Sunlight

• Selecting a planting site with the appropriate sun exposure is important. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, these groundcovers perform best in partial- to full-shade locations. Avoid planting pachysandra in full- or partial-sun sites. If exposed to too much direct sunlight, pachysandra's foliage bleaches or scorches. For best results, plant pachysandra groundcover in a spot with no more than two hours of direct sun per day.
  
  

Irrigation

• Pachysandra requires 1 inch of moisture per week during the spring and summer of its first year of growth in order to develop a healthy root system. Provide supplemental irrigation whenever rainfall is inadequate. During subsequent years, water pachysandra weekly during hot, dry weather. Apply the water to the soil, rather than the foliage; wetting pachysandra's foliage breeds conditions suitable for fungal diseases. Reduce the frequency of irrigation, if necessary, to prevent the soil from becoming overly saturated; prolonged exposure to overly wet soils may cause pachysandra's roots to rot.
  
  

Fertilization

• Occasional fertilizer applications help pachysandra groundcovers grow and spread more quickly. Feed pachysandra with a half-strength solution of a water-soluble fertilizer specially formulated for use with evergreen plants in the early spring. Apply a second feeding in the early summer. Overfertilization burns the plant's roots and foliage.
  
  

Pruning

• Pruning pachysandra groundcovers once every 3 to 5 years revitalizes its growth. The best time to prune pachysandra is the early spring before observing new growth. Use sharpened and sterilized pruning shears to cut the plant back to just 1 inch above the surface of the soil. Gently rake the growing area to remove the pruning debris. Water and fertilize pachysandra after pruning.