Heavy pruning honeysuckle?

[Blackcats7]

I have an old established honeysuckle but all the flowers and new growth is on my neighbours side of my fence as it drapes over the top. Can't pull it back over, have tried.
If I chop the top off will it survive and I can then train new growth to my side?
My neighbour is truly awful so I am past caring if this annoys or not.
I just want to see my honeysuckle flowers!

Hello Blackcats7,

Climbing honeysuckle over time will end up with more growth as you have found above where you want it resulting in sometimes lots of bare stems. Climbing honeysuckle does respond well to hard pruning back. In the past I have cut one back i.e. all stems back to around 30cm. All the new growing can be trained into the form you want.
If you do go for a hard pruning back don’t forget to apply a good shrub fertiliser around the base, keeping it well watered and apply a good mulch to a depth of 5cm.

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-honeysuckle/#

Happy gardening
👩‍🌾

I recommend Pruning & Training by the RHS if you have not already have a copy.

There are later editions however they all cover the same pruning techniques.

Happy gardening
👩‍🌾

@thesustainablegardener thank you. I will get it chopped!

My pleasure

👩‍🌾

If it’s flowering your neighbour’s side, that’s where the best sun is. You can confine it to your side, but it may not flower as well as it does for your neighbour.

Just be prepared for your neighbour to lose it with you.

I had a very old clematis when I moved in my house which had grown over my shed. On my side - wooden stems. On her side - all the flowers.

Cut it back and she came round to yell at me for ages.

@AnnaMagnani That train left the station a long time ago so nothing I do or don’t do will ever improve the neighbour situation.

@MereDintofPandiculation actually my side is very sunny, it is just that this is an old plant so on my side it is just woody stems.

@Blackcats7 for me, honestly it was a blessing as she stopped talking to me.

We didn't previously 'talk' she just yelled at me, but apparently after the clematis I wasn't even worth that.

Bliss.

@AnnaMagnani if only I could reach a state of peace with mine. Glad it worked out for you though.