Honeysuckle for Plots?

[longtimegone]

I have recently seen a few places talking about japanese honeysuckle as a good browse for deer and turkey. The best sounding setup is to plant it and build a 4ft trellis of wire fence in a triangle /\ over it to protect the roots from browse. Of course it would provide great shelter for small game too. Sounds very low maintainence (other than keeping it from spreading) and maybe too good to be true.

Any Thoughts

[slickhead slayer]

The Dept's official stance is no on honeysuckly, because its an invasive species. But off the record most will tell you it has benefits. Like you stated, you need to protect it from overbrowsing until it gets started. What I did, I planted it inside the TOPS that were left from some recent logging we had done. The logging we had done, was done to create bedding and browse. So the addition of honeysuckle was perfect in our situation. And the tops created a perfect scenario, it protected the plant until it had a chance to grow, and it provided something for the plant to grow over top of.
The good thing about honeysuckle, its very hardy, and very tough to kill. You can find all you want on farmland, and transport it pretty easily.

[Al]

I bet if you walk your place you'll find a bunch already. Esp. on the field edges and fence rows. Its one of the few things green in the winter, here the deer bed in it.

[headoftheholler]

I bet if you walk your place you'll find a bunch already. Esp. on the field edges and fence rows. Its one of the few things green in the winter, here the deer bed in it.
Very true, harvested many deer coming/going from honeysuckle in mornings and evenings.

[longtimegone]

Ok, I'm convinced.:D How fast does it grow...some folks talk like its Kudzoo and if I put 3 plants on a 100 foot of trellis I'll be mowing it to contain it 1yr later.

Any Thoughts?

[headoftheholler]

Never planted any, always found it on fencelines and property boundries (old fencelines)

[randy grider]

i'm in the process of "trying" to eradicate bush honeysuckle on my 15 acres of woods, doesn't sound like a big problem does it?
Well it is ! That crap is so thick the ground is bare dirt, it inhibits the regrowth of my native species of trees.If this goes unchecked eventually the older trees die out and you have nothing but honeysuckle.
Since cutting it the ground is alive with native plants growing.
If its a non-native species don't plant it !
I realize you are talking about the honeysuckle vine, but it to is an invasive species, steer clear.