Select the right material: Choose healthy, disease-free stems for your cuttings. Look for stems that are young and vigorous, preferably with a green, firm texture. Avoid using old or woody stems as they tend to root poorly. Rooting hormone: A rooting hormone helps stimulate root growth in the cuttings and increases their chances of successful propagation. Choose mature stems: Select stems that are fully developed and have woody sections. These stems are more likely to have dormant buds and higher levels of auxin, a plant hormone responsible for root development. They're hardy plants, so you can put them outside in spring. Remember to keep an eye on them so they don't dry out and cover them in the event of late frosts. Brush cutters are not only useful, but downright fun to use. In my days as a landscaper, I remember having to clear out an overgrown barn and we spent all day obliterating logs, vines, and even a few beer cans (not recommended!) with brush cutters. It’s safe to say if we hadn’t brought the brush cutter and only used a weed eater, it would have taken weeds. That being said, brush cutters are dangerous tools, so be careful. But I digress…

Softwood and semi-ripe cuttings: Best for evergreen shrubs. Take softwood and semi-ripe cuttings from spring to summer. For best chance of success, choose stems that have their leaf nodes close together and keep the stem between 10-15 cm (4-6in). Very long cuttings are more likely to dry out and fail. Avoid hard pruning until established. Instead train the vines around the structure with hooks and wire to form the desired shape and structure. The best handle design depends on the type of work that you are doing. If you are doing heavy-duty work or performing a job that will take a lot of time, the two-handed type tends to be best. This allows you to have the most control over the tool when you are using it.

Pruning and caring for honeysuckle

Once fertilizer has been applied there is not much you can do to promote flowering this season and you may have to wait till the following year for blooms. I’ve used my Husqvarna for years for undergrowth, trees, overgrowth, hay fields, and even as an edger when my pole edger was out of commission. Be sure to bring your blower, because it will leave plenty of debris around to clean up. However strong fertilizer or frequent applications of fertilizer should be avoided as this promotes foliage and growth of vines at the expense of flowers. Clean and sterilize tools: Before taking the cuttings, make sure to clean and sterilize your cutting tools. This prevents the spread of diseases or pests to the new plants. Use a mixture of water and bleach or rubbing alcohol to disinfect the cutting tools.

Remember to leave on the browning flower heads to encourage berries for extra interest and as food for the birds Clean, sharp knife: This will be used to prepare the cuttings and remove any excess leaves or buds. Partial sun or dappled light throughout the day is often enough for a good display of flowers but full shade during the Summer on all parts of the plant reduces flowering significantly.

Neglected Honeysuckle Pruning

Create a humid environment: Place a clear plastic bag over the container or use a propagator to create a mini greenhouse effect. This will help retain moisture and create a humid environment for the cuttings.