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Why Grow Mint?

First things first. Why should you want to grow mint?

Mint is great for a lot of things. It’s most commonly used in cooking, but people grow it for other reasons as well.

It can help ease minor aches and pains, it’ll make your house smell great, and it can drive away the pests from your garden.

Grow Mint Because It Smells And Looks Good

Mint is a perennial plant that will come back year after year if you care for it properly. They grow beautiful green leaves with fragrant flowers that bloom in the spring.

For some, the aesthetic of the mint plant is reason enough to add it to your garden. Even if that’s the case, you’ll find that the lovely scent has extra benefits.

Humans love the smell of mint, and that’s why it’s so common in toothpaste, candles, and candy. Just growing mint in your garden can help your garden smell nice.

However, most people will harvest the leaves from their mint plant and dry them. The dried leaves will retain their taste and aroma. Many people will place the dried leaves around their home in a bowl or in cloth bags to help their home smell better.

Grow Mint for Pest Control

Just because we think mint smells good doesn’t mean that everyone feels that way. Besides the smell of mint making our homes smell good, it can also help deter pests. Pests like bugs and rodents hate the pungent odor of mint and will avoid it.

Because of its pest repelling properties, many people grow mint in their garden. Many plants are susceptible to the dangers of pests. By planting mint next to these vulnerable plants, gardeners can ensure their garden is protected.

People will also leave their dried mint leaves at entry points in their homes. Putting them near windowsills, for example, can help deter pests.

For something stronger, you can make your leaves into a potent essential oil. Essential oils are much stronger than the leaves themselves. Putting a few drops of mint essential oil on your windowsill or around your home can prevent pests.

Grow Mint For Cooking

What better reason is there to grow mint than for cooking? Mint has a cool, refreshing taste to it that can add extra flavor to any dish. Spearmint, peppermint, and lemon mint are the most flavorful of the mint species. They are the kinds of mint most commonly used in cooking.

Anyone that cooks with fresh herbs regularly can tell you that the cost can add up. By growing your own mint, you can cut down on costs significantly.

Some people keep their mint inside where they’ll harvest from it whenever it’s needed. Others will harvest all their leaves at once and stock up for the year. Mint leaves can be dried or frozen for later use.

Grow Mint for Health Benefits

Another common reason people like to grow mint is because of its health benefits. If you use it in your cooking or in your tea, you’ll receive some nutritional benefits. Mint is rich in Vitamin A, Iron, and Manganese. It is also low in calories and contains a small amount of fiber.

Eating peppermint or using peppermint oil capsules has also been known to help with digestive issues. People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have reported relief after taking peppermint oil capsules. It can also help with simple indigestion.

The smell alone can even have health benefits. By smelling the aroma of mint tea, you can focus better and your brain function will be improved.

Where Do Mint Plants Grow?

There are 25 species of mint throughout the world. These plants can be found in areas of Eurasia, North America, Australia, and southern Africa. They originated in areas of Europe and Asia, but have been naturalized in the other regions.

Mint is a very hardy plant and has become distributed widely across many temperate areas in the world.

Where Does Wild Mint Grow?

If you’re out and about in rural or wild areas, you’re not as likely to see peppermint or spearmint. Instead, you’re more likely to see American Wild Mint, otherwise known as field mint.

In the wild, mint is commonly found in temperate regions, although it can grow just about anywhere. You’re likely to find mint in a low-lying area near streams or in other areas where the soil is moist.

You may also find it near the edges of woodland areas, under bushes, in fields, and in meadows.

Where To Grow Mint: Pots Or Garden?

Whether you choose to grow your mint indoors or outdoors is truly up to you. Neither is bad, but each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.

Grow Mint Inside

Inside, you never have to worry about the temperature. Your mint will continue to grow throughout the whole year, and you can continue enjoying it.

The downside to planting mint in the house is that you must be more attentive to it. You’ll have to keep a closer eye on your mint and make sure it’s getting all the care it needs.

Indoor climate conditions can sometimes be unideal for plants. For example, mint likes moderate to high humidity, so if your house is dry, you’ll need to mist it frequently.

Grow Mint Outside

When grown outside, your mint plants are better able to fend for themselves. This doesn’t mean that you can just plant them and forget about them, but it does mean you won’t need to be as attentive.

The problem with growing mint outside is that it is a fast spreader. Mint is an incredibly fast grower and can quickly take over any garden when left unchecked.

This is where pots come in.

Grow Mint in Pots

Whether you choose to grow inside or outside is up to your preference. Whatever you choose, we recommend planting your mint in a pot, or within some kind of barrier. Yes, even if the mint is in the garden.

Mint grows with rhizomes. Rhizomes shoot out horizontally under the soil. They grow very quickly and can take over your garden. If you put up a barrier in your garden, you can prevent your mint from overgrowing.

Many people use a fence-like barrier in their garden. It’ll need to be placed 18-24 inches under the ground to be effective at preventing the spread of mint.

Other people will use an actual pot. You can dig a hole where you’d like the mint to go and simply put the pot right in.

Where To Plant Mint In The Garden

So, you’ve decided to plant your mint outside. Where does mint grow best?

If you’ve elected not to use a barrier or pot, you’ll want to plant your mint far away from your other plants. Put it somewhere where it can spread without bothering anything else.

How Much Sun Does Mint Need?

Mint isn’t overly picky about this. It prefers to live mostly in the sun, but likes partial shade. It can survive in full sun or full shade, but it is not going to thrive.

If you decide to grow it in an area with full sun, make sure that it’s getting plenty of water. It’ll need to be watered much more frequently than a mint plant grown in partial shade.

It can also survive in full shade or mostly shady conditions. It does this every winter when the light is sparse. However, this also isn’t ideal. If your mint doesn’t get enough sun, it will stay small and will appear unhealthy. You might not get the harvest of healthy leaves you were hoping for.

How Much Spacing Does Mint Need?

As I stated before, mint spreads a lot. Because of this, you should have plenty of space between your mint plant and any other plant. Even if you have a barrier for your mint, the leaves will still need plenty of space to spread out.

Ideally, you’ll keep mint 18-24 inches away from any other plant.

What Soil Conditions Does Mint Need?

Mint does best in soil that is damp, but isn’t soggy. To get this right consistency, you should place it in an area with well-draining soil.

It is okay with most soil types, but it prefers soil that is rich in nutrients. It also prefers a pH that is slightly acidic or neutral.

Should I Fertilize My Mint Plant Regularly?

Mint does not need to be fertilized. Fertilizer can potentially be harmful to mint plants, especially if they’re planted outside. The only time you would need to use fertilizer is if your soil is very nutrient-poor.

Inside, fertilizer can sometimes be helpful for them to get the nutrients they may be lacking.

How Often Should I Water My Mint Plant?

As I said, mint likes a lot of water, but that doesn’t mean you should go overboard. The soil should always be slightly moist to the touch. If you touch the surface of the soil and notice that it’s dry, it’s time to water the plant again.

Watering is best done in the morning. This allows the plant plenty of time to soak up the water before the temperatures get too high.

Read more about how much to water mint here.

When To Plant Mint

Mint is a very hardy plant and can be planted almost any time of year. If you’re planting your mint inside, you actually can plant it at any time of year!

If you’re growing your mint outside, it’s a bit different. The best time of year to plant your mint is in the late spring or early summer. Avoid planting until the last frost has passed.

Spring is the best time to plant mint because it’s typically cooler and rainier. Mint does best in cooler temperatures in the high 60’s and 70’s. The rain will also provide your new plants with lots of moisture to grow.

Springtime is when mint naturally grows best, so I recommend sticking to this time frame.

However, because mint is so hardy, you’re not restricted to just springtime. Anytime between the last frost of spring up until 2 weeks before the first frost of fall is okay.

Read more about when to plant mint here.

When To Harvest Mint

First things first, you don’t want to get too excited and get ahead of yourself. Harvesting a plant that is too young can damage the plant for life.

Harvesting should only be done once the stems are 6-8 inches long. This usually takes about 2 months for a brand new plant.

The best time to harvest is in summer or early fall. You’ll want to harvest while the leaves are still healthy, before the plant begins to die back.

Never harvest more than 1/3 of the plant at once or it can irreversibly damage the plant.

Final Words on How Much Sun Mint Needs

As you can see, it’s not hard to grow mint, and the plant has lots of uses. If you want to grow mint in your kitchen or garden, go for it! The key advice I’d give you is to make sure it’s contained and won’t take over your garden. Mint prefers partial sun but can still live in full sun or shade. Keep your mint contained, take care of it, and keep it growing healthy and strong. If you do all this, you’ll have plenty of fresh mint for years to come.

Want to learn more? Click here to how to grow mint from seed and here to learn how mint copes with winter. You can also find all my mint guides here.

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The post Does Mint Need Full Sun? Where To Plant Mint appeared first on Gardening Chief.

Most people love the taste and smell of spearmint, but did you know that bugs hate it? That’s right, spearmint keeps bugs away because they’re offended by the strong odor and taste emitted by the plant.

If you’ve ever had trouble with pests in your garden or in your home, consider growing some spearmint.

Below, I cover why you might want to grow spearmint, whether spearmint repels bugs better in an oil and whether spearmint repels mosquitoes, bugs, mice and everything else that it deters. I also discuss how to plant spearmint to best stop pests.

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Can Plants Control Bugs And Pests?

People commonly use herbs and other plants to help keep bugs and other pests at bay. Not all plants can repel bugs, but there are some plants that bugs and other pests hate. Most of these plants are going to emit a strong odor and/or taste that is offensive to the pest.

Plants commonly do this because it helps in their survival. If a bug tries to eat a plant and it emits a strong, unpleasant odor, the bug will leave the plant alone. If the plant doesn’t have to worry about buggy predators, it will live a lot longer.

Not only that, but plants that repel bugs can help the surrounding plants, too. Many gardeners will plant bug-repelling plants as companion plants with their other crops. The “companion” plants will help protect the others. Their scent will deter or confuse bugs so that they won’t come near any of the plants in the garden.

Of course, you can use spearmint as a companion plant, but it’s a bit more difficult. Spearmint will spread like wildfire and has the potential to take over your garden. Many people choose not to plant it near their other crops in case the mint kills the other crops. However, if you set up boundaries to keep the mint from spreading, it can still make a fine companion plant.

Why Grow Spearmint?

Spearmint has a lot of practical uses. Most people grow it so that they can use it in their cooking.

Cooking

Spearmint is used in a lot of South Asian dishes because it incorporates a nice cool and sweet flavor to the food. Spearmint has a lighter and sweeter taste to it than a lot of the other mints. This is why it is often used in toothpaste, mint, and ice cream. For people looking for more of a kick, peppermint is the stronger option.

The Aroma

People also love to use the smell of spearmint in their homes. The cool, sweet scent of spearmint is enough to brighten and refresh any home. To utilize the mint’s scents, many people will dry their mint leaves and use them as potpourri. The dried leaves can be placed in a dish by themselves or with other potpourri. Some people will also put the dried leaves in a cloth satchel and place them around the house.

Not only is the scent beneficial for brightening the household, but it also helps deter pests. Of course, this is the main benefit that I’ll be discussing today because it’s a great one.

