Trumpet vine is horribly invasive. Have you researched it? I just wanted to make you aware before you got stuck with something you may not have wanted. Mints and wisteria can be pretty aggressive too.

Contrary to popular belief, trumpet vine is not happy everywhere. I have been trying to get one of the Campsis grandiflora cultivars ("Morning Calm") to grow for about 5 years now, and it still is only about a single 10 foot long leader. I have had similar trouble with the yellow form of C. radicans. Not sure if it's my very acid soil, or the fact that the drainage is very good, and they need a lot more water, but I'm still trying. George

We just replaced an arbor that was covered by honeysuckle (Lonicera heckrotti 'Pink Lemonade').. We just pulled the plant away from the arbor, cutting away parts that were intertwined and sort of leaned the big old plant away from the current arbor. We took down the arbor, built the new one, pruned the plant some to make it more manageable and then pushed it back up close to the new arbor and used a little twine to reattach it to the arbor. You can't even tell that the honeysuckle was moved. It kept growing and blooming and never missed a beat. Even when it was leaning crazily to the side with nothing to support it on the day we were buildling the new arbor, the hummingbirds kept visiting its flowers. Since trumpet creeper is about a million times tougher than anything else, including goldflame honeysuckle, I imagine you can do anything you want and the plant will be fine. It is hard to imagine you could kill it, even if you pruned it back 90%. That's just how trumpet creeper is---it won't die and you can't kill it. I love plants like that! Larry, I'm not convinced anything you spray on them will kill them. Keep us posted on that. Everyone I've ever known who has tried to get rid of wisteria or trumpet creeper vines found themselves in a never-ending battle. When we planted both wisteria and trumpet creeper here, it was with the full knowledge that we'd never be able to get rid of it. Dawn

I'm doing the same "hide a fence" thing presently. If you want really cheap, fast and evergreen, you can use any of the cold hardy English Ivies in zone 6. I recommend 'Thorndale.' It's the hardiest with larger leaves for coverage. It's not invasive here in Utah and shouldn't be in PA either (but double check). I'm only using it because I have a very narrow planting area (12-inches). Most everywhere else I'm using 'American Pillar' Arborvitae (narrow, fast, dense, hardy and evergreen). It's cheaper than a privacy fence if you purchase starters and it's very fast growing for an arborvitae (up to 3' per year). However, it maybe overkill for what you want because it grows tall quickly (20' - 30'). You can find a cheaper Arborvitae for use as a shorter hedge. If you have a lot of snow on the ground during the winter, then you may just find a privet hedge will suite you fine. It's not evergreen from Christmas through March, but it's branches are pretty dense and no one's usually outdoors during that time anyway to really worry about it. However, unlike the 'American Pillar' Arborvitae, it'll need lots of pruning on both sides of the fence to keep in check. (My neighbor around the corner has it bordering the front of his property and it's a true beauty to behold. It would be my first choice except I need full privacy in the winter months due to my next door neighbor's windows being only a few feet from my windows and currently I have to keep my blinds closed all the time because they never do). Privet is super fast and cheap, but make sure to get the cultivar 'Cheyenne' as it is the most cold hardy variety. Those are your main options for cheap and fast, but their are a lot more options available for your area if you can move up in price and/or don't mind the speed. (ie. Hollies, Yews, Boxwoods, Firethorns, etc.). Good luck.