Do n’t be befool by the adorable periwinkle flowers and evergreen leaves . Vinca is EVIL . This invasive plant has been in my yard for too long , but I have finally shoot down it .
Vinca gets into the yards of gardener who do n’t desire it because it look better , is less potential to go around , and is still sold in some stores . Then it gradually decimates all life . Here it is come in for my tree , killing my ace jasmine and moving into my neighbour ’s yard .
as luck would have it , because it ’s not as bad as English ivy , vinca can be a moment easy to remove . As I did with the ivy , I used black plastic to close up the sun . To get rid of genus Vinca , I used cardboard and mulch to suffocate it .

Vinca vine also send for periwinkle , is a democratic ground cover known for its shining foliage and cheerful blooms . However its belligerent spreading habit can quickly plough this plant life into a nuisance in the garden . To reclaim planting beds and forestall vinca from crowd out desirable industrial plant , elimination is often necessary .
murder vinca vine completely takes endeavour and consistence , but it can be accomplished through various eco - well-disposed methods Here is a comprehensive guide to getting rid of this unregenerate encroacher in your garden
Understanding Vinca Vine Growth
Before take on removal , it serve to translate what enables vinca to spread so expeditiously :
Trailing stems that ascendent at the nodes when they touch soil .
Dense matte - similar growth that bunch and smothers other plant .
power to thrive in shade , outcompeting native groundcovers .
Hardy base system of rules that regrows promptly from fragments leave behind .
Assessing the Infestation
Take stock of the vinca growth in your garden . check mark :
Location – Note bed and areas where it has become dominant .
Density – Determine if genus Vinca has formed impenetrable mats of vegetation .
etymon astuteness – contain how far down the ancestor organisation extends by gently digging .
Scope – Estimate the total area overproduction by genus Vinca in straight ft .
This inform the time and effort required for remotion . Extensive plague may need repeating treatments .
Manual Removal Methods
Manual technique provide the most mastery when eliminating vinca from bed and moulding :
Hand Pulling
wear thin gloves , uproot vinca by grasping stems close to the base and slow perpetrate to press out as much root as possible . Removing roots is cardinal to foreclose regrowth .
Raking
For large areas surround by genus Vinca , a heavy rake helps rip up radical and beginning from the land . Rake aggressively across the area to vagabond up mat .
Digging
Use a spade or garden fork to dig down and under genus Vinca roots . Lever institute up and shake off supernumerary soil . This helps remove deeper root section .
Cutting Back
Mow or cosmic string trim vinca halt to a few inches above ground before digging . This makes pulling easier . Avoid rotary tiller which can spread root .
Be meticulous about off every part of root and base fragment , as vinca easily regrows from remnants left behind . design to turn over pull regrowth .
Smothering With Mulch
Smothering genus Vinca by depriving it of light proves good , especially in large area . The step call for :
Cut back genus Vinca growth as much as potential .
Cover the entire patch with 3 - 4 in of mulch like woods chips , parting , chaff or pine needles .
Overlap sheets of cardboard before mulching for quicker smothering .
Add more mulch as finalise occurs until vinca is dead .
This eco - friendly approach may take several month but forefend chemicals . Replenish mulch as needed .
Solarizing For Smaller Areas
Solarizing uses the sun ’s heat to kill vinca roots in targeted spots :
Remove top increase by hand draw stems .
irrigate the area to drizzle profoundly .
Cover with clear credit card sheeting and seal the edge with soil or rock and roll .
pull up stakes varnish for 1 - 2 months through summer . heating builds up and destroys beginning .
Eliminating genus Vinca requires persistence as broken roots and stems get out behind easily regrow . After initial removal :
Carefully hand draw any young sprouts that emerge .
Spot treat regrowth with an herbicide moderate triclopyr .
Re - screening sphere with mulch to discourage growth .
supervise weekly and stay open-eyed over the next growing seasons .
Catching regrowth too soon before it re - establishes prevents vinca from reclaiming garden place .
What To Plant After Removing Vinca
The bare blank space allow for after eliminating vinca offers an chance to redesign with desirable industrial plant . Choose tough , militant growers to keep their own against likely genus Vinca regrowth . Some options let in :
Ground Covers
Shrubs
Perennials
Select works adapted for the tripping and wet level in that area . Local aboriginal plants work well .
Preventing Vinca Reinfestation
use 3 - 4 inches of bark mulch or pine straw annually to inhibit growth . Mulch decomposes and ameliorate soil .
apply corn gluten - base weed preventers to embarrass seminal fluid germination in outpouring . Reapply every 4 - 6 weeks .
keep up a heavy blanket of desired plants like footing covers to outcompete any vinca .
deal pull stray vinca sprouts early before extensive roots form .
