Tiny Yellow Vine Is Covering Forsythia Bush

Question From: H. Norton - ILLINOIS
Q: I have 8 forsythia bushes in a row that are about 3 years old and have been doing beautifully growing and expanding this year. Yesterday I looked, and 1 of them has a tiny yellow vine with even tinier white flowers on it completely encircling the stems of the forsythia and climbing all over it. I have never seen this before, and it is not on any of the others. It seems to have appeared quite quickly as I pass by the bushes almost every day when outside. What is it, and what should I do? Thank you.

A: Sadly I do not have a crystal ball. Take photos of the plant and samples of the vine bagged in a plastic container to an independent garden center for an accurate ID and control. I would begin pulling off as much of the vine as possible. go to the base of the shrub and cut the vine off where it emerges from the soil.