Honeysuckle stumps and roots: why they grow back and how to stop them

What is bush honeysuckle and why is it everywhere in Cincinnati?

Bush honeysuckle is a non-native shrub that takes over woodland edges, yards and fence lines. Ohio State University Extension says these shrubs are commonly 6 to 20 feet tall and have shallow root systems. They were brought to the United States in the mid to late 1800s from Europe and Asia as ornamentals, wildlife food and cover, and erosion control.

The plant spreads two ways. OSU says reproduction and spread is “by both sprouting and seeds, which are disseminated primarily by birds.” That is why one shrub in a yard can turn into many.

The three common species in Ohio are Tartarian, Amur and Morrow honeysuckle. OSU says that for control, the non-native bush honeysuckle species can be treated as a group. You do not need to name the species first. The honeysuckle glossary entry and the Amur honeysuckle entry give short definitions.

Great Parks of Hamilton County describes the local problem in one line: “In Hamilton County, without any natural predators or controls, bush honeysuckle is weed enemy number one.” Great Parks also says the plant leafs out earlier than most native plants and shades out everything under its branches, including native wildflowers and young trees.

University of Kentucky adds a Northern Kentucky point. Its publication FOR-175 says bush honeysuckles are dense in woodlands across northern and central Kentucky.

Why does cutting honeysuckle make it grow back?

Cutting honeysuckle at the base does not kill the roots, so the plant sends up new shoots. OSU Extension says: “Simply cutting the shrub off at the base will cause prolific sprouting and increase the number of stems.” The result can be a thicker stand than you started with.

University of Kentucky says the same thing in other words. Cutting the above-ground part alone “is typically ineffective as plants will rapidly re-sprout and grow back even denser than initially.” The University of Cincinnati reports that, left alone, honeysuckle “will resprout and grow wider and thicker than ever.”

OSU makes one exception. For small plants, it says cutting and mowing is most effective when started in early summer, when food reserves are at their lowest. It also says the key is to be vigilant and repeat the work. For medium to large shrubs, OSU says mechanical control alone is usually not completely effective.

The sprouts that come from a cut base are a type of resprouting. The wider topic of stumps that regrow is in the guide on tree roots, stumps and regrowth.

How do you kill honeysuckle roots?

The sources describe two routes: herbicide on the cut stump, or a light-blocking cover. OSU says an effective strategy for mature bush honeysuckle will “deaden both the above ground portion and the root system, which eliminates the potential for sprouting.” It adds that this is most effective through herbicides.

For herbicides, the sources give the method and then send you to the label. OSU’s own tables say their comments are not a substitute for the herbicide labels. Follow the product label, including the safety data sheet, for what to mix, how much to apply, and what protective gear to wear.

The full steps for each are in the guide on how to kill honeysuckle roots.

A note on roots. OSU calls the root system shallow. The University of Cincinnati article says the bush’s “thick roots grow deep and wide,” which makes removing a whole mature plant difficult. The two sources describe the same plant differently, so plan for work on the roots either way.

Can you grind a honeysuckle stump?

The sources here do not test grinding on honeysuckle, so none of them says grinding alone stops regrowth. University of Kentucky says: “Because bush honeysuckles can sprout prolifically from stumps, any control method must ensure that stumps are killed or removed.” Grinding removes a stump down to wood chips, but a grinder works on the stump, not on every root in the ground. See the guide on whether roots die after stump grinding.

Honeysuckle is a multi-stemmed shrub, so a cut shrub leaves a cluster of stems and a root crown instead of one trunk. Each cut stem can sprout. If you grind, plan to watch the spot for sprouts and treat them, as the next sections describe.

Cincinnati Stump Grinding grinds tree stumps in Dayton, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Honeysuckle work is not a listed service. Ask about it when you request your free estimate.

Is honeysuckle illegal in Ohio?

