A Beautiful Troublemaker

This looks like a pretty flower, doesn't it?

But take a few steps back:

This "trumpet flower" vine has climbed the chimney and started creeping under the siding.

I was working on a rental property for one of my clients when I noticed it. Here's the view around the corner:

It's creeping into the gutters!

Luckily it appears that no serious harm was done, and I was able to recommend a good landscaper to eradicate the vine. But it's a timely reminder to pay attention to climbing vines and cut them down before they can cause damage.

If you just can't resist the idea of a "vine covered cottage," keep these tips in mind:

• For invasives like wisteria and English ivy, look for less vigorous varieties, or ask your local garden store if there's another species that can give a similar look.
• Don't plant vines near gutters, downspouts, or entry points for electrical wires.
• Grow the vine on a sturdy framed trellis which stands away from the house. (Recommendations vary, but 6-12" would be a good start.) You may even want to hinge the trellis so that you can swing it down to access the wall behind it for painting and maintenance.
• Keep your vines trimmed short so that they never reach the gutters or roof.
• Consider training your vine over an arbor, well away from the house, like this one:

Imagine a climbing rose draped over this arbor!

If you love the look of a home covered in vines, but you want to do it safely, give me a call! I can build an arbor or trellis to your specifications, so you can have all of the beauty of a climbing vine with none of the trouble.

Yes, I want a trellis!