Vinca needs to be sheared back to stay full and maintain a hard edge to a bed. You may need to dig up the border of the bed to keep the perimeter in order. Vinca can disappear or just become spindly if left on its own. I have it in spots in my garden which is now 11 years old and I've lost most of it from not cutting it back. But I have other ground covers in I like a little better like archangel lamium.

OK, great, that's good the landscapers removed the grass. Does the area you want to grow Vinca get very damp/wet when it rains? I know there are yards that verge on swamp-like conditions at times. If so, one possible reason why your Vinca is not doing well may be root rot. I know Vinca doesn't like "wet feet", and actually tolerates dry conditions fairly well once it's established. For example, our Vinca is in an area on the west side of our house, which is dry, gets hot, baking sun in the afternoons, is never watered by us, and the Vinca is doing fine. I would select a Vinca that is not doing well and gently pull up the foliage to check the stems at the very base of the plant right where it comes out of the soil. If the stems look black or discolored, or have white fungal growth on them, your Vinca may have root rot. If you want to explore the plant further, you can extract it entirely from the soil and check if there is an unpleasant or even foul odor coming from the roots. If so, this may be a sign of root rot also. Root rot or "Vinca Wilt" is caused by a fungus. There are anti-fungal chemicals to treat this, however, the fungus can remain in the soil in the form of spores for months or even years, and any Vinca you may add back to the area may still be susceptible. If you do spot symptoms of root rot, you may want to contact the landscaping company to see if they would help remedy this problem. Hope this helps!

Pondy, Get well soon...and leave the arb trimmining until later. Although deadwood can be cut anytime, I'd wait until the arbs had put out their new growth so you know what you're working with. Mid to late June, I guess, but no later than mid-July. You want them to harden off before winter. How big are these globes, anyway? Hedge trimmers are fine for boxwood or maybe yews, but I would lean toward more judicious hand pruner cuts for plants flanking a front walk. It's to avoid jagged cuts and offers more control (remember, don't cut past the green). As for tying one on...er, tying it up...burlap has been the choice, just wrap and pin it together with small nails or similar object. Then again, you may not want that look in your front yard. If not, plastic bird netting may be an option, I've never tried it. Otherwise, a long piece of rope or jute long enough to wrap two or three times around the UNTIED plant should be enough. This will probably wrap around 3 or 4 times once tied. Start at a low branch and tie it off 1/3 the way from the trunk and wrap the outer branches. Doubling back by looping the rope on itself helps keep it from falling down. tj

It is not against the law to grow either of the vincas. They are sold all over the place. Wantanna's friend has caused her own problems. She should have done her research and done what was necessary to care for it, or killed it off. That she has chosen not to do either, is not anyone's fault but her own. Its certainly not the fault of the person who lived there before her. There are plants all over that are undesirable by some, but loved by others. I certainly don't do all this work or make all these decisions for who ever takes this house after me. I plant for my own pleasure and enjoyment as does everyone else who bothers to 'garden'. People who have planted vinca have made a choice, for their own property, which is their right to do so. They are not selfish villains causing old ladies nightmares nor is it their fault that some state park hundreds of miles away is over run with it.