Lawn Guardian

Pachysandra Care Guide

Pachysandra terminalis

ground_coverZones 4–8deer resistant

Reliable evergreen ground cover for deep shade. Dense whorls of glossy dark green leaves form a uniform carpet. Very shade tolerant but slow to establish.

At a glance

Season-by-season care

Spring

Edge plantings Spring

Keep pachysandra contained within its bed by trimming runners at edges.

Apply light fertilizer Early spring

Apply balanced granular fertilizer to encourage fill-in of bare spots.

Summer

Monitor for volutella blight Throughout summer

Watch for tan spots on leaves and stem dieback, especially in overcrowded plantings.

Fall

Remove fallen leaves After leaf drop

Clean tree leaves off the pachysandra bed so they don't smother the evergreen foliage.

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Related plants

Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns