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Late Dutch Huneysuckle

Late Dutch Huneysuckle

Question from Shoot User
1855 2
This plant begins to shoot early spring then loses it's leaves with the exception of the tip growth, any ideas as to the cause?
Many thanks
John W
Posted: Sunday 9th of November 2008 02:35 PM

  • Late Dutch Honeysuckle leaf drop

    Kathy N
    Hi, John
    How frustrating for you! There could be a number of reasons why your plant is losing leaves. One reason could be the plant is lacking nutrients. It might be dropping older leaves to have enough energy to support/produce new ones. Try feeding it in early spring and again in early summer.
    Is there grey, fuzzy mould on the branches? Did the leaves that dropped have a white bloom on them before they fell? If the plant has mouldy patches, the problem could be mildew. This can be treated with a fungicide application in spring. Do this before you notice leaves drop because by then, it is probably too late to make a difference with spraying. If the leaves that dropped had a white bloom or white patches on them, the problem could be Honeysuckle leaf blight - a growing problem in the UK - though I am not leaning toward this because the symptom you described doesn't quite fit the descriptions I have read of this problem. You might want to take a look at this link that tells more about it:
    http://www.bspp.org.uk/ndr/july2004/2004-08.asp
    Hope this has been helpful and please me posted on your Lonicera.
    Kathy C
    Replied: Tuesday 11th of November 2008 03:25 PM

    • Dutch Honeysuckle

      Shoot User
      many thanks for you promt reply. I have noted what you have decribed, and I am of the opinion that this plant needs TLC. I moved it in the spring due to reconsruction of the garden. Before moving, this plant had the same problem.
      It's present site was a bulding plot full of sand and rubble-(which I removed prior to planting) and filled the hole with ericatous! compost.I will give it compost again in the spring, also a fungiside.
      many thanks again
      John
      Replied: Tuesday 11th of November 2008 09:37 PM

  • Late Dutch Huneysuckle

    Marissa Zoppellini
    Hi John, as Kathy has said, there could be many reasons. It may be affected by a disease or a pest and you can try and pin this down by looking for distortion/markings/other evidence on the leaves and elsewhere on the plant. Other than that, I would give it a bit of TLC by adding a mulch of say garden compost now and a dose of fertiliser in spring. You could take some hardwood cuttings now to get replacement plants ready in case you need to replace it - but the thing to bear in mind is that if it is diseased, what you propagate may not be tip-top but just keep an eye on how it develops. All best, Marissa
    Replied: Tuesday 11th of November 2008 06:51 PM

    • Dutch Honeysuckle

      Shoot User
      Thank you Marissa for you reply.
      I am a real beginner and to take hard wood cuttings would be a real challenge for me - but I'll try.
      I've replied to Kathy and will take both pieces of advice
      Many thanks
      John
      Replied: Tuesday 11th of November 2008 09:45 PM
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