
This North American native plant requires little maintenance and will reward you with easy-care coverage and fall color. Remove any stems that have signs of fungal or bacterial spot to prevent spread to other parts of the plant. Use a weed trimmer or shears on ground cover vines to keep them fresh. Parthenocissus quinquefolia, known as Virginia creeper, Victoria creeper, five-leaved ivy, or five-finger, is a species of flowering vine in the grape. Use a flathead screwdriver or another flat implement to scrape the feet off surfaces. Occasionally these need to be pried away to prevent the vine from growing into areas that could become damaged. The stems attach with little “feet” that can get into cracks and crevasses. You can cut away small stems where they are getting unruly, but wait until early spring for large-scale cutting. Use plant shears to thin it back when it is getting too bushy. Choose sharp, clean pruning shears for Virginia creeper maintenance and cut outside the main stem to prevent injury to the plant. Remove any stems that have been broken from the main plant.

The vine is very forgiving, which means little finesse is needed when pruning Virginia creepers. The plant rarely needs trimming unless it is encroaching upon a pathway or structure. Annual trimming will help keep it to a size that is manageable.

When left to its own devices the vine can grow 50 to 90 feet (15-27 m.) long. He was an old bachelor who spent decades in the 3-room log cabin. There's an area around Pocahontas called Sinking Creek and once, a log cabin there was known simply as, 'Old Hell's Cabin.' 'Old Hell,' was the nickname of Philip Hellingham. Occasional pruning is a part of Virginia creeper maintenance. Old Hell's cabin was located in Pocahontas, Virginia. It can stand alone with little external influence but will grow thicker and lusher with annual fertilizer and shearing. The vine is remarkably versatile and vigorous. The plant may need supplemental water during extended periods of drought but can tolerate short periods of dryness. Treat with the appropriate insecticide to quell these types of invaders. Watch for leafhoppers, scale, and Japanese beetles. Birds will enjoy them if you leave them on the vine. You can cut these off if you have children, as they are highly toxic. They turn into round ball-like fruits, which persist on the vine and add interest. The plant will bloom from June to July with green, inconspicuous flowers. It is a deciduous, perennial vine with a woody stem. This is a perfect plant for a novice gardener since Virginia creeper plant care is minimal and it is a very forgiving vine. The compound leaves are composed of 3 to 7 leaflets, usually 5. You can also use it as a ground cover, much like ivy or vinca. This climbing perennial vine flowers from June through August. Use plant ties to help it start its climb up a vertical surface. If you are trying to cover an area with the vine, plant several at once, as the plant does not branch well. The vine climbs and adheres to vertical surfaces with aerial roots, and the weight of the plant could pull off boards and misalign gutters.

The adaptability of the plant makes it suited for any site but care should be taken to keep it off wood siding and gutters.
VIRGINIA CREEPR FULL
Virginia creeper can grow in sun to full shade, where soils are soggy to dry and even in lightly alkaline soils. The five-pointed leaves are usually just an average green but turn a brilliant crimson once temperatures cool. Virginia creeper produces one of the most spectacular color displays of fall.
VIRGINIA CREEPR HOW TO
Learn how to prune Virginia creeper vine and what problems and pests may be an issue. Virginia creeper maintenance is limited to light pruning and tying up. Growing a Virginia creeper vine provides a nearly carefree addition to the landscape. Remove any stems that show fungal disease or black spot to prevent spreading.A vigorous and fast-growing vine, Virginia creeper ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is an outstanding plant for nearly any soil and light situation. "In early spring, you can do a hard prune, cutting back to one-third of the plant if necessary. "In that case, prune away small stems at any time," Phillips says.

Additionally, this variety rarely needs trimming, unless it takes over an area where it is unwanted. "The vine adheres to surfaces using aerial roots, so if homeowners provide it an area to grow up, such as covering trellises, fences, or hiding structures, it will do its job," she says, adding that you should keep it away from siding or gutters, which could be pulled down by its weight. If you are someone who likes having Virginia creeper around-Phillips says the leaves display beautiful color in the fall and offer three seasons of screening if grown along a fence or trellis (not to mention the fact that pollinators love it its berries serve as food in fall and winter for dozens of songbirds and numerous others, including game species)-it's an easy plant to maintain.
