Maintaining and Propagating Vines

An adult creeping fig (Ficus pumila) frames a double garage but has started to grow into the rain gutter and down onto the garage doors. There is also a bougainvillea (Bougainvillea x buttiana) that has grown down low enough to become a hazard to cars and pedestrians. Dawson gives some tips for pruning vines:

• Be careful not to sever any main leads that tie to other parts of the vine; you don't want to create patches of dead vine.
  
• Use sharp shears for nice clean cuts to reduce the chance of disease.
  
• Most vines are vigorous and can withstand a heavy pruning. Remove as much of the plant as you need to, especially if it is a hazard.
  
• Bougainvillea should be pruned after the danger of frost has passed.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera) doesn't need a vertical structure to support its growth. It twines around itself and creates a cascading mound that covers the ground. Most varieties of this vigorous vine are hardy in Zones 4-9. Honeysuckle is easy to propagate.

• Cut four-inch sections from the vine.
  
• Strip the leaves off the section of vine that will be planted in the ground.
  
• Space the vines 18 inches apart.

Dawson plants the honeysuckle cuttings around a wooden fence that contains a compost pile. As the cuttings grow, they will cover the area and the compost bin will disappear behind a cover of green leaves.