to otherwise healthy growth on the honeysuckle.
  • Collect up any infected leaves and burn them or discard them in a bin to kill the fungus and prevent it from spreading.
  • Use a treatment of neem oil (available from garden centers and online). Neem oil is a non-toxic fungicide and safe for organic gardening. Generally, it only takes a few spray applications to the leaves to treat the powdery mildew, but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Don’t worry, I find with good care, regular watering, and treatment, honeysuckle can make a full recovery from powdery mildew.

Pro tip: Applying a balanced fertilizer can help in recovery, as powdery mildew can stress the honeysuckle and reduce nutrient availability.

Do you have any specific questions about your honeysuckle? Or do you have any insights into what has worked for you? If so, please leave a comment below, and I’ll reply! I love to hear from you!

Key Takeaways:

  • Dying honeysuckle is usually caused by drought or a lack of soil nutrients. Drought and nutrient-deficient soil cause the honeysuckle’s leaves to turn yellow and drop off and the vines to die back.
  • Lack of sunlight can also cause leaf yellowing and leaf drop on the vines. Honeysuckle prefers the roots in the shade and the vines in the sun for flowering.
  • Honeysuckles with grey or white leaves with black spots have powdery mildew. However, they can be revived from powdery mildew with consistent watering, added mulch, and fertilizer. Cut back any affected foliage and spray the plant with neem oil, and the honeysuckle should come back the following year.
  • Honeysuckle is a woodland plant that requires soil composed of organic matter, such as leaf litter, for moisture and nutrients. To replicate its natural conditions, mulch around the base of the honeysuckle with leaf mold or compost.

Mark Bennett

Mark Bennett is the writer at gardener report. I'm a qualified botanist, landscape gardener and garden center plant troubleshooter! I grow and care for all the plants I write about so I have lots of first hand experience, in troubleshooting problems with plants and providing step by steps tips for recover. I love hearing from you so please leave me a comment and I'll reply!

3 thoughts on “Why is My Honeysuckle Dying? (How to Save it)

    1. Thank you Mags! All my advice comes from personal experience, and I’m really glad it helped! If you have any more questions please ask away!

  1. Good to get a better understanding of the Honeysuckle requirements. I have 2 plants that I am trying to grow along a fence. Thet have struggled from the start. I water regulary. I have a sandy soil that is fairly high in PH. Around 7.5. I have added compost and leaf mould but the plant is struggling.

    Is the high PH a concern? I recently tried adding Iron Sulphate and I am waiting to see if there are any improvements.

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