Question
we moved into a home that all the landscaping was professionally done. it is beautiful but the vinca vine has over ran the beds we have pick axed the beds and you name it we have tried. How do we get it out of there? The old homeowner transplanted a hostas from her grandmothers yard, she said it is about fifty years old , I don't want the vinca to over run and hurt the hostas. Thank you

Answer
Kitti,

I don't have any particular "trick-of-the-trade" to share about getting vinca out.

Digging was a good start, but as you know, the roots get pretty involved, so digging them out in an established bed is just going to set it back.  Setting it back might be enough to keep the hosta from getting swamped for a few years, though.

You could try spraying it out with some broad-spectrum herbicide (like Round-up).
The trouble with that is the possibility of drift onto the other plants, and the general toxic nature of the stuff.  To avoid drift you can 1) use a piece of cardboard as a shield between vinca and other plants as you spray, 2) pour some of the spray into an old coffee can (that will be thrown away) and paint it onto the vince with an old paint brush (keep it off your hands!)

Also, I wouldn't worry about the hosta too much.  I've got them coming up through  a number of different groundcovers...even some ivy.  It can actually hold its own pretty well, and the groundcover can protect the hosta when it's new sprouts are most vulnerable.

For what it's worth,
Mark in Portland