Honeysuckle planting depth.

Hiya, this question is probably a little unconventional as I appreciate it is not really the ideal way to do it. However, I have a Honeysuckle ( Lonicera Graham Thomas ) planted 2 years growing up an old tree trunk, on an embankment, well established and flowering well.

I have to build up the level of the soil around it by approximately 18 inches. I don’t really want to disturb it, if I can get away with making the ground up around the bare stems will not hurt it. “So” that is my question. If I bury 18 inches of the bare stems will it “layer” ie send out roots from the nodes buried or will it suffer?

 

18" is a lot! Maybe too much?
Yes, it might layer itself but you can help it by lowering a stem or two, nicking the undersides with a sharp knife and pushing the stems in the soil and either pegging down or placing a stone over them.
If the main plant struggles at least you have the layered stems to take over. In fact, I would layer 3 or 4 if you can.
Can you build up the soil around your plant without getting too close to it? Maybe leaving a sort of moat.

 

Ahhhh....thanks Verdun, not a bad call. I could build up the ground behind, layer in to that and then risk it at the front once the have taken . I might try that.

 

2 years old stems might be too woody to readily sprout if buried, but probably some will. To make sure you don't lose the plant, Verdun's advise sounds perfect. In addition it might be worthwhile taking cuttings from the fresh top growth and once rooted in pots, plant them in.

My Lonicera cuttings taken a month ago rooted straight away and filled their pots in a few weeks in this lovely weather. It's a tough plant so as long as there are healthy roots the cuttings can go in the fresh soil.