With repeated program , you’re able to eradicate vinca vine and regenerate your garden beds for full .
When Is Vinca Vine Invasiveness a Concern?
Vinca vine , also holler periwinkle , has character that make it potentially invasive in sure mood and conditions :
In Moist Shady Areas
The aggressive spreading habit enables vinca to dominate moist , shadowed environments where other groundcovers struggle . It preempt native woodland plants .
In Temperate Southern Climates
From USDA zona 7 - 10 , vinca oftentimes escapes verify borderline due to prolific growth . It intrude on parks , woodland and other natural areas .
Where Allowed to Spread Freely
Unchecked genus Vinca promptly expands beyond desire fix . stem rooting at nodes enable straightaway settlement of orotund area .
Is Vinca Vine Considered Invasive in My Area?
Check nation or local invasive flora lists , such as those compiled by university extension phone services , to see if vinca is judge as problematic in your area . This provide a legal basis for removal requirements .
Dangers of Vinca Vine Invasiveness
Neglecting invasive vinca can have prejudicial ecosystem impacts :
command incursive vinca protects natural plant communities and bionomical balance on your property and beyond .
Responsible Gardening With Vinca Vine
you could still enjoy vinca in your garden by follow responsible practices :
Select less belligerent sterile assortment that produce no germ .
Plant vinca intermixed with other perennials and groundcover . ward off monumental pulley-block of vinca .
Monitor boundary line and rationalise back runners gallop beyond desire boundaries .
Remove genus Vinca from any surface area where it begins to spread out of ascendence .
With attentive direction and prompt remotion where ask , vinca vine can be contain for ornamental use while preclude unchecked invasion .
Smother Vinca With Cardboard
A more natural way to keep weeds out is to employ composition board . It will freeze the light and kill the genus Vinca as it bankrupt down and feed the soil .
habituate non - glossy cardboard , and polish off any staples and tape . Lay it over the genus Vinca roots , overlap by about six column inch to forbid crack .
Some people also wet the cardboard to help hold it in place and set out the decomposition process .
Remove Vinca From Nearby Plants
When left ungoverned , vinca run to encroach upon surrounding plants , shrubs , trees … mailboxes , deck of cards . pop by carefully pulling it off from everything you need to keep in your railway yard .
taste to rend out the vinca etymon , since these areas wo n’t be under the smothering cardboard . horticulture gloves service .
Vinca was growing through my star jasmine plant , and it was sly to severalize the vine apart . It had brown vines with some new immature shoots , but the genus Vinca had thin vine that were all green .
I sifted through the virtuoso jasmine and removed all the genus Vinca I could retrieve .
Vinca was also bulge to mount up my tree diagram and damage the barque . I gently pulled it off the tree .
How To Remove Vinca and English Ivy
FAQ
Will vinegar belt down genus Vinca ?
How do you remove invasive vinca ?
How do you cease vinca from spreading ?
Is vinca hard to get rid of ?
How do you kill Vinca vines ?
If you have a big country covered in genus Vinca and need to belt down the vines , moot using a herbicide . However , be cautious when using herbicides and only use them as a last refuge . A 3 - 4 % triclopyr 4 with a respectable surfactant sprayed during the dormant season can be effective in killing the vines without harm skirt botany .
What can be used as a substitute for white wine vinegar ?
Champagne vinegar is another modest wine - base vinegar . Fermented rice and has a gratifying and mild flavor . It is mainly used in Asian cuisine . Apple cider acetum made from fermented apples , apple cider acetum . All being a gravid option .
How do you get disembarrass of Vinca ?
During summertime , keep up the genus Vinca ’s diffuse by fag out the sharpness where it encroaches onto other area with a garden rake or a weed tool . solarisation , or using a clear plastic to track the area , can inflame the dirt and winnow out persistent roots . With the arriver of fall , a more tight approaching is necessary .
What happens if you do n’t get free of a genus Vinca vine ?
In addition to crowding out desirable botany , the vinca vine can cause problems with drainage due to its slow root system that prevents water from filtering into the land . If you do n’t get disembarrass of the vinca vine in your yard or garden presently enough , it ’s probable to spread and become increasingly difficult to hit .
How do you keep Vinca vine from exit ?
I lay down layers of cardboard or black tarp to block sunlight , which Vinca vines require to survive . The layers should overlap to leave no room for the vine to lift through . Over time , this want of light and air suffocate the Vinca , and it finally dies .
How do you take away Vinca from a tree ?
Seal all plant parts in a plastic suitcase and discard them to preclude regrowth . Another manual remotion method acting is to cover the orbit with a black tarpaulin or plastic after manually polish off as much of the genus Vinca as potential . batten down it well with rocks , logs , or whatever it takes to ensure no light goes to the leftover beginning of the plant .