Pests

Most people love the smell of spearmint and that’s why we keep it in our homes. However, bugs and other pests hate the smell of spearmint and will actively run away from the scent.

Although spearmint isn’t going to kill any pests, it can be used to prevent them from biting you or entering your home. For best use, you’re going to want to keep the spearmint at easy access points to your home. There’s a few ways you can do this.

Satchels

You can use the satchel method that we suggested above. Not only will it help your home smell nice, but it’s an easy way to deter pests. The satchel method is a good one because the little bag of dried leaves can be moved anywhere in the home that you need it.

Essential Oils

You can also use essential oils. Essential oils are a very concentrated and potent form of the herb. The bottles of essential oil are small, but you don’t need to worry because the oil goes a long way. You generally only need a few drops of the oil to successfully keep out pests. Again, there are a few ways you can use essential oils.

If you’re having a really bad problem with pests, you can try using the oil undiluted. Place a few drops around the area where the pests are coming (e.g. a windowsill). Because the drops are undiluted, they’re very strong and are more likely to keep pests away.

Another way you can use the oil is to dilute it. This is usually the best way to go because the concoction is still strong, but it lasts a lot longer. A good way to go is to place 10 drops of spearmint oil into a spray bottle and fill the rest with either rubbing alcohol or witch hazel. You can then use your spray around your house wherever you need it. You can even use the spray on plants in your garden to protect them from pests.

Does Spearmint Repel Better In An Oil Or Concoction?

Spearmint does repel pests better when its used as an essential oil. Whether you use the essential oil in its true form or in a diluted form, it’s going to be better than fresh mint.

If you’re using fresh mint, you can place pots at access points around your house. You can also place fresh or dried leaves at the access points or rub the leaves on your body. However, these methods won’t be as successful as using a concentration of mint.

Because essential oils and essential oil mixes are more concentrated, they’re simply going to be stronger and will work better to repel pests.

Does Spearmint Repel Mosquitoes?

Yes — spearmint does work to repel mosquitoes. You can use spearmint as a type of bug spray on your skin.

Just make sure you dilute the spearmint essential oil with some witch hazel or white vinegar to dilute it. Undiluted oil can irritate the skin. I love finding ways I can use my own mint from the garden in natural skincare thanks to sites like this.

Does Spearmint Repel Bugs?

Yes — spearmint is one of the best mints to use to repel bugs. It works well to repel critters like flies and spiders.

Does Spearmint Repel Mice?

Yes — it’s reported that spearmint can keep mice away, although peppermint will work better.

What Does Spearmint Repel? Everything Else

Fleas

Spearmint leaves — not spearmint essential oil — can be rubbed over your pets fur to deter fleas. It can also relieve itchiness from a current infestation. However, it’s thought that pennyroyal works better for this.

Moths

Spraying a spearmint concoction around your home can prevent moths from contaminating your food and destroying your clothes.

Cabbage Loopers & Squash Bugs

These are harmful pests that will eat crops from your garden like broccoli, melons, cabbages, squash, and cauliflower.

Aphids

Aphids are extremely harmful to your garden. They’ll cause stunted growth, wilting, and potentially death.

How To Plant Spearmint To Stop Pests

If you’re keeping spearmint in your home, you should place the pots in areas where you commonly see bugs. The best place is usually a windowsill because it’ll provide your plant with lots of light while deterring potential pests.

If you’re planting out in the garden, it’s a good idea to plant it on the outskirts of your garden. For one, mint can spread very quickly. Keeping it away from your other plants is a good idea. Besides that though, if you plant mint on the outskirts of the garden, it will deter pests from every entering the garden to come after the other plants.

Of course, if you plant your mint in a pot outside, you can place the mint as close to any plant as you like.

Final Words

Spearmint is a great plant for repelling pests, but it’s best used as an essential oil. You can use the essential oil undiluted or in a concoction.

Either way, it’ll be better than using a regular spearmint plant. Still, if your pest trouble is occurring in your garden, spearmint can be planted in your garden to protect your other plants.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn if mint also repels bugs and here to learn how to dry spearmint leaves. You can also find all my guides to growing mint here or learn how to grow spearmint from seed here.

The post Does Spearmint Repel Bugs? Pests You Can Keep Away With Mint appeared first on Gardening Chief.

Fortunately, mint actually does quite well over winter. It prefers cooler temperatures, so it is quite cold tolerant.

How your mint will fare depends on where you live. If you live somewhere where it never goes below freezing, your mint plant will do just fine. If your temperatures do drop below freezing, mint is still likely to be fine. Although it doesn’t like frost, it can often survive light frosts.

Still, you’re probably wondering what to do with mint in the winter. If your temperatures do drop below freezing, it’s best to prepare your mint plants for the temperatures. There are things you can do for your plant to help protect it against the cold. Let’s explore this here.

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Can Mint Plants Survive Winter?

Mint is a type of perennial plant. This means that you’ll plant it once and it’ll survive for years to come. This also means that mint can survive through the winter. Mint is a very hardy plant, so it can withstand some pretty low temperatures. In fact, mint prefers cooler temperatures and is even likely to survive light frosts.

Still, there are temperatures so cold that even mint can’t survive.

Even in cold temperatures that mint can withstand, it’s a good idea to take some steps to protect your mint. If you take precautions to protect your plant through the winter months, it will come out better in the spring.

What Is The Lowest Temperature That Mint Can Survive?

Mint is a very hardy plant and can be grown in almost all conditions. Still, growing occurs best at temperatures between 59 degrees Fahrenheit and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. At temperatures above 86 degrees Fahrenheit, growth will even slow.

But how low can the temperature go before the plant will begin to suffer?

