If you are planting vinca as a groundcover, plant the flower 8 inches apart for small areas and 12 to 18 inches for larger spaces. Flowers will tolerate full shade, but you will get more blossoms if the plant gets at least partial sun.
Vincas are fans of acidic soil, and their ideal soil pH level is around 5.5. Vincas survive droughts well but don’t like wet soil, so give them a home in loamy or sandy soil that drains well. Space your plants 10 to 12 inches apart to promote airflow and minimize the risk of fungus. Mulch the plants lightly if desired.
Rooted cuttings or established plants are normally spaced from 12 to 18 inches apart. At a 6-inch spacing periwinkle will completely cover an area in one year.
Trim Vinca minor down to about 4 inches high with pruning shears in the spring to thicken growth and promote new shoots. Bag the clippings securely in a lawn and garden bag to prevent the clippings from taking root elsewhere.
Space plants at least 12 to 18 inches apart. Plant out periwinkle in spring or early fall. Water the soil deeply after planting and keep the soil evenly moist during the first 6 to 10 weeks, as the roots become established.
Water every other week, or if the top 2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Vinca is very drought tolerant and prefers its soil to be on the dry side of moist. Do not wait too long to water, though.
Periwinkle, an evergreen trailing groundcover, is a common invader throughout most of the United States. It is native to Europe, where it was commonly known in folklore as the “flower of death” because its vines were woven into headbands worn by dead children or criminals on their way to execution.
Growing Ground Cover Vinca
Plant 12 inches apart, feed lightly with an all-purpose garden fertilizer, and mulch the first summer to keep down weeds. Water to keep moist the first summer but avoid wet soil to prevent fungal diseases and root rot.
Planting vinca major in containers or beds allows you to enjoy the vines and violet flowers without concern about the plant spreading. … The plants may tolerate full shade, especially in hot weather. Make sure to select a pot with good drainage holes and plant the periwinkle in a commercial potting soil.
Pinching. Caring for bedding plants often includes pinching. Pinching means to remove new growth at the tips of the branches so the plant does not become leggy.
We recommend fertilizing Vinca minor with Espoma Holly-tone®. This slow release fertilizer is perfect for acid-loving plants, and it contains Bio-tone® microbes that will ensure your plants develop strong root systems, ensuring healthy and vigorous growth.
Vincas, or periwinkles, can be infected with a fungal disease called aerial phytophthora. The disease spreads when the fungal spores in the soil are splashed on the plants when you water or when it rains. … If rains or overwatering continues, the fungus can spread to the base of the plant and it can die.
Fertilizing your Vinca minor monthly with an evenly balanced fertilizer (equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) may be helpful if your soil lacks sufficiently rich organic matter, but it is not necessary since Vinca minor does well in poor soil, too.
Remove the mulch in the spring when the temperatures warm. Vinca can tolerate some freezing temperatures, so early spring is just about the right time to open it up and let it breathe. Cut back the vines at this time if they look scraggly or overgrown.
Avoid pruning vinca minor during May and June while it’s in bloom to keep from losing the colorful blossoms before they die a natural death. Perform a hard prune every two to three years to control growth, rejuvenate vinca minor and encourage its best performance.
Periwinkle is often also called creeping vinca or creeping myrtle. Periwinkle is most often grown as a ground cover. The periwinkle plant takes its common name from the attractive blooms that dot the foliage in April to May, appearing in the color of periwinkle blue.
Common periwinkle plants in western Montana exhibited fibrous roots ranging from 1 to 3 inches (3-8 cm) long [96].
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