Old Honeysuckle - what to do

qthisup

Hi!

I've uncovered this old Honeysuckle (I think!) plant in the back garden of my new house. I've had to trim it back a bit to redo the patio and I'd like to keep the plant if practical so it can climb along the new fence. However, it has minimal new growth despite lots of branches all over the place.....what shall I do? 

Can, or should, I cut back hard this time of year? If so, where do I cut back? 

Or is it too old and woody and should I start new with a large potted climber of some description? 

Thanks!

 

Hostafan1

gently try to get the main vertical trunk across the fence in a more horizontal manner to encourage new shoots along the length.

It might well be too old and woody to do this, but  , if the option is lose it and buy a new one, you've got nothing to lose .

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Fairygirl

It's probably struggling to get decent moisture and nutrition too - judging by the bottom of it. If you can clear a bit more space there, and give it some help with manure/compost/ water / a feed and a mulch, it should stand up to some pruning and new training as Hosta describes. 

They need a fair bit of moisture, and it may be finding it difficult to get enough in the location it's in.