Create your Own Container Garden

Drift roses are an LSU Louisiana Super Plant selection, and are low-growing landscape roses providing you with easy maintenance and loads of color. Fall is a great time to plant roses because they establish in the cooler weather and provide outstanding color to a fall landscape. The Drift Rose series was originally bred and selected to provide all of the resilience, disease resistance and frequent flowering of the larger landscape roses on a much lower growing shrub. They fit beautifully into smaller landscape spaces, provide the perfect compact size shrub for foundation plantings, and also look great in containers! Drift Roses only mature to 2-3’ tall with a generous spread of 4’ or more. The low, spreading habit, colorful flowers and long blooming season makes them useful and enjoyable in a landscape. These ever-blooming shrubs are perfect as a border or bedding plant. They make stunning low hedge or may be used to edge a bed of taller shrubs. The possibilities are endless! There are many colors available- from shades of pink, coral, red, to a whitish yellow. Some Drift Rose varieties produce double flowers, while others are a single flower. All of them produce flowers in large clusters that can virtually cover the shrub when in full bloom! The flush of flowers occur from late spring through fall. The cooler fall temperatures makes it an enjoyable time to get out a “dig” planting a Drift Rose (as with any other tree or shrub)! Before planting, be sure you have a well-prepared landscape bed enriched with generous amounts of organic matter, such as compost. Good drainage produces the best result, so avoid low, wet areas or plant in a raised bed. An ideal spacing is about 3’ apart. There are two important things to know about Drift Roses: 1. In mid-February, they need to be pruned back to 2/3 its size, leaving 1/3 of the plant. Follow by fertilizing and applying systemic insecticide/fungicide.  2. In August, they need to be pruned by cutting off 1/3 of its size. Follow by fertilizing and applying a systemic insecticide/fungicide. Also, deadheading old blooms keeps the plant from making seeds, thus the plant will bloom more! Overall Drift Roses are hardy plants that are easy to grow. They appeal to today’s “busy gardener,” with their low-maintenance and high disease resistance!

-Prune azaleas, camellias, gardenias, quince, spirea, viburnum, wisteria, dogwood, hydrangeas, mock orange and redbuds immediately after they are finished blooming to encourage flowering for next year. -Do not prune off foliage of spring-blooming bulbs until after the foliage has turned brown. -Plant warm-season bedding plants. -Fertilize shrubs using a general-purpose fertilizer. -Fertilize azaleas and camellias after they bloom and again 6 weeks later with an acid “azalea fertilizer. This fertilizer can be used on other acid-loving plants, such as gardenias & hollies. Water the fertilizer in with the plant. -Fertilize summer-blooming perennials, bulbs, tropical plants and bedding plants monthly with a granular product or twice a month with a water-soluble product. -Mulch plants to reduce watering requirements, suppress weed growth and minimize soil temperature changes. Mulch should be applied up to 2'' thick to be effective. -Remove faded blooms from bedding plants to encourage more flowers. -Start seeds or plant transplants for kitchen gardens. Don't forget the herbs! -Select and plant roses. We have a large selection now blooming! -Release beneficial insects to organically control pests. -Prune, feed and treat houseplants if needed. They may need to be watered more often as your home receives more sun. If leaves droop or wilt, water more. -Fertilize established lawns. -Harvest seeds from flower heads only after they have dried completely on the plant. Store dried seeds in paper bags or envelopes to prevent mold. -Start seeds fast by soaking over night before planting the next day. -Remove blooms from caladiums and coleus to encourage more foliage.