Ohio bans selling and distributing the invasive honeysuckles. It does not say that owning one is illegal. Ohio Administrative Code rule 901:5-30-01, effective February 13, 2023, lists Japanese, Amur, Morrow’s and Tatarian honeysuckle among the declared invasive plants. Paragraph (B) says: “no person shall sell, offer for sale, propagate, distribute, import or intentionally cause the dissemination of any invasive plant as defined in paragraph (A) of this rule in the state of Ohio.”

Paragraph (D) also lets a person dispose of or control the plants, in a manner that does not result in further spread. The details are in the guide on whether honeysuckle is illegal in Ohio.

What do parks in Hamilton County do about it?

Local parks cut honeysuckle, treat the stumps and use volunteers. Great Parks says its trained staff and volunteers use methods that include “cutting, hand pulling, mowing, burning, spraying or injecting the safest effective herbicides.”

Cincinnati Parks lists an Ault Park volunteer event on Nov 14, 2026, from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The page says the work “involves cutting back invasive plants such as honeysuckle, privet, and burning bush and treating the stumps.” Registration and details are on the Cincinnati Parks page. See the post on the Ault Park honeysuckle event and the post on Great Parks and honeysuckle.

How do you choose a method for your yard?

OSU says the choice depends on the size of the plants, the size of the infestation and a landowner’s comfort level with the control method. It also says that because honeysuckle leafs out before many native plants and drops its leaves after them, landowners have some flexibility in their choice of control options.

Use the plant size as a first sort. These are the groupings the sources use.

A caution applies to digging and machine removal. University of Kentucky lists soil disturbance as a downside of mechanical control, because disturbed soil can be colonized by bush honeysuckles and other invasive plants. OSU says large areas of disturbed soil call for care to limit erosion and compaction.

What should you avoid?

Avoid the three steps that the sources warn against. First, cutting a medium or large shrub and walking away. Second, letting a cut surface dry before herbicide goes on, which University of Kentucky says reduces effectiveness. Third, spraying leaves of plants you cannot reach well. OSU says spraying less accessible plants can damage or kill valuable non-target plants through herbicide drift or overspray.

OSU also notes an environmental point. Many herbicides are labeled to be mixed with a carrier such as basal oil, diesel fuel or kerosene. OSU says using a methylated seed oil based basal oil instead of diesel fuel or kerosene is more environmentally friendly, but you must read the label to ensure a basal oil is right for your product.

When should you cut and treat honeysuckle?

Timing depends on the method, and the sources agree on one rule: avoid spring sap flow for cut stump herbicide. OSU says late summer, early fall or dormant season cut stump applications are effective. It also says to avoid applications during sap flow in spring, because that lessens the effectiveness of the herbicide.

University of Kentucky says the cut stump method should not be used in late winter or early spring before leaf-out, because rising sap reduces the amount of herbicide the plant takes up.

OSU also notes that bush honeysuckle leaves “remain green and active late into fall (mid to late October)” when most native plants have gone dormant. Always check the product label for its own timing limits.

What does the work cost?

The sources give no price a homeowner can use. University of Kentucky says treatment of significant infestations can be expensive, and that the cost varies greatly by site, plant size, severity of infestation and method. It says that if you hire a professional the cost can be much higher and depends on local help. Its example figures come from unpublished research and are priced per acre of woodland, so they do not fit a single yard. Cincinnati Stump Grinding publishes no prices.

What happens after honeysuckle is gone?

Expect sprouts and plan to treat them. OSU says: “Monitor treated plants for at least one year to determine if complete control is achieved.” Any plant that resprouts or is not completely killed will need a follow-up treatment. University of Kentucky says follow-up visits are needed to check that treated shrubs died and to look for new seedlings.

Then fill the space. The University of Cincinnati botanist plants native trees and shrubs near the spot where the honeysuckle was cut. The article says cultivating native plants makes it less likely that honeysuckle will return. University of Kentucky lists native shrubs for home landscapes, including chokeberry, spicebush, ninebark, strawberry bush and Carolina buckthorn.

Next step

Read the guide on how to kill honeysuckle roots for the steps from each university. Call (513) 587-6772 or send photos for a free estimate.