How to Care for a Maypop Vine

Examine the planting area to ensure that it receives full sunlight for the majority of the day, which is required for adequate blooming. If needed, prune back nearby shrubs and tree limbs with loppers to allow additional light to penetrate to the maypop.

Install a 4- to 5-foot tall trellis behind the maypop vine to support the vertical growth. Dig a trench that is 12 inches deep spacing it six inches behind the vine. Insert the base of a wooden, metal or vinyl trellis into the trench and pack the soil down tightly by stomping on it. The maypop vine naturally clings to the trellis as the vines lengthen.

Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the maypop vine to help keep the soil moist by preventing evaporation. Replace the mulch annually in the spring or fall as it decomposes.

Water the soil until it is damp to a 1- or 2-inch depth. Water as often as needed to keep the top 2 inches of soil constantly moist but not soggy.

Wait until after the first frost when the vines turn brown and die. Cut the dead vines off at the surface of the ground using pruning shears to neaten the appearance of the landscape. If desired, you can delay pruning until the early spring just as new vines are preparing to emerge from the ground.