Want a showy garden but on a budget? Annuals will give you loads of color for one season, and now we are in Spring through Summer. Perennials will last 2-3, sometimes more seasons with an “intermission” of sorts usually in the fall-winter months. Check out these impressive and inexpensive blooms for both annual and perennial choices. We have LOADS more available, so DIG gardening and shop here this Spring! Celosia (Annual) This classic cutting-garden annual comes in shapes and sizes that most people have never even tried. There are the brainy-looking “crested” celosia, soft plumed varieties, and fluffy arrow-shaped types. All are superb for adding texture in the border, in a container or the vase. Monarda/Bee Balm (Perennial) If you have a big space to fill, bee balm will “bee” all the buzz. In most gardens, it spreads vigorously but not aggressively, making a towering clump of spiky crimson blooms that draw hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Chances are, you’ll be attracted to the fresh, minty scent as well — you can make a brightly flavored tea from the flowers and leaves. Zinnia (Annual) Zinnias are a “must-have” flower, easy to grow and impossibly cheerful. All spring & summer, you’ll be blown away by a rainbow of color that blooms its brains out. Flowers attract butterflies, and make excellent cut flower arrangements! Salvias (Perennial) There are hundreds of varieties of salvias in pinks, purples, whites, blues, and reds, which make a statement in any flowerbed, or container. The bees, butterflies and hummingbirds can’t resist their constant flower spikes of densely packed tubular-shaped flowers. Penta (Annual) Pentas bloom non-stop throughout our hot summer, and what’s not to love about that? To add to their charm, their blooms are shaped like a five-pointed star. These clusters of color are also an attractor for pollinators. Whether you plant one color in mass as a border for a landscape, or mix the colors in a container garden, you will get pop after pop of color! Black-Eyed Susans (Perennial) These bright yellow, daisy-like flowers with dark centers, which gives them their name, bloom constantly in spring-summer. Each flowers is 2-3 inches white, and will sit upon 1-2’ tall stems. They attract birds and butterflies, and brings the trendy wildflower look to a flowerbed or container garden. Please note- All Seasons may or may not have these plants in stock available to purchase at the time you come to purchase these. If you're ever looking for something specific, please call the garden center at 337.264.1418 or send an email question via this link prior to your shopping visit!

Planting vegetables is a satisfying way to enjoy the benefits of homegrown gardening, wholesome flavor, health benefits, and lots of Vitamin D! If you’ve been mentally stuck in the mud and afraid to get going, here’s the best part- It’s NOT HARD to grow a garden! In fact, it’s pretty simple. The first thing you need to know before you begin to grow is: Are you going to plant in a pot, a raised bed or in the ground? It’s up to you. It’s a personal preference. With the right love, you can grow anything in anyway. It’s a safe to generalize all vegetable plants in our area enjoy a full sun spot. Lettuce may be a slight exception to this rule. Lettuce plants enjoy more morning sun, but the sun after 1pm can be intense for them. Water your vegetable plants as needed. What does this mean? If it rains, wait a day or two until they seem to be thirsty again. If there hasn’t been rain for a while, water every other day or every day in the heat and dry conditions. Watering in the morning is typically preferred. When watered at night, plants are more susceptible to funguses and snails/slugs looking for a damp environment. “What soil do I use?” This is a very common, and excellent, question. Since you are planning to consume what you decide to grow, the soil needs to be organic. If you are planting in the ground, either directly in the ground or in a raised bed, we recommend the Happy Frog Soil Conditioner mixed in with our bed builder product. This bag is full of finely-screened aged forest products, earthworm castings, and bat guano, as well as soil microbes to help increase root efficiency and encourage nutrient uptake. There is also humic acid, which may increase the uptake of important micronutrients to your vegetable plants. If you are planting in a container, we recommend either the Happy Frog Potting Mix or the Ocean Forest Potting Mix . Since your plants will be in containers, the roots can’t seek out nutrition in the ground, so you have to bring it to them from a potting mix. The Happy Frog mix is amended with soil microbes that can help improve root efficiency and encourage nutrient uptake. The Ocean Forest Potting Mix is a powerhouse blend of aged forest products, sphagnum peat moss, earthworm castings, bat guano, fish emulsion, and crab meal. Either mix would benefit your vegetable garden. Now that you have your vegetable plants in their soil, when do you fertilize and what do we recommend? No matter which product you select for fertilizing, there will be a recommended dosage/timetable on the package. Two of our recommended fertilizers are Happy Frog Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer and Dr. Earth’s Home Grown Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer. Happy Frog ® Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer is specifically formulated for use on all veggies, tomato varieties, soft fruits and berries. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in this blend supply the nutrition necessary to support the vegetative and flowering stages of plant growth. This fertilizer also contains calcium which helps prevent blossom end rot and builds stronger cell walls, boosting the plants ability to resist disease. Mycorrhizal fungi are included to help increase root efficiency, which may enhance nutrient uptake and water absorption. The Dr. Earth blend is handcrafted from feed grade ingredients. Enriched with organic nutrients found naturally in land plants, ocean plants, fish, fish bones and mined minerals from the earth. This nutritionally balanced formula promotes very rich and healthy soil equipped to grow the healthiest plants. If insects begin to enjoy the vegetables that should be in your belly instead, we recommend applying any organic product containing Spinosad. You have the problems- we have the solutions! Now that you know, you’re ready to grow! Get out there and DIG IT!  Click here for 10 Steps to your Best Tomatoes Ever

We all love when spring springs to life! The flower and shrub selections are endless- with all sizes, textures and colors that vibrate with the season. We invite you to stroll the garden center and see the wide range available. We put a list together of our “20 must haves” that we know you’ll dig this Spring! Cajun Hibiscus: It’s kick this list off with some of our favorite Cajuns! These locally-grown favorites are packed with Pop and Pizazz, much like us Cajuns! The blooms are stunning, with many being two-toned in color, double blooms, ruffled or even a combination of the three! Large, evergreen leaves match the large, sometimes 5’’ across flowers, all with names we can appreciate like the “Bayou Rose,” “Creole Lady” or “Cest Bon!” Distylium: These may just be the “best landscape plant you’ve never heard of” as the Southern Living Plant Collection labels this evergreen, compact-growing landscape shrub. The foliage is dense with layered branches giving landscapes an interesting look. To add to its allure, it’s also resistance to pests, heat and drought-tolerant and low maintenance!  Snow Girl Gardenia: Despite the word “snow” in its name, this gardenia blooms all spring throughout summer. There is low to no maintenance required for this beautiful landscape or patio star that only reaches about 18-24’’ tall and 30-36’’ wide. We all love the gardenia’s fragrance, but this one has a sweet & small daisy-like look to pair with its tiny evergreen leaves. Pro tip: to maximize bloom, trim lightly just after the first blooms have finished. NonStop Begonias: Are they begonias or roses?! These are begonias, but they look like sweet roses! This Non-Stop variety is given its name due to its vigorous growth habit, bearing masses of pretty rose-like flowers in a range of colors including red, yellow, white, pink and even an orange/coral tone. It’s a perfect variety for something interesting in partial shade/sun containers! Celosia: These annuals are vibrant, stand out plants, and are known for their unique feathery or crested flower heads that are available in a variety of colors. Whether planted in a Spring-Summer flower bed as a border, or in a container, these are fun options as standalone varieties or planted mixed up! These are also great annuals to let kids have fun in gardening! Bird of Paradise: Resembling a tropical bird perched atop a rainforest plant, this landscape shrub is a distinctive showpiece. It’s an easy to grow tropical that enjoys full sun and flowers in early Spring. As a bonus, this plant loves our high humidity and heat, but it does not like the unusual cold snaps we have, so be sure to offer it protection. Clematis: Every flower gardener should know the pleasure of growing clematis. If you already have one in your garden, you're probably scheming about how to squeeze in another! New to clematis? It’s easy to grow with many varieties of out of this world blooms, and is the most stunning climber we’ve ever known! Coleus: Who says flowers can have all the fun with color? These annuals are grown for their foliage, but their foliage is packed with POP! Coleus varieties number in the hundreds and each has a unique color and pattern to leaves that look amazing as a border plant or mixed in container gardens. Try one with lime green coloring planted next to one with magenta, green, and pink in an eye-catching pattern. Coleus is an excellent choice for shade areas, giving a dark area lots of color without the need for flowers! Cupcake Azalea: Your search