How to manage spring care well when growing honeysuckle

Pruning

In spring, honeysuckle first produces primary branches from axillary buds, and the primary branches then produce secondary branches; in one year it can differentiate and produce four to six levels of branching. The axillary buds of the new branches then differentiate into reproductive branches, on which inflorescences and flowers form. Cutting off the longer vegetative branches before budding will quickly differentiate secondary reproductive branches and increase the number of flower buds. Generally, flower buds on the first to fourth levels of branching can form flower buds; branches above the fourth level cannot develop into flowering branches because the temperature drops in late autumn.

Pruning can cultivate the main trunk, make the new branches evenly distributed, improve ventilation and light penetration, expand the canopy, produce more flowering branches, and increase yield and quality. For seedlings planted in the same year, pruning must be done promptly; when they are 30-40 cm tall, remove the top to train them into a main trunk. On it, 3-5 vegetative branches are produced, spreading out in a three-branch or five-branch form as primary branches. When the primary branches grow 5-6 leaves and reach 15-20 cm in length, keep 3 pairs of strong buds from the base and cut off the front part again to promote the growth of secondary branches.

Topdressing

Fertilizing in spring should mainly use quick-acting fertilizers. At the budding stage, open shallow furrows and apply diluted manure water or multi-element compound fertilizer, then cover with soil immediately after application. In addition, to increase per-unit yield, after each flush of flowers is harvested, quick-acting foliar fertilizers such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate and urea can be sprayed on the leaves.

During the growing season, apply 0.1-0.2 kg of compound fertilizer per young tree. For adult trees that were not given base fertilizer in the previous winter, combine with intertillage and apply 0.25-0.5 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer per tree, by band application or ring-shaped trench application, at a depth of 20-30 cm, and cover with soil immediately after application. To keep soil fertility lasting and stable, the recommended fertilization method is to apply farmyard manure in winter, compound fertilizer in the following spring, and foliar fertilizer in summer.