Ensure that you pulled up the root system and didn’t just snap off the leafy part of the plant. Hand-pulling is the most effective if you pull out the plant while it’s still a seedling so it doesn’t have a chance to spread.
Since digging up the root system disturbs a lot of the soil, plant something new in its place to prevent erosion. [2] X Trustworthy Source Missouri Botanical Garden Oldest botanical garden in the U. S. and center for botanical research and science education Go to source Dig through the soil with your hands to check that you removed every bit of the roots or else the honeysuckle could re-root. Avoid digging up honeysuckle along streambanks or you could worsen erosion. Try to pull up as much honeysuckle by hand as you can before using herbicides on it.
If you’re removing lots of very large honeysuckle plants, use a chainsaw.
If you’re removing honeysuckle from a large area, it can be hard to keep track of what you’ve already sprayed. To help, add blue or red food dye to the herbicide so you can easily see which stumps and stems are done. Avoid spraying herbicide on nearby plants. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for safely using the product. Wear gloves to protect your hands and wash thoroughly after you’re done applying the herbicide. If you don’t want to use an herbicide, cover the stump with a heavy-duty garbage bag and tie it shut. Then, staple it to the ground and leave it for a few months to ensure that plant won’t re-sprout.
Check your local city guidelines for burning yard waste. They may only allow seasoning burnings during specified dates.
It’s easier to hand-pull the tiny plants rather than wait and treat honeysuckle that’s widespread.
Take care not to use the product on a windy day or the herbicide may land on surrounding plants.
Since you’ll be working with tools, wear closed-toed shoes in case you drop something sharp on your foot.
Honeysuckle grows in a variety of landscapes—you may see it growing along streambanks, wooded areas, and prairies. If you’re not sure if the plant is native or invasive, snap off a small branch. If it’s native honeysuckle, it has a solid white pith throughout. Invasive honeysuckle is hollow.