for a new and truly colorful landscape plant ends here! This new “Bloom-a-thon” azalea boasts masses of single bright pink flowers all Spring, some sporadic blooms in Summer, and another wave in late summer through fall! They stay dwarf at only 1.5-2’ tall x 2.5-3’ wide. They are an excellent choice for a mass planting in a partial sun area. Cuphea Honeybells: Massive flower power in a hearty little plant, 'Honeybells' shrugs off high heat and continues in bloom all summer. It requires little in the way of care, just fertilize and water regularly. Best as garden edging and planted in pots and window boxes, since it is a trailing plant! Also check out the Firecracker/Cigar Plant (Cuphea Ignea) has orange tubular flowers with red overtones and hot pink throats along the branches from early spring to late winter, which are interesting on close inspection. Reaching about 3’ x 3’, hummingbirds are attracted to their color and shape! Another Cuphea not to miss is the Funny Face variety, which has trumpet blooms resembling two eyes and a tongue sticking out! Red Beauty Hydrangea: Meet a new hydrangea to the garden center this Spring, and it is a stand out specimen with eye-catching red blooms! Give it a little shade and a lot of water, and it will reward you with its flowers all summer! These flowers are perfect for cut-flower arrangements! Baby Cakes Blackberry: Spring just got “berry” sweet! The Baby Cakes® is a dwarf, thornless blackberry perfect for patio pots with its compact habit (rounded/ non-vining) and reaching 3-4’ tall.. In summer, large, classic and sweet tasting berries present on the plant in a fireworks-like spray of fruit. It’s even likely that this blackberry will produce twice in one season (summer and fall) when enjoying full sun! Touch of Gold Holly: This is a four-season stunner similar in color to the Sunshine Ligustrum. Its golden foliage illuminates in your landscape, while providing structure, the dazzling color and visual interest. It loves full sun, and requires NO pruning! Another plus is that it is a dwarf grower, only reaching 2’ tall x 4’ wide. It’s an excellent choice for an area that needs a layer of short plants with color and low maintenance! Specialty Roses: Roses in white, red, purple (yes! Check out the Heirloom) and shades of pink are always stunning in a garden or even cut flower arrangement. To take it up a notch, specialty roses like the Judy Garland, Pumpkin Patch, Wild Blue Yonder, Marilyn Monroe, Parade Day and George Burns (to name a few) give a POP and punch of unique color to a rose garden! SunPatiens: Continuous color in both sun and shade! These low-growing, bright bloomers are ideal in pots, baskets and landscapes as border plants! They don’t just tolerate full sun and high temperatures; they thrive in it. They’re the ideal plant for worry-free color; sun or shade, rain or shine, spring through fall. Carolina Jessamine: Take your garden higher with this stunning climbing shrub! In Spring, the Carolina Jessamine irrupts in bright yellow blooms and quickly covers the trellis, fence or arbor its attached to. It’s the state flower of South Carolina, thus its name. Its blooms are a trump-shape and are attractive to butterflies! Forest Pansy Redbud: Dormant all winter, in early Spring, magic happens! Delicate purple/pink flowers cover the branches, making it impossible not to be a showcase tree. New foliage appears scarlet-purple and matures to maroon. It will grow about 20’ tall with a 25’ wide canopy ideal for summer shade in the full sun! Peggy Martin Rose: This rose is a survivor. It’s also known as the “Katrina Rose” because it survived being submerged for 2 weeks after Hurricane Katrina. It’s actually an unnamed rose, but later named after the New Orleans gardener, Peggy Martin, whose home and property was under water after the storm in 2005. This is a remarkable climber that takes over any fence, wall, arbor or trellis, and covers it in pink roses without the threat of thorns. Alonia Big Bicolor Angelona: Angelonia are known as the “snapdragon” of the summer, since their tall spike-like flower blooms resemble that of a snapdragon. The Alonia series have flower blooms that fit the word “big” in their name! Their blooms are double/triple in size of the smaller Angelonia varieties. They are pollinator-friendly and heat-tolerant, making them one of our top summer annual choices! Abutilon “Flowering Maple”: Also nick-named the Chinese Lantern, likely due to their flowers have a papery consistency, this unique topiary is a tropical that is low-maintenance. It provides lots of blooms in the form of pendant bell-shaped flowers and dramatic maple shaped leaves. A happy Abutilon can bloom nearly non-stop from late Spring until the first frost. Please note- All Seasons may or may not have these plants in stock available to purchase at the time you come to purchase these. If you're ever looking for something specific, please call the garden center at 337.264.1418 or send an email question via this link prior to your shopping visit!

