Do I need to cover honeysuckle for the winter and what varieties require it

General rules for preparing for winter

Honeysuckle is a climbing or erect bush, the blue berries of which are widely used in folk medicine. Thanks to the many beneficial substances, berries have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. They are used to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, lower blood pressure and prevent the risk of arteriosclerosis. According to encyclopedic data, there are more than 800 species of this culture in nature. Some of the shrubs perform exclusively a decorative function, others are used in medicine and cooking.

So, the preparation of honeysuckle for winter begins at the very beginning of autumn. During this period, the feeding of plants in the garden with nitrogen-containing preparations stops. Only potassium-phosphorus additives are added to the soil. The soil is moistened to a depth of about 80 cm. Please note that if the fall is wet and rainy, it is not necessary to carry out water recharge irrigation.

Autumn is considered the ideal time for replanting the honeysuckle bush. During the rest and rest period, the plant will have time to adapt to new growing conditions, strengthen and rest. With the arrival of the first spring heat, the bush is actively growing. Preparing honeysuckle for frost involves rejuvenating crown pruning. All old branches, injured by atmospheric precipitation and damaged by insects, should be cut off from the bush.

By its nature, honeysuckle is highly frost-resistant. The plant tolerates even severe Siberian frosts, but it is afraid of sudden changes in temperature regimes. For this reason, it is recommended to carefully prepare the shrub for wintering.

Video "Warming of honeysuckle for the winter"

From this video you will learn how to cover a shrub with pine spruce branches.

What varieties need to be covered

Honeysuckle bushes can be classified into decorative and edible. Russian gardeners liked the varieties Kaprifol, Blue Bird, Blue Spindle, Lakomka, Amphora, etc. Most edible honeysuckle varieties are characterized by high frost resistance and do not require additional shelter for the winter. So, growth buds and wood can withstand a drop in air temperature to -50 ° C, roots and flower buds - to -40 ° C.

As for ornamental shrubs, it is recommended to insulate cover, Tatar and gray honeysuckle with a covering material. Also, the varieties Kaprifol, Brown, Gekrotta and Telman need additional protection.

How and how to insulate

Before you start insulating the honeysuckle bush, it is recommended to carefully read the varietal characteristics of the culture. Sometimes additional cover can do more harm than good. Plants that cope with severe frosts on their own do not suffer from cold, but from temperature changes, improper insulation and lack of air circulation.

Now let's look at a step-by-step algorithm for warming honeysuckle for the winter:

1. Remove vegetation from the soil in the trunk circle. Place a layer of peat on the ground to cushion the shrub.
2. Remove the climbing vines from the supports.
3. Collect the branches in a kind of bunch, bend them to the ground and secure with twine or metal staples.
4. Cover the shrub with pine branches or cover it with a layer of sawdust.

In winter, when all vegetation is covered with a layer of snow, honeysuckle bushes not covered with covering material attract the attention of hares, mice and other small rodents. To protect the plant from rodents, you can use special garden nets or white polypropylene bags.

Care and preparation of plants for wintering depend on the climatic characteristics of the region. For example, frost-resistant varieties are not sheltered for the winter in the Volga region, Moscow region and other regions of central Russia. According to experienced gardeners, preparing honeysuckle for cold weather consists in mulching the base of the bush with peat, sawdust, straw and coniferous branches.

In Siberia and the Urals, where a lot of snow falls, thin lianas can break under the weight of the "fluffy blanket". To prevent damage to the shrub, the branches are tied in a bunch.