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Tough and beautiful, woody trumpet vines (Campsis radicans) rise to 13 feet (4 m.), scaling trellises or walls using their aerial roots. This North American native produces 3-inch (7.5 cm.) long, bright orange flowers in the shape of trumpets. Pruning trumpet vines is critical to establish a strong framework for the plant. Read on to learn how to prune a trumpet vine.
Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is a popular climbing vine prized for its showy orange, yellow, or red trumpet-shaped flowers. However, left unpruned, trumpet vine can become invasive and take over gardens, climb homes, break windows, and cause damage. Proper pruning is key to keeping trumpet vine under control and promoting healthy growth. So when is the best time to cut back trumpet vine?
Understanding Trumpet Vine Growth
Trumpet vine is a deciduous woody vine that can grow up to 40 feet tall, It climbs by aerial rootlets that adhere to surfaces,
Some key facts about trumpet vine growth
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Blooms on new wood from spring to fall. Flowers develop on current season’s growth.
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Vigorous sucker habit Can send up new shoots from roots away from main plant,
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Takes 3-5 years to reach full maturity and flowering potential.
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Grows rampantly without pruning. Can expand up to 20 feet per year.
Understanding these growth habits will inform the best pruning practices.
Why Prune Trumpet Vine
Pruning trumpet vine serves several purposes:
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Contain growth and prevent invasiveness
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Remove dead wood and stimulate new growth
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Shape vine and establish strong framework
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Promote fuller blooms by removing spent flowers
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Allow light and air circulation to reach inner portions
Without pruning, trumpet vine grows wild with reduced flowering. Trimming it back encourages branching, flower production, and maintains a manageable size.
When to Prune Trumpet Vine
Trumpet vine can be pruned anytime but the most effective times are:
Spring
Prune in early spring before new growth emerges. This allows you to assess branches and establish shape. Cut back to just above healthy buds on framework branches. Remove all other growth.
Summer
Pruning after flowering in summer removes spent blooms and keeps plant tidy. This stimulates new flower buds as well. Avoid heavy pruning in summer.
Fall/Winter
The optimal time to cut trumpet vine back substantially is in late fall after leaf drop or winter while dormant. This is ideal for rejuvenating overgrown vines. Cut all growth back to 12-24 inches above ground.
How to Prune Trumpet Vine
Here are some tips for cutting trumpet vine in the best way:
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Use sharp, clean bypass pruners to make tidy cuts
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Always cut just above healthy buds or branches
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Remove all dead or damaged wood
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Cut suckers and unwanted new shoots emerging from ground
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Retain established framework branches for shape
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Remove at least 20-30% of top growth in fall for rejuvenation
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Prune second year vines back by at least half for strong structure
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Create horizontal tiers or train vine vertically along support for coverage
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Wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid irritation from sap
Pruning Newly Planted Vines
For the first 3 years, prune trumpet vine aggressively to establish a strong framework:
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At planting, prune vine back leaving just 3-4 buds
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In spring, select 2-3 strongest shoots and remove all others
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In fall, prune shoots back by at least 50% to force branching
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Repeat for 2 more years to build mature vine structure
Harsh pruning sounds counterintuitive but sets the course for years of lush blooms and controlled growth.
Controlling Invasive Trumpet Vines
It takes persistence to control trumpet vine from taking over a landscape. Here are some tips:
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Prune multiple times per year to keep it under control
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Remove suckers repeatedly as they emerge
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Monitor for new sprouts and remove quickly
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Cut vine back to 6 inches above ground in winter annually
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Completely remove vine if undesired by digging up roots
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Use an herbicide on cut stems to kill trumpet vine fully
Proper pruning, control of suckers, and monitoring for new growth are critical for managing invasive trumpet vines.
Knowing when and how to cut back trumpet vine is important for maximizing flowers and controlling spread. While it can be pruned anytime, focus on heavy pruning in late fall and early spring. Remove at least 20-30% of top growth annually. Aggressively prune vines in the first 3 years to establish shape. Control suckering by digging out or using an herbicide on cut stems. With good pruning practices, trumpet vine can be a wonderful asset in the garden.
How to Prune a Trumpet Vine
It takes two or three years for a trumpet vine to develop a strong framework of branches. To accomplish this, you’ll want to start pruning trumpet vines the year after you plant them.
Since trumpet vine blooms in midsummer on current year’s growth, severe fall pruning won’t limit the vine’s flowers the next summer. In fact, pruning trumpet vines properly encourages the plants to produce more flowers every summer. The plant is prolific and sends up multiple basal shoots.
It’s a gardener’s job to reduce that number to begin building a long-term framework for the flowering shoots. This process requires cutting trumpet vine plants back in the fall. The following spring, it’s time to select the best and the strongest vine shoots and prune back the rest.
This pruning procedure is appropriate for newly planted trumpet vines and also for mature trumpet vines that need renovation.
When to Prune Trumpet Vines
Your first job is to harden your heart to cutting trumpet vine plants in autumn. When you are cutting trumpet vine plants back, you can prune them off at ground level or leave up to 8 inches (20.5 cm.) of vine. This type of trumpet vine pruning encourages vigorous basal shoot development in spring.
When new growth begins, you select several of the strongest shoots and train them to the supporting trellis. The rest must be cut to the ground. Once a framework of several strong shoots extends over the trellis or allotted space – a process that may take several growing seasons – trumpet vine pruning becomes an annual affair. In spring, after all danger of frost is past, you prune off all lateral shoots to within three buds of the framework vines.
Pruning A Red Trumpet Vine
FAQ
How far back can you cut a trumpet vine?
When you are cutting trumpet vine plants back, you can prune them off at ground level or leave up to 8 inches (20.5 cm.) of vine.Apr 4, 2021
Does trumpet vine bloom on old or new wood?
Trumpet vines bloom on new growth, so deadheading after the flowers will encourage a second showing. Trumpet-shaped yellow, orange, and red flowers bloom from June to September in the summer.
How do you winterize a trumpet vine?
You do not have to provide much trumpet vine care in winter to protect the plant. Caring for trumpet vine in winter is simply a matter of layering some organic mulch over the vine’s roots.
How do I get more blooms on my trumpet vine?
Make sure the plant receives plenty of sunlight. Move plants to a full sun location if needed. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers near the plant. These encourage leaf and stem growth and discourage flowers.