Vinca , also know as periwinkle , is a popular unfolding plant found in many gardens . While some gardener let their vinca continue growing into the winter , others pick out to trim it back to keep it tidy . So when is the good clip to dress vinca , and how far back should you write out it ? In this beginner ’s guide , we ’ll hash out when and how to cut back vinca for winter .
When to Trim Vinca
Vinca is a low - maintenance plant that blooms from springiness to fall in most mood . It will continue flowering through frost and clean freeze . For this reason , some gardener delay cut back vinca until belated autumn or other wintertime . However , trimming genus Vinca in other fall give up fourth dimension for new increment before winter quiescence .
The ideal windowpane for thin out back vinca is typically September through November you’re able to trim vinca even later in balmy climates if it remains green and healthy Pay attending to your first fall frost date when deciding on the button when to prune , cut vinca back 1 - 2 week before your average first frost is a good regulation of thumb ,
How Far to Cut Back Vinca
When trimming genus Vinca for wintertime , most gardener cut it back by about one third to one half its height . This shake up shaggy-haired new growth while removing deadened stems and spent flowers . Cutting more than halfway risks excessive dieback or pour down the plant . Here are some tips on how far to prune genus Vinca in different office :
For pretty overgrown vinca , cut back by one third . This is a light trimming that take old stems and shapes the plant .
To rejuvenate severely overgrown or damaged vinca , cut back halfway . This more aggressive pruning promotes new growth .
For vinca produce as a ground cover , haymow or shear to 3 - 4 column inch high before winter . This realize away debris and sure-enough leaf .
In very cold climate , prune vinca less to forfend winterkill . Cutting back by one quarter or less leaves more stems insulated .
For potted vinca , dress stems halfway to keep the plant from becoming overgrown and settle down bind indoors .
The Best Method for Cutting Back Vinca
The most effective way to cut back vinca is using bypass clip shears . desex the blade first with chafe alcohol to nullify transmitting disease . Then do the following :
Start pruning in former tumble , before your first frost . For overgrown genus Vinca , trim back midway . For light maintenance , trim back by a third .
Cut each stem separately down to a leaf node . Make cut at an slant to throw off water and prevent rotting .
Remove all dead or discredited outgrowth . Also prune out stems that cross or rub together .
Shape and thin the plant if desired . Pruning stir bushy , thick growth .
glance over up and cast out all pruned debris when finish to keep disease issues .
Bypass pruners make quick work of pruning most vinca . But if you have a enceinte vinca groundcover , habituate a lawn mower or string trimmer to fleece the intact domain at once 3 - 4 inches high . glance over thoroughly after shearing vinca to remove all fallen detritus .
Pruning Potted Vinca
Vinca get in container requires some seasonal pruning too . Trim potted genus Vinca in early fall by cutting each stem back by about half its distance . This forbid the works from becoming overgrown and rout bound indoors . nip off expend flower head during summer also further uninterrupted blooms .
Before bringing potted vinca indoors for wintertime , check the roots . If the plant is root resile , repot it in a larger container using fresh potting mixing . trim the root and stem as take to remove circling or knotty increment . Repotting before move genus Vinca in spite of appearance secure healthy solution and continue growth indoors over wintertime .
Avoiding Common Mistakes
cut back genus Vinca too latterly , too early , or too gravely are some common pruning mistakes . Here are a few tips to prune vinca successfully :
Do n’t retard rationalise until after a punishing halt . This risk damaging moth-eaten - damage stalk .
Avoid cut back in summertime or mid - to - recent wintertime . Vinca needs metre to recover before frost .
Do n’t cut vinca back to the ground or prune by more than half . This can kill the works .
desexualise tools before cut and clean up debris after to prevent disease issues .
Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning to annul skin irritation from the sap .
When to Leave Vinca Alone
Not all gardeners prune back their genus Vinca for winter . If your climate is very meek , genus Vinca may keep grow and flowering class - circular . The main reasons to trim genus Vinca are to :
Remove all in growth and shape overgrown plants before dormancy .
control condition spread for vinca grown as a groundcover .
Prevent tubbed vinca from becoming source bound indoors .
If none of these are concern in your garden , leaving vinca unpruned is an option . Keep an oculus on winterkill , however . Severe dieback indicates the plant life would gain from some reclamation rationalise next twilight .
Encourage Abundant Blooms Next Spring
Cutting back vinca at the right sentence and the proper amount keeps it anthesis and under control . Pruning in fall aid remove honest-to-god , damaged bow and energise new growth . A well - timed trim before winter result to a vigorous , floriferous vinca that blooms copiously next spring . Just be certain to disinfect tools and clean up detritus after rationalize to maintain respectable industrial plant .
