Blue sky pruning

The vine on the garage, originally planted as a crimson glory vine (Vitis cognetiae) has never given the stunning, bright scarlet leaves that are its primary feature -  a mix up at the nursery perhaps?  When this climber performs well it’s autumn display is truly remarkable and will stop visitors - especially those with cameras - in their tracks. 

A secondary feature that is both a blessing and a curse is its enthusiasm for growth.  Each winter I cut all the growth back to the main framework and each spring it starts to throw out fresh whips up to 25 feet long!  Despite offering a wonderful overcoat to the building the fast growing and inquisitive shoots can make their way into the stone tiles of the roof damaging them under the sheer weight of the canopy.  Trained on four horizontal wires over two walls of the building it creates not just damage but a lot of work.