Holly and Honeysuckle

Hi all

I have a fully mature holly tree in my little plot. It is a magnificent tree, especially at this time of year when everything else is asleep.

As I am converting my plot to be a bee, butterfly and moth haven (I don't want to use the word sanctuary), I have bought, among other things, a couple of honeysuckle plants.

If I put the honeysuckle near the holly, I guess it will climb the holly, but will it harm the holly tree, and will it make it look awful in the winter?

 

Hi Clueless. No. It won't hurt the holly and again no. Just cut it back in autumn allowing the holly to have the winter.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0104/honeysuckle_pruning.asp

 

Thanks. I'm not sure about cutting it back too hard though as it says in the article that it can slow down the flowering. I might leave the Holly tree alone and plant the honeysuckle in the hedgerow and just leave it alone, trimming out the dead wood every year or so. That way the mature stems might provide nesting sites for birds.