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Q: The pink lemonade honeysuckle I planted was definitely healthier six years ago than it is now. I give it a good soaking about two to three times each week during the summer, and keep it watered during the colder months as well. I also fertilize about once a month, applying liquid (diluted) Pennington Ultragreen Plant Starter with B-1. The block wall behind it is on the north side of the plant, so the plant gets plenty of direct/hot sunlight. Each year it gets more paltry. Suggestions to get my pink lemonade honeysuckle healthier will be appreciated. 鈥� J.L-K., sa国际传媒官网网页入口

A: Goodness, your honeysuckle is having a tough go of things. Inspecting the photo, here鈥檚 what I would do if this plant were mine, OK?

First, and this will sound harsh, I鈥檇 cut it back completely to a height of no more than a foot tall. I鈥檇 eliminate any and all stems that were/are snappy dead wood. Since the plant is still wearing some green leaves, I might wait until September to do all these chores.

Once the plant is cut back, I鈥檇 be moving the rock at the base back, creating three feet of area, encircling the plant creating a moat.

I鈥檇 also be looking to see if the plant is planted 鈥渂elow grade鈥� so to speak. Had it sunk lower than the existing soil level surrounding it? Or has its moat (if there was one) filled in with silt, so the base of the plant is essentially covered or buried too deeply? If that鈥檚 the case, I鈥檇 dig up the honeysuckle and replant it so it鈥檚 sitting higher in its hole. Planted too deep, a lot of plants can suffocate, so it may just be planted too deep.

Since I鈥檇 gotten it all cut back and have exposed more soil surrounding the base of the plant, I鈥檇 definitely consider repositioning it away from the wall a couple of feet. That might encourage more air flow, helping to keep the plant cooler. Personally, I think the plant, living on that south exposure wall, is getting too much sun and reflective heat to begin with. Consider moving it to a kinder, gentle location in the gardens, but that鈥檚 just me.

Now comes the watering. You say you offer a good soaking several times a week during the summer months. You鈥檙e confident that the water offered is staying at the plant and not running off beneath that rock mulch you鈥檝e got going on? The way things look now, I don鈥檛 see how you can tell. How long a period of time is a good soaking? Is the water allowed to trickle into the area at ground level for 30 to 45 minutes, getting the soil truly damp? Again, I don鈥檛 see how you鈥檙e able to tell, but with a few modifications to the base area of the honeysuckle, the water offered would do a better job.

The fertilizer you offer, is it listed on its label as a fertilizer to be used continually or one that is meant to give newly-planted plants a good leg up while they are settling in? To me, not being familiar with the product, it sounds like you鈥檙e applying too much, too often, for too long a period. I encourage you to reread the label to be sure this fertilizer is applicable to how you are using it.

I鈥檓 most concerned by the looks of the area at the base of the plant. The rock mulch just looks like it鈥檚 too restrictive for the plant to be able to perform well. Again, if it was me, I鈥檇 cut the plant back completely, give the area it鈥檚 living in a good look see, make a couple of adjustments and see if that could help the honeysuckle rebound so it looks again like its former self!

Good luck and Happy Diggin In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, sa国际传媒官网网页入口, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, sa国际传媒官网网页入口, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.