A climbing thing showed up approximately one month ago. The vine has already covered one shrub and is spreading onto another. I have a dog and want to make sure it's not poisonous. Each leaf has five "fingers." The stems have little bumps that aren't thorns but hurt when I pull off the vine. I've never seen anything like it.
The prickly stem gives it away. You're dealing with Japanese hops, a non-native invasive vine that smothers native vegetation. The stem hairs can cause blistering and dermatitis to humans. Japanese hops is not specifically listed by the SPCA as poisonous to pets, but beer-making hops are poisonous to pets and belong to the same genus as Japanese hops. You'll want to pull up this annual vine from the roots anyway, before it takes over your landscape. Do not let it form seeds and establish a seed bank. Use the HGIC website search box for more help.
I have a big pot outdoors which is my new ornamental pond. It has one water lily and three fish. The lily hasn't bloomed, though it is putting out new leaves. If I use Miracle-Gro, will it hurt the fish?
Water lilies need to be fertilized in the spring and through the summer. We recommend fertilizer tablets, which are made specifically for water garden plants. You can find these in garden centers and stores that sell aquatic garden plants and accessories. Follow the label instructions for how to insert the tablet into the pot with the plant. They do not harm fish.
University of Maryland Extension's Home and Garden Information Center offers free gardening and pest information at extension.umd.edu/hgic. Click "Ask Maryland's Gardening Experts" to send questions and photos.
Digging deeper
Trumpet vine
Campsis radicans
Pops of orange for over a month in summer make trumpet vine a fun addition. In coral to red and orange shades, the big clusters of 3-inch flowers bloom a few at a time in the long tubular shape that hummingbirds love. Leaves are compound and dark green. Their palmy effect, along with the brilliant flowers, create an almost tropical look, yet trumpet vine is a hardy Maryland native. Flowers turn into long skinny pods whose seeds feed wildlife. In winter, the flaky vine also adds interest. This is a rambunctious woody vine that needs sturdy support in sun to part shade. A fence, arbor or dead tree will suffice. In a contained space, plan on a vigorous pruning in early spring. Mow down runners. Leaves and flowers can cause skin irritation, so wear gloves. Easy to propagate from seed.