Cultivating and Regulating Periwinkle Plant Growth in Your Home Garden
Periwinkles, with their glossy evergreen foliage and stunning flowers, are popular choices for gardeners due to their hardiness and adaptability. However, some varieties, such as the greater periwinkle (Vinca major), can become invasive and require careful management.
The most common types of periwinkle are lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) and greater periwinkle (Vinca major). The lesser periwinkle, often the best choice for gardens, forms neat mats of growth, making it an ideal choice for ground coverage and awkward spots. On the other hand, greater periwinkle produces large blue flowers against mid-green leaves and can become invasive if not controlled.
To keep the invasiveness of greater periwinkle under control, a combination of physical removal, pruning, and careful maintenance is recommended. Frequent pinching and trimming of young plants can help control growth. After the plants have finished blooming, trimming them back can prevent excessive spreading.
Regular pruning of established plants helps contain the plant size and encourages healthy growth without over-spreading. This can be done by cutting back unwanted new growth periodically.
To prevent flowering and seeding, remove flowers and seed heads to stop the plant from spreading further by seed. Bag and dispose of the removed material properly to avoid re-infestation.
Digging a trench around Vinca major can help limit its root spread, especially if it’s encroaching from a neighbor’s yard. This physical root barrier can reduce its invasive spread underground.
Reducing water in infested areas can stress the plants and slow their spread. Alternatively, cutting stems at ground level and covering the area with a box or bin can starve the plants of light and moisture.
When removing invasive patches, do so when the soil is moist to reduce root breakage, making it easier to extract the entire root system and reduce regrowth.
Overall, combining regular pruning and physical barriers with removal of reproductive parts and maintaining garden hygiene will help keep Vinca major’s invasiveness under control in your garden.
Periwinkles are easy to plant and care for. They should be planted with the top of the rootball level with the ground. Periwinkle can be planted in autumn or spring. If planting in spring or summer, keep it well-watered during dry spells until established.
Periwinkles thrive in all but the most extreme soils and situations. For best results, grow periwinkles in moist but well-drained soil. If the soil is poor, improve it by digging in well-rotted organic matter before planting.
Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea' bears rich plum-purple flowers and dark green leaves, while Vinca minor 'Gertrude Jekyll' has dark green leaves and brilliant white flowers. Vinca major 'Variegata' has cream and green variegated foliage and blue flowers, and Vinca minor 'Argenteovariegata' has green variegated with creamy-white foliage.
Alternatively, periwinkle shoots with roots can be detached from the parent plant and grown individually in small pots. Periwinkle shoots develop roots where they touch the ground, and plants can be divided during autumn.
In conclusion, with their easy care and beautiful appearance, periwinkles are an excellent choice for any garden. By following the tips provided, you can enjoy the beauty of periwinkles while keeping their invasiveness under control.
To keep the invasiveness of greater periwinkle (Vinca major) under control within a home-and-garden setting, regular pruning of established plants, periodic removal of unwanted growth, and bagging seed heads are essential lifestyle practices. This combination of care and maintenance, along with the removal of invasive patches when the soil is moist, can effectively help manage the invasive tendencies of this plant in your home-and-garden lifestyle. Meanwhile, for those who wish to cultivate periwinkles in their gardens, both lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) and greater periwinkle (Vinca major) are easy to plant and care for, thriving in a variety of soil types and conditions. With proper planting and garden management, you can beautifully incorporate periwinkles into your home-and-garden lifestyle while ensuring their growth remains manageable.