You’ll never want to allow your mint to deal with freezing temperatures untreated. If you take steps to protect your plants, they can live through freezing temperatures. If you leave them to fend for themselves, though, they will eventually die.

If you live somewhere where it gets cold over winter, but doesn’t freeze, your mint should be fine. You’ll notice that the plant is “dying back”. This doesn’t mean it’s actually dying, though. Rather, it’s going dormant for the winter and isn’t growing anymore. Don’t worry, the leaves will begin to grow back in the springtime.

Mint Winter Care: How To Care For Mint Plant In Winter

So, what do you need to do to protect your outdoor mint plant from the winter cold?

First, you’ll want to cut the stems very close to the ground. Next, you’re going to need to protect the roots. Most people use mulch of some kind, but you can also use leaves. Simply pile the mulch on top of the roots to protect it from the frost and snow.

Some people prefer to plant their mint in a container because it’s easier to control. If your mint is in a container, but you usually keep that container outside, just bring it inside. It’s not a good idea to leave mint planted in a container outside over winter. You’ll want to bring it into your house to winter over.

Should You Bring Mint Inside In Winter?

Bringing your mint inside over winter is a great idea if you’re able to. It’s not usually necessary because mint has a high cold and frost tolerance. However, if you leave it outside over winter, it will eventually stop growing and go dormant.

If you’d like your mint to continue growing and thriving through the winter months, you’ll need to bring it inside.

The decision to bring mint inside also depends on how the mint is planted. If it’s in a pot, that’s easy, you can certainly just bring it inside.

If the mint is planted in the ground, that’s a little trickier. Most people will set up barriers around their mint to prevent it from growing out of control. If this is the case, you should be able to find a pot large enough to transfer your mint to over winter.

However, if you have no barriers for your mint and it’s growing all over your garden, you should probably leave it be.

Tips for Growing Mint Indoors In Winter

Bringing your mint inside over winter is a great idea. Still, there are some things you’re going to want to do to make sure it thrives. Your plant isn’t going to be used to the indoor climate. You’re going to want to give it proper care so that it does well inside and can be moved back to your garden come spring.

Light

Mint likes a lot of light, so you’ll want to keep it by a window that receives plenty of light. However, make sure you choose a location that doesn’t get too cold. Some people have windows that get very drafty, and this may harm your plant.

If your windows get too cold for your mint plant, you may have to purchase a grow light. A grow light is a great resource for when using a window isn’t an option. They’re designed specifically for plants and they make sure your plant is getting plenty of light.

Some people have lovely sunrooms built off the side of their house. Whether the room is heated or not, it will make a great location for your mint plant to overwinter. The sunroom will act as a kind of greenhouse. It will provide your mint with lots of natural sunlight and it will keep it warm.

Even if the room isn’t heated, that’s fine. The natural sunlight will help to warm the room slightly. Also, mint is naturally cold tolerant. It’s unlikely that your sunroom will reach temperatures below freezing. So, your mint will do just fine protected from the frost.

Likewise, if you have an actual greenhouse in your garden, utilize it! There’s no need to bring your large mint plant into the house when you have a greenhouse at your disposal. The greenhouse will do great at protecting your mint from the winter cold.

In fact, you’ll want to make sure the greenhouse doesn’t get too hot! Mint grows best at temperatures under 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Water

Mint loves water, but you don’t want to overwater it. You’ll want to be especially careful about overwatering if you’re keeping mint indoors.

Keep the soil moist, but don’t keep it overly wet. Only water your plant when you notice the upper portion of the soil is becoming dry to the touch.

Humidity

Mint does best in moderate to high humidity. If your house is dry, you’re going to need to mist it multiple times a day.

How To Prepare Mint For Winter

So, you’ve decided to let your plant overwinter outside. Your plant should be fine, but you’ll want to prepare it for the coming cold and frost. What can you do?

Move It Inside

As I suggested above, if your plant is small enough, it’s a great idea to bring it inside during winter. Bringing your mint inside will keep it growing throughout the winter months.

Use A Cloche

A cloche is a cover that is popularly used to protect herbs throughout winter. The material is usually transparent or translucent so that you can still see your plant. If you can find an older model, you may find one made of glass. Today, they’re generally made of plastic.

It will be draped over your mint plant to protect it from freezing temperatures and frost.

Cloches are a great option because you can keep your mint in your garden while monitoring its health. If you notice it’s not doing well, though, you may want to bring it inside.

Use Mulch

Like I suggested above, mulch is a great option to protect your mint plant. Using mulch, straw, shredded wood, or bark is a great way to keep the roots protected and keep your plant warm. The mulch will keep the soil slightly warm and insulated. It will also protect the roots from any frost and snow.

In some circumstances, mulch will even keep the plant warm enough to keep growing.

Put Your Plant In Water

This is an option if you’ve decided to winter your mint inside. Mint grows more quickly in water than it does in soil. If you’d like your mint plant to continue growing over winter, remove it from the soil and put the roots in a pot of water.

You can even do this for plants left outside that have gone dormant. This works if you want to get started on the growing process before the end of winter. Again, just bring the plant inside and place the roots into a pot of water for a few weeks. The plant will come out of its dormancy and begin growing.

Does Mint Grow In Winter?

Mint cannot grow in temperatures below freezing. If you leave it outside over winter, even if it’s protected, it won’t grow. Your plant will actually go dormant and you’ll see it begin to die back a bit. Don’t worry, though. Your mint plant will bounce back in spring.

However, if you choose to bring your mint plant inside during winter, it will continue to grow.

Will Mint Grow Back After Winter?

Mint will absolutely grow back after winter! Mint is a perennial plant.

