Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is an aggressive, fast-growing vine that is invasive throughout the entire eastern United States.
Hand pulling young Japanese honeysuckle in a small area when the soil is moist can be effective, but any roots left in the soil will resprout. Foliar sprays are less effective in spring because the herbicide does not thoroughly move from the leaves into the roots during spring growth. In summer it can be treated with foliar sprays. Don’t spray overhead vines. Instead, cut them near the soil to kill the top growth; apply foliar herbicide to the regrowth. For the cut stump method, sever thick vines near the ground and treat the cut ends with a recommended concentrated herbicide.
—Invasive Plant Control Calendar
For more advice on when and how to control this and other invasive species, see the Invasive Plant Control Calendar, which was published in the May 2022 issue of The Garden Shed. Also see the Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) fact sheet for information on Japanese Honeysuckle.
If you have a stiltgrass problem, start keeping an eye on it and be sure to treat it BEFORE it sets seed. Learn more at Weed Alert/Blue Ridge Prism/Act Now on Japanese Stiltgrass.
Featured Photo: Japanese honeysuckle. Photo courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder.