My vinca major groundcover is dying back, one stem at a time. Is this a fungus or stem blight? What can I do? Last year I applied cornmeal and it did help, but now it's back and there's more of it.

Jan Lemon

First of all, has the watering or sunlight exposure changed in the last couple of years? Have you fertilized? Is there mulch to keep the ground moist and cool around it?

Cornmeal and compost is a really good remedy to a lot of what ails most plants, it seems for me. I'd say spread some and let it fall down to the ground and water it in well with a sprinkler. Also a good foliar feed with Garrett Juice or seaweed with compost tea would help a lot.

Hope that will help you get started.

Kathe

Kathe,

Thanks for your quick reply. Yes, there's mulch (leaves from oak trees that fall naturally) and we have fertilized with Texas Tea. Living in West Texas is a challenge, as there isn't much in the way of organic supplies here. I do have a small nursery that will order cornmeal, so will have it in a couple of days. We've sprayed with seaweed also. Hopefully, this will work.

Janis