Hi All,

I'm hoping I might leran some possible reasons for major leaf loss
which we've had for the second year running on a honeysuckle which we
planted early last summer. It's sited against a 2 meter high fence and
trellis facing west and appeared to grow quickly with plenty of bright
green foliage. Within a month the leaves started to fall off low down,
gradually spreading further up the stems but leaving new foliage at the
end of the stems. The leaves turn a mottled yellow/ brown and there were
no flowers last summer. This summer the same thing has happened again.

I initially wondered if the soil acidity could be a problem, removed
the covering of decorative stones which I'd used to cover the ground
around it and checked the pH which is 6.5. I haven't been able to find
any information about what would be ideal. The only other possible
cause I have found on the internet is mildew. Does anyone have any
ideas? Many thanks in advance....


--
ndoe

In article <ndoe.2a6jk0 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk>,
ndoe <ndoe.2a6jk0 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> writes:
|>
|> I'm hoping I might leran some possible reasons for major leaf loss
|> which we've had for the second year running on a honeysuckle which we
|> planted early last summer. It's sited against a 2 meter high fence and
|> trellis facing west and appeared to grow quickly with plenty of bright
|> green foliage. Within a month the leaves started to fall off low down,
|> gradually spreading further up the stems but leaving new foliage at the
|> end of the stems. The leaves turn a mottled yellow/ brown and there were
|> no flowers last summer. This summer the same thing has happened again.

What's the soil like, and what sort of honeysuckle? many of the common
ones (L. japonica, periclymenum etc.) will do that if the soil is too
dry - including when it is too heavy.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" <nmm1 [at] cus.cam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:e81ejn$dk1$1 [at] gemini.csx.cam.ac.uk...
>
> In article <ndoe.2a6jk0 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk>,
> ndoe <ndoe.2a6jk0 [at] gardenbanter.co.uk> writes:
> |>
> |> I'm hoping I might leran some possible reasons for major leaf loss
> |> which we've had for the second year running on a honeysuckle which we
> |> planted early last summer. It's sited against a 2 meter high fence and
> |> trellis facing west and appeared to grow quickly with plenty of bright
> |> green foliage. Within a month the leaves started to fall off low down,
> |> gradually spreading further up the stems but leaving new foliage at the
> |> end of the stems. The leaves turn a mottled yellow/ brown and there
were
> |> no flowers last summer. This summer the same thing has happened again.
>
> What's the soil like, and what sort of honeysuckle? many of the common
> ones (L. japonica, periclymenum etc.) will do that if the soil is too
> dry - including when it is too heavy.
>
>
> Regards,
> Nick Maclaren.

The main offender is Lonicera japonica, which is ironic as it is normally
sold as an evergreen! but many honeysuckles do it if as Nick says they are
too dry.
Lonicera japonica 'Acumen' and Lonicera similis delavayi are two that seem
most resistant or chose a cooler position. It is not your soil PH which is
the problem.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)