This means that it only needs to be planted once and it will keep coming back season after season. Of course, if you don’t take steps to protect your plant over winter, it may die.

If it does die, unfortunately it won’t come back.

Final Words

As you can see, you don’t have to worry too much about your mint plants over winter. Mint is very cold tolerant and will do well in cold temperatures. Even if your winter temperatures drop below freezing, your mint plants should do just fine.

Still, there are things that you can and should do to help your plants survive the winter months. If you act to protect your plants against the cold, they’ll bounce back quicker and grow better come spring.

Want to learn more? Click here to read more about when to plant mint. You can find all my guides to growing mint here.

The post Mint Plant In Winter: Can It Survive? appeared first on Gardening Chief.

So, what are you to do if you want to grow peppermint, but are afraid that it will take over your garden? Well, fortunately, you have a few options. Peppermint is pretty easy to contain as long as you take the right precautions and have the right materials.

Below, I cover how fast peppermint spreads as well as what you can do to stop it spreading including whether growing it in pots helps.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Grow Peppermint?

There are a lot of reasons to grow peppermint. Peppermint can be used for a lot of things and is very popular around the world. Most commonly, it’s used in cooking. It produces a sweet and refreshing punch to any dish.

Along with the taste being powerful, the scent of peppermint is also very strong. This is why a lot of people like to use it to boost the smell in their home.

Many people will dry the leaves of peppermint and use it as potpourri around their house. The leaves can be placed in a bowl or inside a cloth satchel and left on the windowsill.

Not only is the aroma pleasant to us, but it acts as a deterrent to pests. Although humans generally like the smell of mint, it is very disturbing to pests like insects and rodents.

If you’re having trouble with pests in your garden, consider planting some mint. If you’re having trouble with pests in your home, try using some peppermint essential oil. Read more about using mint to repel pests here.

Do Peppermint Plants Spread Like Regular Mint?

There really isn’t any such thing as “regular” mint. There are 25 species of mint in the world, and each has its own taste, scent, and appearance.

As far as “mint” goes, it is a very fast spreading plant. The speed at which a mint plant grows depends on the environment it’s living in and which kind of mint you’ve planted.

As far as “peppermint” goes, it’s one of the fastest growing mint varieties out there.

How Fast Does Peppermint Spread?

In general, peppermint can grow 4 inches a month. When you’re growing it while it’s young, you’re going to need to transplant it into larger pots frequently.

If you start with a root cutting, the plant will fill out a 4-inch pot in only one month. After another 4 weeks, it’ll have outgrown the next pot and will need planted into a larger one. Eventually, if you want your plant to keep growing, it’ll need to be planted in the ground.

For some perspective, a plant can go from a juvenile root cutting to a 2-foot-long plant in just 6 months.

How Can You Stop Peppermint From Spreading?

You have a few different options to stop peppermint from spreading, it really just depends what you’re end-goal is. If you like your mint plants but don’t want them to take over, that’s an easy fix. If they’re already taken over and you’re trying to get rid of them, that’s harder.

Here are some things you can do depending on your goals:

Install Barriers

If you’re planning to grow peppermint but aren’t sure where to start, you’ll want to start with barriers. Figure out where you want your mint to grow and how big you’d like it to get. Peppermint will continue to spread indefinitely unless you stop it, so you need to set boundaries.

Once you have that figured out, the rest isn’t so bad, you just need to make sure you set up the boundaries properly. Peppermint can grow so far so quickly because of their underground rhizomes. Rhizomes are kind of like roots, but they’re thicker and they’re masters at spreading. They will shoot off new plants so that you’re no longer dealing with one mint plant, but multiple.

The good thing about this is that the rhizomes only grow horizontally unlike plant roots. So, if you place a barrier in its way, a rhizome cannot continue to grow.

To do this, you’ll need to dig at least 6 inches into the ground to place your barrier. Some people use garden fences, while others just use planks. Either is fine, the most important thing is making sure they are at least 6 inches underground to stop the growth of the rhizome.

Slow Its Spread

If the mint has already been planted without barriers, it’ll be a bit trickier to prevent it from spreading. Like any plant, mint has its preferences for where it’s grown. You can slow down its growth by altering its growing conditions and making them less-than-ideal.

Mint does best in warmth and partial shade, so you could try covering it slightly with a tarp or mulch. The plant will become colder and its growth will slow.

Mint does best in high humidity, so if possible, you could try to deprive it of some humidity to make it grow more slowly.

Mint also prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH. You could change its soil to something more basic to try and slow its growth.

Kill It

If you’re truly desperate and your mint has grown way out of control, you may need to kill it. Digging up mint isn’t much of an option because you could miss some pieces. Because mint grows from rhizomes, missing even a small piece means that the plant could make a comeback.

You don’t want to use chemicals though, either. They should always be a last resort because they can harm your surrounding plants and the other life living in your garden.

Instead, you can try pouring boiling water over it.

You can also try a mixture of 2 cups of salt, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 1 gallon of white vinegar. You can mix these together in a spray bottle and mist over the mint plant. You’ll need to do this several times before you notice the plant begin to die off.

If that still doesn’t work, you can cover the mint in thick layers of newspaper followed by mulch. This combination will smother the plant.

Just keep in mind that any of these options have the potential to kill the other plants in your garden.

Can Peppermint Be Grown In Pots? Does This Stop It Spreading?

Pots are great for peppermint because they’ll stop any chance of spreading for certain. As I said previously, rhizomes can only grow horizontally, so once they run into the side of the pot, they’ll no longer grow. This means that you can get whatever size pot you want and the peppermint will only grow to that size. Fortunately, although the pot stops the growth of the plant, it does not hinder its health.

