How to Space When Planting Vinca Minor
Vinca minor--also called periwinkle--is a perennial evergreen ground cover that is popular under trees and shrubs and on sloped areas for erosion control. It blooms small white, blue or purple flowers in both the spring and the fall. Before planting, till in about 3 inches of organic matter, such as compost or peat moss, to make the area more conducive to Vinca minor. Vinca minor is not the same thing as the annual plant also called periwinkle and vinca, but have the scientific name Catharanthus roseus.
Space Vinca minor 12 to 18 inches apart, which is what most gardeners do. In two to three years, the Vinca minor will completely cover the planting bed.
Alternatively, space Vinca minor 6 inches apart and by the end of the first year, the planting bed will be completely covered. Planting Vinca minor this closely together will require more pruning in subsequent years than planting the plants further apart as described in step 1.
- Vinca minor--also called periwinkle--is a perennial evergreen ground cover that is popular under trees and shrubs and on sloped areas for erosion control.
- Before planting, till in about 3 inches of organic matter, such as compost or peat moss, to make the area more conducive to Vinca minor.
Plants vinca minor as deep as the container it is currently in. Then, water well and tamp down the soil with your hands to void any possible air pockets, which can cause root rot.
Mulch in between the plants. This is important to not only retain water, but to also keep the weeds out. After the Vinca minor fill in the area, you will not need to mulch any more.
Vinca
Spray landscaping spray paint on the ground to designate the boundaries for the periwinkle. Remove the grass and soil from between the two outlines to reveal a trench that measures roughly 9 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Stand the edging upright, and hold it tight against one side of the trench. The extra 3 inches of height is barely noticeable but is essential in keeping periwinkle's shallow roots from spreading across the barrier. This might require using the razor knife to cut out a 6-inch section of the round channel on one piece of edging and inserting an edging coupling to connect that piece of edging with another piece of edging. Pack the soil tightly against the edging by walking along the trench. If any plants spread across the plastic barrier edging's top, pull them up immediately, and cut back the plants that grow directly against the edging.
- Spray landscaping spray paint on the ground to designate the boundaries for the periwinkle.
- If any plants spread across the plastic barrier edging's top, pull them up immediately, and cut back the plants that grow directly against the edging.
Vinca
Spray landscaping spray paint on the ground to designate the boundaries for the periwinkle. Remove the grass and soil from between the two outlines to reveal a trench that measures roughly 9 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Stand the edging upright, and hold it tight against one side of the trench. The extra 3 inches of height is barely noticeable but is essential in keeping periwinkle's shallow roots from spreading across the barrier. This might require using the razor knife to cut out a 6-inch section of the round channel on one piece of edging and inserting an edging coupling to connect that piece of edging with another piece of edging. Pack the soil tightly against the edging by walking along the trench. If any plants spread across the plastic barrier edging's top, pull them up immediately, and cut back the plants that grow directly against the edging.
- Spray landscaping spray paint on the ground to designate the boundaries for the periwinkle.
- If any plants spread across the plastic barrier edging's top, pull them up immediately, and cut back the plants that grow directly against the edging.
Related Articles
References
- Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
- Fine Gardening: Genus Vinca (Periwinkle)
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Vinca Major
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Vinca Minor
- California Invasive Plant Council: Invasive Plants of California's Wildland -- Vinca Major
- Kansas State University Extension, Master Gardener Johnson County: All About Edging
- U.S. National Park Service: Common Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)
- University of Illinois Extension: Considerations for Edging Flowerbeds
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: The Landscape Below Ground -- A Buyer's Technical Guide to Root Barriers
- Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: Spreading Ornamental Plants -- Virtues and Vices
- Invasive Plant Species Assessment Working Group: Periwinkle -- Vinca Minor
- Fine Gardening: Genus Vinca (Periwinkle)
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Vinca Major
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Vinca Minor
- California Invasive Plant Council: Invasive Plants of California's Wildland -- Vinca Major
- Kansas State University Extension, Master Gardener Johnson County: All About Edging
- U.S. National Park Service: Common Periwinkle (Vinca Minor)
- University of Illinois Extension: Considerations for Edging Flowerbeds
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: The Landscape Below Ground -- A Buyer's Technical Guide to Root Barriers
- Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: Spreading Ornamental Plants -- Virtues and Vices
- Invasive Plant Species Assessment Working Group: Periwinkle -- Vinca Minor
Writer Bio
Melissa Lewis is a former elementary classroom teacher and media specialist. She has also written for various online publications. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
