I have spent hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours planting a shaded
area around my pergola with dense concentrations of Vinca Minor, only
to see the bed infested with Creeping Charlie. I thought Vinca was
supposed to choke out competing plants? After three years, I see
little evidence of this. Every spring , it's a tussle royal between
these two plants. After three years, Other than hand weeeding, is
there anything that will get rid of the weed and not harm the Vinca?


Larry

In article
,
" wrote:

I have spent hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours planting a shaded
area around my pergola with dense concentrations of Vinca Minor, only
to see the bed infested with Creeping Charlie. I thought Vinca was
supposed to choke out competing plants? After three years, I see
little evidence of this. Every spring , it's a tussle royal between
these two plants. After three years, Other than hand weeeding, is
there anything that will get rid of the weed and not harm the Vinca?


Larry

Consider PACHYSANDRA terminalis (Japanese Spurge). Try not to
purchase as it expensive and it can be pulled and plugged in if a
neighbor has a patch. We got a lot and our vinca is minor in growth
habits compared to PACHYSANDRA. Stands about 9 inches tall though.

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
Neat place .. http://www.petersvalley.org/
http://www.saltspringseeds.com/

Having had some (bad) experience with Creeping Charlie, I suggest
transplanting your Vinca to a temporary "safe haven" and spraying Charlie
with a strong dose of RoundUp Ultra --- not once, but as often as it takes
to wipe it out, since you almost certainly won't get it all the first round
(seeds yet to sprout). Then replant the Vinca after you're absolutely sure
Charlie is gone. Like poison ivy, you may need to do a little hand weeding
later, but it should only be an occasional skirmish, not an all out war.