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- Q.My Creeping Myrtle Has Always Been Green After Snow Melts. Now Looks Dead. Is It Or Will It Come Back? - I have had beautiful creeping myrtle in the front of my house for years. It grows naturally up here in ...
- Q.My Annual Vinca Plants Are Dying, Gradually Over Time, All Summer. What Can Cause This? - annual vinca pants are planted in containers all over my yard, some in sun, some in shade. Several weeks ago ...
- Q.I Have A Large Swath Of Vinca Minor. In SE Minnesota We Had Very Little Snow This Past Winter, But It Got Quite Cold. Normally The - vinca stays green all winter under the snowcover. But without the snow & with the cold it's now all brown. ...
- Q.Thank You For Your Answer To My Vinca/periwinkle Problem. What Is The Best Mulch To Use In Winter That Is Easy To Remove In Spring - This is a follow-up question to the reply I received about my vinca problem. Dominic
Asked by
Anonymous on
April 7, 2021Q.My Creeping Myrtle Has Always Been Green After Snow Melts. Now Looks Dead. Is It Or Will It Come Back?
I have had beautiful creeping myrtle in the front of my house for years. It grows naturally up here in Northern Michigan. This past fall I had additional landscaping done in other areas of my yard. As part of the fall clean up the gardeners did power blowing of fallen leaves including leaves within the myrtle. Now that the snow has melted, my beautiful myrtle looks dead. Could the power blowing have removed needed insulation? Will it come back? Also of note, I had one tree in the area removed as my tree person recommended it due to general condition of tree. Myrtle has a southern exposure and I did keep it watered (per recommendation of my gardener, especially when there was more sun exposure after tree removed) although in past years the myrtle was never watered. The myrtle in the yards of my neighbors is all looking green. I am distraught.
Answered by
GKH_Susan on
April 7, 2021
Certified ExpertA.I think it was the additional sun that did it in. Periwinkle grows best in part shade.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/periwinkle/growing-periwinkle.htm
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- Asked by
dotbryant on
August 27, 2022
23185Q.My Annual Vinca Plants Are Dying, Gradually Over Time, All Summer. What Can Cause This?
annual vinca pants are planted in containers all over my yard, some in sun, some in shade. Several weeks ago they began dying, container at a time.
- Answered by
native_species on
August 28, 2022A.If your soil has been wet this year, it could be a fungal disease. This will spread from plant to plant if you don't remove the affected plants. Here's an article about it.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/annual-vinca/vinca-plants-problems.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Dominic Ricciotti on
April 22, 2025
Winona, MN 55987Q.I Have A Large Swath Of Vinca Minor. In SE Minnesota We Had Very Little Snow This Past Winter, But It Got Quite Cold. Normally The
vinca stays green all winter under the snowcover. But without the snow & with the cold it's now all brown. What should I do to r evive it? There are a few green leaves scattered about. Should I cut it back or cut off all the brown leaves?
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
April 22, 2025
Certified ExpertA.Yes, it is probably caused by lack of cover through the winter.This can cause desiccation, leading to the browning you've observed. To help your vinca recover, wait until consistent spring temperatures return, then gently rake away any debris and trim back the dead foliage to about 1–2 inches above the ground. This encourages new growth from the plant's underground stems. Ensure the area is well-watered during dry spells to support recovery. For future winters, applying a 3–4 inch layer of mulch in late autumn can help protect your vinca from similar damage by insulating against cold and wind .
Was this answer useful?10 - Asked by
Dominic Ricciotti on
April 23, 2025
Winona, MN 55987Q.Thank You For Your Answer To My Vinca/periwinkle Problem. What Is The Best Mulch To Use In Winter That Is Easy To Remove In Spring
This is a follow-up question to the reply I received about my vinca problem. Dominic
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
April 23, 2025
Certified ExpertA.Absolutely! You are very welcome! Shredded leaves and straw are excellent mulch choices. Both materials provide insulation against cold temperatures, help retain soil moisture, and are relatively easy to remove in spring. Shredded leaves are readily available in the fall and can be applied as a 2–3 inch layer around the base of the plants. Straw is lightweight, making it easy to handle and remove, and it also decomposes slowly, enriching the soil over time. When applying mulch, ensure it doesn't directly touch the stems to prevent rot. In spring, once the risk of frost has passed, gently remove the mulch to allow new growth to emerge unimpeded. This collection of articles has just about all you need to know about mulch and how to do it:
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