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Periwinkle is a perennial vine that is considered an invasive weed in most areas of the United States. The periwinkle thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 11 and grows in full sun or shade. The aggressive periwinkle produces runners along the surface of the soil, which will sprout new growth. Killing periwinkle without harming nearby vegetation is a time-consuming task. Cutting or mowing will merely cause the plant to grow in abundance. Fortunately, with manual labor and diligence, you can clear the periwinkle from your property.

1 Remove the periwinkle runners from the ground with a garden rake. Stuff the removed runners into a garbage bag. Use your hand instead of the garden rake when removing runners near other vegetation that you do not want to harm.

2 Dig the periwinkle and its roots out of the soil about 4 to 6 inches deep. Dump the soil, plants and roots in a garbage bag. Do not discard the soil or plant in another location. Doing so will result in new periwinkle growth in that area.

3 Cover the area with black plastic. Place large rocks, blocks or wood on the edges of the plastic to weigh it down. The plastic will heat the area underneath, killing the plants. Leave the plastic in place for 4 to 6 weeks. Examine the plastic regularly and replace it if the black plastic develops holes or rips.

4 Monitor the area regularly and remove any new periwinkle growth and its roots with a shovel. Place the plant and soil in a garbage bag.

Things Needed Garden rake

Garbage bag

Shovel

Black plastic

Large rocks, blocks or wood

Tips Wear work gloves to protect your hands when removing the periwinkle.

Using chemical weed killer will kill the periwinkle. However, if you are not careful, the weed killer will also damage nearby vegetation. If you use chemical weed killer, do so on a calm day when there is no chance of rain.