How to Kill Weeds in Periwinkle

by Jessica Mahoney

    Ground cover plants such as lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor) cover soil with dense foliage. Although periwinkle greatly reduces the number of weeds in an area, pesky weeds, particularly grasses, can still grow among the plants. Killing weeds among lesser periwinkle plants proves a challenge because you risk killing the desirable periwinkle in the process. Big periwinkle (Vinca major), a close relative to lesser periwinkle, is considered highly invasive and should be completely removed in favor of less invasive ground cover.


    Pull the weeds out of the ground by the roots frequently to prevent them from dropping seeds. Grasses also spread through rhizomes or stolons, so pulling as much of the roots as possible reduces the number of weeds.


    Plant more lesser periwinkle plants in sparsely populated areas of the periwinkle bed to crowd out and kill weeds.


    Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around periwinkle plants to suppress weed growth.


    Pour glyphosate herbicide in a small, disposable container. Glyphosate herbicides, commonly sold in spray bottles, are sold under several names at your local garden center.


    Paint the foliage of weed plants with the glyphosate herbicide, using a small artist's paintbrush. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that kills all vegetation, so a paintbrush is preferred over spray application because you can avoid getting the herbicide on the periwinkle plants.


    Spray the lesser periwinkle patch with a selective post-emergent herbicide designed to target grass species without harming broadleaf groundcovers. Choose your product carefully because just as there are selective herbicides that won't harm broadleaf groundcovers, there are some available that kill broadleaf plants without harming grasses. This type of treatment is preferred over painted glyphosate application when you have a very large patch of periwinkle with a large number of weeds, making it impractical to paint each weed individually.


    Pull up the weeds after a few days when the leaves are brown and plants are dead.


    Treat the area with a pre-emergent herbicide that prevents weed seeds in the ground from germinating without harming existing vegetation. Although pre-emergent herbicides should be safe to use on the periwinkles, you should read the label carefully to ensure the product won't damage the existing plants.

    What are you interested in planting?

    Are you looking to plant?

    Which Herb do you want to grow?

    What is your Climate Zone?

    Which Vegetables do you want grow?

    What is your Climate Zone?






    Your Planting Articles

    Things You Will Need

    • Mulch
    • Glyphosate herbicide
    • Small, disposable container
    • Small paintbrush
    • Selective post-emergent herbicide for grasses
    • Pre-emergent herbicide


    • If you prefer not to use chemical herbicides on your plants, your best option is to plant periwinkle densely and pull the weeds regularly until the weeds stop growing.
    • If the problem weeds are broadleaf weeds, painted glyphosate application is the best herbicide solution because a selective herbicide for broadleaf plants kills both the weeds and the periwinkle.

    About the Author


    Suggest a Correction

    Have Feedback?
