Question From: T. Springer - Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
Q: Hi Nancy - I'm wondering if you can tell me what would cause a lot of seemingly dead vines beneath periwinkle that seems to be growing quite well on top? The beds seem almost "root bound", but the upper growth, if you will, still seems to be growing well. Should I be pulling some of this undergrowth in order to allow the new growth to flourish? Thank you in advance for any support you can provide!
A:
The dead vines below are probably winter kill. They should decompose naturally and add organic matter to the soil. The time to renew a stand of Vinca is in spring, so new growth covers the mess. However, if it is growing nicely I'd let it be. The stand of Vinca at my family homestead is 40 years old and has never been touched or fertilized. It's thriving. Tossing a few cups of organic fertilizer such as Espoma Plant Tone over the stand in early spring will keep it happy. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