Pots are arguably the best way to grow mint because there’s no chance of it growing out of control. Whatever size pot you choose is however big the mint will grow. It’s even better than using a fence-like barrier because, if you don’t place the fence deep enough, your mint may spread.

Pots are great because you can even plant them in the ground. If you’re set on planting your mint in the ground but are worried about spreading, just use a pot. Of course, you’ll want to make sure it has drainage holes for the water. But besides that, you’ll simply dig a hole in the ground for the pot, place the pot along with your mint into the hole, and you’ll treat it like you would any other garden plant.

Final Words

Like most kinds of mint, peppermint will spread like wildfire if you let it. Fortunately, there are ways of controlling your peppermint, whether you’re trying to grow it or get rid of it for good. The best way to control mint is simply to plan for it.

Choose where you’d like it to grow and how big you’d like it to grow. From there, set up barriers so that it won’t grow out of control. If you take these steps, you’ll be able to enjoy your peppermint and will never have to worry about it growing out of your control.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn if mint also spreads and here to learn how to dry peppermint leaves. You can also learn what to plant with mint here and find all my guides to growing mint here.

The post Does Peppermint Spread? What You Need To Know appeared first on Gardening Chief.

Of course, you can always just buy a mint plant, but where’s the fun in that? You’ll take much more pride and satisfaction in growing your own mint plant, especially if you’ve grown it from a seed.

Growing mint from seed isn’t hard because they’re very hardy plants. Still, there are some things you should do to make the process go a bit smoother. Do you want to grow your mint in your garden or kitchen? Find out how to do it here.

Below, I go through whether mint is easy to grow from seed, how to get mint seeds, when to plant them and exactly how to sow mint seeds.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Grow Mint?

Growing mint is a great idea because it can be used for so many different things.

One of the most common reasons people grow mint is for using in their cooking. Mint is a cool, sweet tasting herb that can spice up any dish. Growing your own mint will save you time and money if you frequently use mint in your dishes. You can even harvest your mint and dry out the leaves for later use.

The scent of mint is another good reason to grow it. We as humans think the scent is very appealing. For this reason, many people dry the leaves and use it as potpourri around the house.

On the other hand, insects and rodents hate the scent of mint. Because of this, many people will plant mint in their garden to deter pests. Mint makes a good companion plant for other crops because it drives away pests.

Is Mint Easy To Grow From Seeds?

Mint is an incredibly hardy plant, even as a seed. Clearly, it’s going to be easier to grow mint from a seedling or cutting, but seeds aren’t hard either. If you decide to start from scratch with seeds, just be prepared that it’s going to take a bit longer.

How To Get Mint Seeds

Of course, if you’re going to grow mint from seeds, you’re going to need the seeds first. The easiest way to get seeds is to simply buy them from the store. This is going to cost a bit of money though.

You can also harvest seeds off an existing plant. This is a good option for people who already have a mint plant, or know someone who does.

From A Store

There are lots of places where you can purchase mints seeds, both in-person and online.

Some good online stores to purchase from include Burpee, Eden Brothers, and True Leaf Market. These online stores have lots of mint options for you to choose from, and they ship directly to your door.

You can also buy mint seeds in person from lots of supermarkets, farmer’s markets, home improvement stores, and department stores. These places don’t usually have as good of an assortment, though. Farmer’s markets usually only sell crop that is local, and big stores usually don’t cater to specific gardening needs.

How To Harvest Mint Seeds

Harvesting your own mint seeds is a great option. It will help you save money, and it’s sustainable because you’re taking advantage of your own plant. The one downside to harvesting your own seeds is that you usually can’t use them right away.

Seeds are going to be harvested from the mint’s flowers. These bloom in summertime, and you have to wait for them to die to harvest the seeds. It’s best just to save the seeds until the next year when you can use them in the spring.

Here’s how to harvest mint seeds:

1. Wait until your mint plant blooms with flowers
2. As the season goes on and the flowers begin to die, you’ll prune them off
   • For seed-harvesting purposes, you’re not going to remove all the dying flowers
   • Leave a few dying flowers on the mint plant
3. Allow the flowers to stay on the mint plant until they turn brown
4. Snip the brown flowers from the plant and place them in a paper bag
5. Leave the paper bag alone in a cool dry place so that the flowers can dry out
6. The drying process will take about 2 weeks
7. Remove the flowers from the bag
8. Crush the flowers with your fingers which will release the seeds
9. Gently blow the flower petals away with your breath
10. You’ll be left with only seeds

Now that you have harvested the seeds, you’re going to need to store them properly:

1. Use a small envelope to hold the seeds
2. Write the date and type of seeds on the envelope
3. Store the envelope in a cool, dry area. You can also store the seeds in the refrigerator

If you take these steps, you’ll have lots of mint seeds to use for next year’s planting season.

When To Plant Mint Seeds

When you choose to plant your mint seeds is going to depend on where you’re keeping your plant. If you’re keeping your mint plant indoors, you can start to grow the seeds at anytime.

If you want to grow your mint plant outdoors, the scenario is a bit different. There are a couple ways you can do this. Some people like to plant seedlings right at the beginning of spring after the first frost. To do this, you’re going to need to start growing your seeds indoors.

If you’re starting your seeds indoors, you’ll want to do so about late winter. The best time to start is about 8-10 weeks before your last projected frost.

If you want to sow your seeds directly in the garden, you’ll have to start later. Sowing seeds in late spring after the last frost is the best time to do it.

Mint does best when grown in spring, but it’s a very hardy plant, so it can be planted at other times as well. Mint will grow in almost any condition, so seeds can be started up to 2 months before the first frost of fall.

Read more about when to plant mint here.

