Q: I also have an out of control trumpet vine. It was absolutely the most gorgeous plant I have ever grown when the blooms looked like an orange-red waterfall on my deck trellis. However, now we have plants coming up all over our deck in between even the smallest cracks. When you pull them, several feet of vine come out. We even put black plastic cover with rocks on under our deck when we built it! My puppy loves to chew these before I can get to them (every morning, I might add) and eventually throws up green. Are these poisonous?

A: Yes, the trumpet vine (campsis) is poisonous. All parts according to the "pets and plants" website http://www.sniksnak.com/plants-toxic.html

Tell him to stop eating them.

Q: I have a trumpet vine that is out of control. There are shoots coming up all over my yard. There are new root systems and it is taking over the yard. I have tried to trim it, cut it bake and even kill it. It cannot be controlled. My friend who has one said to just trim it. She was surprised when she saw mine. It's like no other she has ever seen. I have trumpet vines coming up 20 feet away from the original plant. Is there anyway to kill or get rid of this plant?

A: (sigh) Why do people write and ask us how to kill a plant?

You could let it take over the yard. It's probably very pretty.

Or, you could move.

Just kidding. Out-of-control plants can take all of the fun out of gardening.

I would have said just keep pruning it and cutting it back. Then, dig up the roots and keep pulling up the root system until you get it all. However, you sound like you have already tried this.

Something like Roundup will kill it (and anything else around) so try to use it sparingly.

Q: Hello--I found your web site in the nick of time. I have a trumpet vine that I planted two years ago this spring. It is supported on a trellis against my garage wall, facing southwest so gets a fair amount of sun.

You mention in your on-line article that you can prune it in the late fall or early spring. I am thinking I should prune it now (weather in Minnesota has just become nice, and nights not falling below freezing).

Many of the stalks have reached the top of the trellis, and of course they are very dry. How far up from the base of the plant should I prune, or do I just take the tips off? I am a beginning gardener so even the most obvious things are often lost on me--so give me details, please, so I don't kill off this plant!

Also, last summer I finally got ONE BLOOM at the very end of a branch, late in the summer (actually
probably early fall). Does that mean I might get more blooms this spring? Any help or advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much.

A: Yes, prune now before it starts to bloom.

You generally don't want to prune the main stems, unless they are just getting too long. Then, go ahead and prune them where they are too long.

Outward from the main stems, come the secondary stems which you can prune. Cut these side shoots, count out 3-4 buds or leaves from the main stem and prune there.

A: The trumpet vine is very easy to grow, since it is native in so many parts of our country. I would let the seed fall to the ground naturally and normally. Let it winter over with a little soil over the seeds. Do not forget to pop the seeds from the pod. The pods should be mature and brittle and easy to open. When spring comes, cultivate the area and make sure you water so the seeds will germinate.