Clematis vines are unsurpassed for their profusion of colorful flowers. They offer a diverse range of flower color, size, and form. Flower colors range from blends of blue and red to yellow and white. Clematis vines can be used in both formal and natural landscapes. They provide the vertical element in a garden or can be left to ramble through other plants. They should be planted in an area that receives 5-6 hours of sunlight. Clematis vines require cool, damp soil, not wet. Clematis vines can be planted deep in the soil and benefit from having the crown buried 4" below the soil surface. Plant Clematis where the base of the plant receives some shade. For Clematis care: When you get it home, place it into the sunshine. Clematis prefer to be grown DRY, so just spot water. Water only when plants are dry using a water soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20 or 20-10-20 at a rate of 150 ppm constant liquid feed. A clear water irrigation is a good idea every 3rd or 4th watering. Continue to tie plants to trellis-winding around trellis. Do not cut back as this will be where the next buds will appear. Plants will have to be tied every week to keep the nice appearance. Pruning Your Clematis Although pruning is not necessary, in order to achieve the best flowering from your clematis, they are routinely divided into the following three pruning categories: Type 1. These grow directly from old stems, so prune right after all flowering is completed. Prune if space is limited or to remove dead and weak stems. Do not prune late in the season. Clematis can be pruned as short as 6" above the crown of the plant. Type 2. Clematis typically flower before mid-June on stems from the previous season's wood. Pruning should be completed in late winter or early spring when buds begin to swell. Remove dead material above these swelling buds. Be sure all new growth is retied. Type 3. This group blooms later and from new growth. They should be pruned in February or March as new leaf buds begin to show low on the plant. Remove all dead material above the buds at this time. This can be as short as 6" above the crown of the plant.

Want to appeal to hummingbirds? Consider these flowers they love to visit. Little John Bottlebrush Hummingbirds love these red “bottle-brush-“ shaped blooms that pop out at the perfect time hummingbirds are fluttering fast through Acadiana. These are hardy evergreen dwarf shrubs that go great in any landscape. The “Hannah Ray” tree-form variety is a wispy focal point. Bee Balm Bee balm's blooms appear in mid to late summer, and can even remain into the fall. The striking flowers come in white, pink, red or purple, and complement the dark, aromatic foliage. This perennial is susceptible to powdery mildew, so plant in full sun to part shade and select resistant varieties. Bee balm likes medium to wet soil and works well in a wildlife garden. Bee balm is attractive to bees, but this bergamot is equally attractive to hummingbirds. Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii attracts butterflies with its blooms of lavender, pink, white, purple, red or yellow. These blooms can appear beginning in early spring and continue until first frost. In full sun, butterfly bush can grow up to 10 feet tall. Butterfly bush is an aggressive grower, and removing spent blooms will encourage more attractive, fragrant flowers for a long period. Grow in massed plantings in cottage gardens and butterfly gardens, and use in border plantings. Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis features reddish purple stems, bronzy leaves and scarlet flowers. A perennial, it can reach four feet tall and spread up to 36 inches wide. Cardinal flower appreciates full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Consider growing in a container in a wetlands setting, and water this plant often. Cardinal flower blooms beginning in mid summer through the first frost. Cigar Plant Cigar plant is slow to take off in spring, but by the time hummers arrive in fall, they are in full bloom! Many varieties are available, but the name comes from the orange variety with a purple-black tip on the tubular bloom, resembling a smoldering cigar. Pink and yellow varieties are also common. A related plant, the Bat-Face Cuphea, makes bright red blooms with two purple wings that resemble a bat’s ears. Hummers love them all equally. Delphinium Hummingbirds love delphinium, which blooms in early summer. Height for these perennials can average anywhere from 2 to 8 feet tall, depending on variety. Delphinium requires rich soil, and areas with relatively cool summers. ‘Diamonds Blue’ is a variety bred for the heat that will tolerate our weather much better. Foxglove If you’re thinking about adding a cottage-garden look, you may want to consider foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), which may extend up to 6 feet when in bloom, depending on the variety and growing conditions. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun to medium shade. Its blossoms — in purple, pink, yellow and white — attract hummingbirds. Please note that all parts of the plant are poisonous to people, pets and livestock. Foxglove is considered invasive along the West Coast and in some parts of New England. Mexican Fire Bush This subshrub or perennial plant produces loads of orange tubular blooms that are a delight to hummingbirds. It will flower best in uninterrupted full sun, and doesn’t mind being a little dry. Flower time is from early summer all through fall. Though a variegated variety, ‘Lime Sizzler’ adds a wonderful chartreuse splash to tropical gardens, the old-fashioned standard will produce the most flowers. Porterweed Though each flower is very tiny and dainty, they are borne on long flowering stems, so plants are typically loaded with little purple flowers that hummers love. Porterweed is semi-tropical, and might not survive a sudden, hard freeze. Keep it in a pot that can be brought in on cold nights, or replant in spring. Though they are typically purple, red or coral varieties are also available. Salvia All salvia species are characterized by vertical spikes of vibrant flowers that can be found in hues of blue, red, pink or violet. Bloom time varies according to variety, and their flowers are a welcome sight for hummingbirds. Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' is an erect, clump forming perennial salvia that is noted for its compact form, long bloom period, purple stems and red and white flowers.  Yarrow Varieties of the tough summer-blooming yarrow come in yellow, white, orange, red, pink and coral. Butterflies and hummingbirds enjoy its blooms, which start early in the season and can last into mid fall, depending on the species and variety. Yarrow grows best in well-drained, average to poor soil, and can reach up to 48 inches. Trumpet Vine A beautiful climber for any structure, this vine blooms trumpet-shaped coral flowers that are also known as “hummingbird vine” since they love it! The foliage is dense and evergreen, and it loves full sun to part shade.

