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Replacement Decking with out of control Honeysuckle

jimtwalkerjimtwalker Posts: 8
in Problem solving
I would be very grateful for some advice on what to do with a Honeysuckle thats grown a little out of control when we replace the fence and decking.     The Honeysuckle is technically in our neighbours land (although they put up a fence 2ft into their garden leaving this between).  It looks beautiful when flowering, but as you can see from the pictures, it's swamped the fence.   We need to replace the decking and fence as they're rotting away and are struggling to see how to replace the fence yet retain the Honeysuckle.   
We'd appreciate any ideas with what to do.

Thank you very much!!

Jim

Posts

  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    edited April 2020
    I've cut honeysuckle back to ground level in the past to rejuvenate it.

    I would remove the rotting fencing, cut the honeysuckle back so it is much more manageable. Replace the decking, but not the fence. Leave the honeysuckle in to grow up the neighbours new fence.

    If you can you really need to discuss any plans with the neighbours as it is technically on their land and not overhanging yours. Ideally you would also have fit some trellis to train the honeysuckle if keeping it.

    They may agree to you removing it, even large honeysuckle tends to have a fairly shallow root system.

    So a couple of options, but really in this situation, you will need to talk to them.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,645
    Your neighbours have a perfectly good fence so I wouldn't bother replacing your old one.  Just cut it away around the honeysuckle and than trim back the honeysuckle to neaten and control it while you lay your new deck.   

    It will regrow quite happily and can be trained along tensioned wires attached to the fence posts or you could put in some metal mesh trellis for support - builders rusty mesh for reinforcing concrete works well and is cheap, barely visible and indestructible. 

    Always a good idea to let your neighbours know what you're planning when it involves boundaries. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • jimtwalkerjimtwalker Posts: 8
    Thank you very much for your suggestions.   We've discussed with the neighbours and are going to cut it back a bit to neaten it all up and try and save/train it with some tensioning wires or as you suggest builders mesh.

    Thank you very much!!

    Jim
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,645
    Good.  Let us know how it works out.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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