As winter approaches, many gardeners start preparing their gardens and landscapes for the cold months ahead. One important winter preparation task is cutting back vinca plants. Vinca, also known as periwinkle, is a popular ground cover plant that blooms beautifully in spring and summer. However, to ensure your vinca plants survive the winter and return vigorously in spring, proper cutting back is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover when, how, and why you should cut back vinca for winter.
When to Cut Back Vinca for Winter
Timing is crucial when cutting back vinca for winter preparation, Cutting too early or too late can negatively impact the plant’s winter survival and spring regrowth Here are some tips on ideal timing
-
Wait until after the first frost hits This allows you to assess and remove any frost damaged foliage,
-
Late fall before the ground freezes is ideal. Mid October to mid November is recommended for most regions.
-
Don’t cut back too early in fall or you may get regrowth that is damaged by subsequent frosts.
-
Cutting back too late in winter leaves plants vulnerable to damage from heavy snow or ice.
How to Cut Back Vinca for Winter
Cutting back vinca properly is vital for the plant’s health. Follow these steps:
1. Gather Necessary Tools
Make sure all of your tools are clean, sharp, and germ-free. This includes secateurs, loppers, and hedge trimmers. Dull tools tear rather than cut cleanly.
2. Assess and Remove Dead Foliage
Look for and get rid of any leaves and stems that are dead, broken, or sick. This prevents disease spread.
3. Cut Back Stems
Trim stems back to around 1/3 to 1/2 of their height. This reduces transpiration over winter, conserving moisture and energy.
4. Shape as Desired
Prune any remaining stems and foliage to maintain a shapely form. Bushy, mounded forms or formal topiaries can be shaped.
5. Make Final Checks
Do a final check for any remaining dead foliage to remove. Clean up all cut debris when done.
Why Cut Back Vinca for Winter
Cutting back vinca in late fall provides several benefits:
-
Prevents damage from heavy snow and ice accumulation which can break unsupported stems.
-
Removes dead and damaged foliage to prevent disease spread.
-
Promotes more vigorous, compact regrowth in spring.
-
Maintains a tidy, attractive form over winter months.
-
Reduces moisture loss and conserves energy reserves over winter.
Post-Pruning Care
After cutting back vinca for winter, provide care to help the plants recover:
-
Water thoroughly after pruning to reduce transplant shock.
-
Apply a balanced fertilizer to fuel regrowth. Avoid high nitrogen types.
-
Mulch around plants to insulate roots and reduce weeds.
-
Check for signs of stress and diseases. Address issues promptly.
-
Protect from harsh winter winds and freezing. Cover or move containers in doors.
If you keep an eye on and care for your vinca all winter, it will stay healthy and be ready for strong growth in the spring.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When cutting back vinca, it’s important to avoid these common mistakes:
-
Pruning too severely – only remove up to 50% of growth.
-
Pruning too late in fall after ground has frozen.
-
Leaving damaged, diseased foliage that can spread infection.
-
Cutting way early in fall, stimulating new growth subject to frost damage.
-
Not disinfecting tools between plants or cuts, spreading disease.
-
Not making clean cuts just above leaf nodes.
Key Takeaways
-
Cut back vinca in late fall, after first frosts hit, before ground freezes.
-
Remove dead foliage, cut stems back by 1/3 to 1/2 of height.
-
Pruning prevents winter damage, promotes spring regrowth.
-
Avoid over pruning, late pruning, and not disinfecting tools.
-
Provide proper care after cutting back to help recovery.
Cutting back vinca properly in late fall prepares the plants for winter and promotes lush, vigorous regrowth in spring. Follow these tips for successfully cutting back vinca for winter.
Planting
Plant vinca minor in spring or fall when temperatures are mild. Dig a hole that is bigger than the plant’s root ball. Then, put the plant in the hole, fill the hole back up with soil, and water the plant.
Space them about a foot apart if you want to fill in an area quickly. These plants usually don’t have a hard time growing quickly, and their fast growth can even be a problem sometimes.
Types of Vinca Minor
There is another species of Vinca thats very similar to this plant, in addition to several cultivars.
- Vinca major is often called greater periwinkle. It has larger leaves and larger flowers thanVinca minor.
- V. minor Honeydew has chartreuse leaves and tubular flowers.
- V. variegated leaves that are dark green in the middle and cream-colored around the edges.
- V. Major 24 Carat is known for having leaves that turn gold when they first come out.
Pruning An Annual Vinca At The End Of November #pruning #gardening
FAQ
Should vinca be cut back in the fall?
The best time to prune is late winter or early spring before new growth begins.Feb 8, 2024
What to do with vincas in the winter?
Vinca, which is also called periwinkle, can either stay in the ground with a thick layer of mulch over the winter or be brought inside as a houseplant.
Will vincas come back after winter?
The vinca major plant is a cold-hardy perennial that makes a beautiful ground cover. But this is not it. its the bedding plant annual vinca (Catharanthus roseus) it will die each year with the first frost and cant take low temps. they will however sometimes reseed but ive personally never had that happen.
How to make vinca come back every year?
Annual Vinca should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!.