When fertilizing plants, the two most common options are using either a water soluble or a slow release granule fertilizer. Slow release granule fertilizers are products that are applied around the plant’s root system at the time of planting and throughout its life. The granules are applied in dry form and watered in to begin the feeding process. A slow release is any dry form of fertilizer that has its nitrogen in slow release form. Water soluble fertilizer is food for the plant that is comprised of easily dissolved components in water. You would mix a certain amount of the fertilizer per gallon of water and the mix becomes nutrients for plants. There are advantages and disadvantages with each fertilizer option. Slow Release Granule Fertilizer Advantages: · The nutrients release into the plant slowly and a majority of the elements released are absorbed and used by the plant. · It’s easy to use by sprinkling in the pellets. Disadvantages: · Since most of the nitrogen is slow release, positive results in the plants may not occur quickly. · The purchase price is higher. Water Soluble Fertilizer Advantages: · Quick releasing fertilizer provides quick results so there is instant gratification. · Since it is mixed with water per gallon, it goes a long way, which makes the cost low for providing fertilizer to many specimens. Disadvantages: · It takes a little time and effort to mix with the water and spread out. · Since the fertilizer is instantly absorbed by the plants, 90% of the nutrition are wasted because plants can only absorb a small amount of vitamins in a short period of time.

One of the most popular annual bedding plants in Louisiana is vinca, or periwinkle. It is well-known for its prolific and long blooming season and is the favored flowering plant of choice for home gardeners and professional landscapers around the state for warm season color. Vinca (Catharanthus roseus) is a heat- and drought-tolerant plant that normally thrives under Louisiana growing conditions. Thirty years ago, periwinkle flower colors were limited to white, white with a red eye and a rosy purple. Breeding work in the 1980s involved crossing Catharanthus roseus with other species to improve the color range, increase blooming and flower size and improve the growth habit. Vincas now come in a plethora of colors, including pink, deep rose, red, scarlet, white, white with a red eye, lavender blue, peach, apricot, orchid, burgundy and many other shades. They generally grow from 10 to 18 inches tall with a spread of about 1 foot, although trailing types spread to about 2 feet. If you want to have the best vinca in your landscape, consider these practices. – Select a full-sun planting location with eight hours of direct sun daily. – Prepare the landscape bed to allow for drainage and aeration. Raise the bed at least 6 inches if drainage is questionable. – Plant in soil with a pH level of 5.5. Vincas need acidic soil. – Avoid planting earlier than May. Soil and nighttime temperatures need to be warm prior to planting. May 1 is the recommended planting date. Many times, home gardeners and landscapers plant vinca in landscape beds in late March and April. – Plant so that the top of the root ball is level with or slightly higher than the soil of the bed. Proper spacing also is important because crowded planting limits air circulation and can create conditions more favorable for disease development. Space transplants at least 10-12 inches apart. – Mulch to decrease splashing of rainfall and irrigation water from soil to the lower stems and foliage of the plants. However, avoid excessive mulching to prevent continuous wetting of the plant crowns. – Manage irrigation properly. Vinca require minimal irrigation. Avoid overhead irrigation, when practical. When plants make it through the spring and early summer without disease, hold back irrigation or Alternaria leaf spotting – another fungal disease – may develop heading into fall. – Don’t plant vincas in the same bed year after year. – Don’t plant periwinkles in beds where Phytophthora blight has been a problem in the past. There is good news. New vinca varieties are resistant to some diseases. The Cora and Nirvana series are some of the newer vincas that have genetics in the breeding that makes these varieties resistant to Phytophthora blight. The new Valiant series from PanAmerican Seed for 2016 also shows great promise in disease resistance.