Honeysuckle - minimum depth?

Medz

Hello, 

Can someone tell me the minimum depth hole required to plant a honeysuckle in the ground. Rocks under my lawn might be an issue. It feels like I’m digging up a quarry! 

In case it is an issue: can someone tell me the minimum depth and diameter pot required to plant a honeysuckle. 

I have bought a little honeysuckle Henry and would like to see it grow to its full potential. 

Many thanks; and best wishes. 

twopenny

The general rule is to plant to the height of the soil in it's pot. Don't make the first pot too big. Just an inch, two at the most, bigger than the one it's in now.

It likes moist but well drained (though frankly most honeysuckles grow almost anywhere) so use John Innes No 3 if it's to stay in the pot. General compost can dry out more quickly.

The same applies to the hole really. Dig one an inch or two bigger than the size of the pot it's in or rootball. So lets hope it's not in a 2ft pot

I'd add a little bonemeal on top when done to encourage root growth which happens more in autumn. Get it well established ready for growth next spring.

Not fertiliser. It's not a plant that needs much feeding and it would encourage new growth now that would be too soft for the winter.

Patience with stoney ground. Mine's never been cultivated and is a nightmare. Put the radio on and dig out around every stone as it comes. That often loosens some more. Impatience just takes more time because you have to go out and buy a new fork.

Medz

twopenny said:

The general rule is to plant to the height of the soil in it's pot. Don't make the first pot too big. Just an inch, two at the most, bigger than the one it's in now.

It likes moist but well drained (though frankly most honeysuckles grow almost anywhere) so use John Innes No 3 if it's to stay in the pot. General compost can dry out more quickly.

The same applies to the hole really. Dig one an inch or two bigger than the size of the pot it's in or rootball. So lets hope it's not in a 2ft pot

I'd add a little bonemeal on top when done to encourage root growth which happens more in autumn. Get it well established ready for growth next spring.

Not fertiliser. It's not a plant that needs much feeding and it would encourage new growth now that would be too soft for the winter.

Patience with stoney ground. Mine's never been cultivated and is a nightmare. Put the radio on and dig out around every stone as it comes. That often loosens some more. Impatience just takes more time because you have to go out and buy a new fork.

Thanks Twopenny. Ideally I’d like to put it in the ground. The spot I have in mind is next to a 8ft high wall so that it gets sun but is sheltered. I think however the foundations of the wall are quite wide into my garden as even a foot in I can only dig down 3 inches before I hit them. 

Henry the honeysuckle arrived in a 2 or 3 litre container - so a small rootball.  If I plant it above the foundations will it’s roots find their way around/through? 

I could try planting it next to the fence opposite the wall but it won’t be as well supported and sheltered ... and with my luck I’ll likely dig up an ancient burial ground! 🙈

twopenny

Well there's a thought. Get TimeTeam in and they'll do it for you.

You can plant it a foot from the wall and add a cane from the rootball to the wall to encourage it to climb in the right direction. This is an advantage as it will get more moisture. There's usually a rain shadow right next to walls and fences.

Medz

I’m not convinced that even a foot plus from the wall I’m going to get much more depth than a few inches. Now I understand why the previous owner had a large raised planter parallel to the wall.  It looked really odd there but now it makes perfect sense. 

I really want to avoid having to find a planter for the spot. I’m on a super tight budget that i would rather spend on new victims ... err ... I mean plants 😉

twopenny

How about a little excavation first rather then just persevering in the same place.

See how far along the wall this stone is, shave off the soil a foot or so back from the wall all along. It will help to know for future planning anyway. Allocate a couple of hours, radio on, coffee and doughnut to help.

Budgetwise you could alway paint plants on the wall. They'd be in flower all winter and need no attention.

If it's any comfort I'll have to take my own advice shortly as I have an electric cable concreted into my front garden. Gravel over and seeded plants in but want to plant a tree near there. Perfect spot but need to dig down to sink a slab or two to stop the roots. Then dig a hole for the tree in what could be soil or could be a pile of rubble.

Medz

twopenny said:

How about a little excavation first rather then just persevering in the same place.

See how far along the wall this stone is, shave off the soil a foot or so back from the wall all along. It will help to know for future planning anyway. Allocate a couple of hours, radio on, coffee and doughnut to help.

Budgetwise you could alway paint plants on the wall. They'd be in flower all winter and need no attention.

If it's any comfort I'll have to take my own advice shortly as I have an electric cable concreted into my front garden. Gravel over and seeded plants in but want to plant a tree near there. Perfect spot but need to dig down to sink a slab or two to stop the roots. Then dig a hole for the tree in what could be soil or could be a pile of rubble.

Slabs to stop the roots of your tree? I thought that you only had to do that with non clumping bamboo.  I did that for the first (and last) time recently. Only time will tell if I did it correctly

 I am back excavating this morning. I’m listening to The Carpenters to keep me from throwing my toys (and gardening tools) out my pram. 

Photos attached (including the pot Henry arrived in for scale). There is a solid floor either side of the cemented in row of bricks. 

If Henry’s roots travelled horizontally and shallow then not a problem. I’m guessing his roots need significant vertical depth to reach his full height. 

twopenny

That looks pretty good. It's a hardy plant. The soil doesn't look great. You could add some cheap compost, a little sand for drainage and a bit of bonemeal.

Plant it at an angle so it's leaning towards the wall and put the cane in before filling in. Tie it to the cane after filling. With these winds you may want to hammer a cable clip to the wall to tie it to.

You've done good work there. I'm curious about the brick and then concrete line there.

Yes, the tree adventure is partly because I can't get a dwarf Prunus Nigra so I'm growing a full size one for a couple of years then donating it to charity. It's my birthday present as there's no chance of a celebration again this year. But I'm hoping to get a man with a digger for post holes to do the hard work if he'll come. If not it's some calorie burning for me.

Medz

I dug further. As you can hopefully see it’s definitely two trenches with solid floors; either side of a row of cemented in bricks. There’s a waste pipe as well. 

The bottom of the trench looks too shallow to plant tulip bulbs (but that’s a problem for another day).  

Are you sure Henry will be ok at that depth? If so I’ll plant him there this afternoon. 

 

twopenny

Facinating, has my brain working overtime as to what it might be. Perhaps a neighbour will know - but probably best left alone

If you want to try tulips Poundland does them and they grow well. Just put some drainage (all those stones;-) in the bottom. If that works and you want to indulge in some fancy ones you'll know it's good to go.

Gardens looking good. Is that 'bound gravel' for the path?

Medz

That’s just sharp sand. I’m waiting on a delivery from Wickes before I can finish the path with pavers. 

I have already bought the tulips from a shopping channel

Henry is now planted. I’m so grateful to you for your advice. 

I think I’m going to need a thick layer of topsoil throughout my garden (after I have finished the path).