Exactly How To Plant Mint Seeds In The Garden

You’re probably wondering how to germinate mint seeds. Growing mint seed in your garden is pretty easy, and it’s quite similar to growing them in a pot. Here’s what you’ll do:

• Sow seeds on the surface of the prepared soil. For direct garden planting, you don’t want to sow the seeds into the soil
• Cover the seeds with a light layer of vermiculite
• Keep the soil slightly moist, but not soggy
• You should begin noticing the seeds sprouting in about 2 weeks

Exactly How To Grow Mint From Seeds In A Pot

Growing mint from seed in a pot is very easy, and it’s a great way to control the process. Some people begin growing the plants directly in a small pot, but many people use seed flats.

I recommend using a seed flat, especially if you’re planning to grow multiple plants.

Here’s what you’ll do:

1. Sow seeds into soil about 1/4 inch deep
   • Your life will be easier if you pre-separate the seeds with a seed injector
   • If you don’t have a seed injector, just separate the seedlings when they start to sprout
2. Keep the flat or container in a warm location
3. Keep the soil slightly moist, but not too soggy
4. If you want to speed up the process, you can put a cover over the container
   • Many flats come with their own clear plastic covers
   • Remove the cover once you notice the seeds sprouting
5. Once seedlings have grown 2 sets of true leaves, you’ll want to harden them off

Hardening off refers to the process of preparing your plants for the harsher, outside conditions. To harden off your seedlings, you’re going to gradually introduce them to the outdoors.

1. First, place the seedlings outside where they’re sheltered. The best place is a shaded area
2. Leave the box outside for a few hours, then bring it back inside (always bring your seedlings in overnight)
3. Repeat this process everyday for about a week gradually increasing the time the plants spend outside every day
4. Once the seedlings have successfully spent an entire day outside, gradually move them somewhere sunny. You’re going to do the same thing you did with the shaded area
5. Move them to the sunny area a few hours each day, gradually increasing the amount of time they’re out in the sun
6. After they have spent an entire day in the sunny area, they’re ready to be planted into the garden

Read more about growing mint indoors here.

What To Do Next?

As I said, mint is a very hardy plant, so it can survive under almost any conditions. But, if you really want your plant to thrive, there are some things you can do:

Temperature

Mint can grow in almost any temperature, but it thrives best at temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Unlike many plants that are not cold tolerant, mint actually does better in colder temperatures.

It can easily survive cold temperatures as long as it stays above freezing. Below freezing, mint can potentially still survive, but there is a chance that frost could kill it off.

In hotter weather, mint will actually begin to slow down and won’t grow as well.

Sunlight

Mint plants prefer lots of light, but they do well in shade, too. They grow best with lots of indirect sunlight. For best results, indoor mint should be grown near a sunny window, and outdoor mint should be planted near partial shade.

Read more about how much sun mint needs here.

Water

Similarly, mint likes a lot of water, but not too much. You’ll want to make sure the soil stays moist, but it shouldn’t be soggy. Only water your mint plant when you notice the top of the soil becoming dry.

Fertilizer

Mint doesn’t need fertilizer and it can be potentially harmful for them to get too many nutrients.

Final Words

As you can see, it’s not hard to grow your own mint plant from seeds. Mint is a very hardy plant, so it will grow just about anywhere, at almost any time of year.

Still, there are things you can do to make the process easier. Things like making sure the environment is right, growing during the right season, and knowing the difference between planting in a garden or container.

So what are you waiting for? Start preparing for spring, and get ready to plant some mint!

Want to learn more? Find out what to plant with mint here and how to grow peppermint from seed here and spearmint here. You can also find all my guides to growing mint here.

The post Exactly How To Grow Mint From Seed [Full Guide] appeared first on Gardening Chief.

If you’re planning to grow mint, you should also take steps to prevent the mint from growing out of control.

To ensure you know everything you need to know about mint spreading, below I cover how mint spreads as well as how fast and what you can do to stop it spreading. I also discuss whether growing it in pots can be the solution to stop mint getting out of control.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Grow Mint?

Mint is part of the Mentha species that makes up 25 different species of mint plants. Most are perennial plants, although there are some mint plants that are strictly annual plants as well.

Mint plants are know for their fragrant leaves and the beautiful flowers that they produce. They are also known, of course, for their ability to rapidly spread. But, I’ll go over that later.

So, why exactly do people grow mint? Why is it so popular?

Of course, you’ll know that mint is used in many things in our everyday lives. It’s used in toothpaste, candy, candles, ice cream, etc. People simply love mint, and that’s reason enough to grow it. But what are some other reasons?

The most common reason people grow mint is to use it in cooking. Spearmint, peppermint, and orange mint are the three kinds of mints most commonly used in cooking. These mints add a lot of flavor to a dish, and are often used in dishes that need an extra kick.

If you grow mint in your kitchen or in your garden, you’ll always have fresh herb to use in your cooking.

Mint also smells great which is another reason so many people like to grow it. Mint will easily freshen up your home naturally, whether you’re growing mint in a pot or are using the dried leaves. Many people will dry the leaves from the mint in their garden. They will then stick the dried leaves into satchels that they’ll place around their homes.

Along with the sweet smell of mint comes the benefit of keeping pests away. Although we as humans love the smell of mint, bugs and other pests hate it. The strong aroma is distressing to them. So, many people use mint satchels or mint essential oils around their homes to keep pests at bay.

Do Mint Plants Spread?

Mint plants do spread and they can do so quite quickly. In fact, if you don’t keep your mint plants in check, they can become quite a problem very fast. How fast a mint plant grows really depends on the particular kind of plant and what environment it’s living in.

