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Cutting Back a Yellow Trumpet Vine

Q: My yellow trumpet vine has never flowered after a few years. I just read your advice to cut it way back before it gets its leaves. Is it too late to do it now? I trimmed some of the longer branches, but it is starting to get leaves. Can I still cut it way back?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Thanks,
Patty from Pine Bush, NY

A: Patty,

It sounds as though your vine is still pretty young. If it has only been a few years since you planted it, don't worry about cutting it. Prune it or cut it back to keep it from growing out of control, but otherwise you can leave it alone. Trumpet vines can take as long as 5 years before they flower for the first time. For the first few years (or longer), the vines tend to put their energy into elongating their stems more so than producing leaves and flowers. Because this vine flowers on new growth, it's best to do any serious pruning either after it flowers or in the fall or early spring. Severe pruning is best left for well-established plants that need to be reinvigorated. Lateral, rather than vertical growth will encourage the most flowers so you can pinch back some of the new shoot ends to help balance their growth in a horizontal direction. I've heard of trumpet vines taking as long as 10 years before flowering, so try and be patient and hope that you have a vine genetically predisposed to blooming at an early age.

Ellen

About The Author:
Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com

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