Does Hummingbird Mint Spread?

I couldn’t find a direct answer on whether hummingbird mint spreads as fast as other kinds of mints. However, information about the plant suggests that it does not.

The hummingbird mint plant does grow very quickly and is self-seeding. Still, it appears that it generally does not grow more than 16 inches tall and wide.

If you’re looking for a mint plant that does not spread as rapidly as the others, hummingbird mint might be a good option. This is also a great plant for attracting hummingbirds, if you enjoy their company. The bright reddish purplish leaves are well-loved by the little pollinators.

How Fast Does Mint Spread?

How quickly mint spreads depends on the environment and which type of mint plant you’re growing. Still, we can give some general numbers.

For example, peppermint can grow from cutting to filling a 4-inch pot in just four weeks. It will continue to grow at a speed of 4 inches per month. So, if you’d like it to continue to grow, you’ll need to regularly replant it in a bigger pot or in your garden.

Because peppermint can grow 4 inches a month, it will easily become a 2-foot-long plant in just 6 months. You can see how this plant can easily begin to take over your garden.

How Does Mint Spread?

The quickness with which mint plants spread is owed to the rhizomes or runners that are rooted underground. Rhizomes are tough and grow completely underground, so they can easily take over an entire garden, plowing through other plants in its path.

Not even a garden bed or border can stop mint because the rhizomes grow underground. They’ll simply grow under the border.

Another factor that aids in the spreading of mint is that you’re not dealing with one single plant. Sure, you’ll start off with one plant. But, as the rhizomes spread, new plants are created from those rhizomes. In the end, you have multiple mint plants working together to create one giant plant.

This being said, mint can and will just continue to grow for however long you allow it. So, if you’re considering planting mint, you’ll need to know how to control it.

How Can You Stop Mint From Spreading?

Unfortunately, because mint grows so fast, it can be quite a problem in some areas. In certain states, it is considered an invasive species. Even if it never leaves your garden, you won’t want it taking over your entire yard and killing your other plants.

So, what can you do to slow down or stop the growth? You do have options.

Impermeable Boundaries

If you’re going to grow your mint outside, you’ll need a way to stop it from growing. Of course, you’ll want to prune your mint like any other plant, but this won’t be enough. Mint grows from the rhizomes underground. So, even if you prune the leaves that are above the ground, the plant will continue to spread where you can’t see it.

The only real way to stop spreading is to put up a barrier that prevents that plant from growing. But, because the rhizomes grow underground, this can be difficult. You’ll need to get garden walls or boards and dig them at least 6 inches into the ground. If you don’t place them at least 6 inches deep, they’ll be useless.

Grow It In Less-Than-Ideal Conditions

Like every plant, mint has its preferences for where it’s grown. The better the conditions, the quicker it’s going to grow. Of course, growing your mint in less-than-ideal conditions isn’t really recommended. Doing this will leave you with a plant that’s not as healthy and doesn’t produce good-tasting leaves.

Still, it’s an option. Mint likes to grow in partial shade. It likes rich soil with slightly acidic to neutral pH. It also needs soil that drains well. They can withstand a wide range of temperatures, but like high humidity.

So, if you’re want to slow the growth of your mint, plant it where it can’t grow as well. Try placing it in an area with mostly shade. Deprive it of some nutrients or plant it in soil with a basic pH. Place it in soil that doesn’t drain as well, or plant it where the humidity is low.

Again, this isn’t recommended and you have to keep in mind that these practices could kill your plant. But, if you have no other options, you can try this.

Kill It

Of course, we don’t really recommend this option either. Mint has so many great benefits and it would be a shame to eliminate it. But, if mint has overrun your garden and you’re desperate, this can be used as a last resort.

Avoid using unnatural weed killers like RoundUp because these will kill your other plants and can hurt animals. Instead, use a mixture of 2 cups of salt, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 1 gallon of white vinegar. You’ll need to spray this over the mint plant over multiple sessions to kill it.

Can Mint Be Grown In Pots? Does This Stop It Spreading?

Mint can absolutely be grown in pots and this is actually one of the best ways to do it. Growing your mint in a pot allows you to have better control over the plant and will keep it from spreading.

As I covered above, mint uses underground rhizomes to spread. If these rhizomes have nowhere to go, then the plant won’t spread. Fortunately, the pots will limit the growth of your mint without killing it.

Pots give you even more control over your plant because you’ll know exactly what kind of nutrition it’s getting. You can move it around the house, making sure that it receives adequate sun and water.

You can even plant the pots underground. If you’re set on having your mint plants outside but are afraid of them over spreading, just stick the pot underground during the growing season.

Final Words

If you want to grow mint in your kitchen or garden, it can be done, you just need to use some precautions. Mint spreads using rhizomes underground. These rhizomes will spread like wildfire and can quickly overtake your garden.

Fortunately, there are ways to stop the spread of mint. The easiest way is to grow it in pots. Pots prevent the rhizomes from spreading and will keep your mint plant small. Pots are great because they can be used inside and outside. If you want to plant your mint outside, simply place the pot into the ground and allow your mint to grow. It won’t grow outside the pot.

If pots aren’t for you, you can use barriers in your garden as well. Barriers like walls or planks work just as well as pots at preventing the spread of mint. The only thing you need to remember is to place the barriers at least 6 inches underground.

If you follow these steps, you can enjoy fresh mint in your garden without the worry of it taking over your space.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn if peppermint also spreads and here to learn if mint can repel bugs. You can also find all my guides to growing mint here.

The post How Does Mint Spread? And How To Stop It appeared first on Gardening Chief.

Yes, bugs and other pests don’t share our love for mint. In fact, they hate it. But, this is actually good news for us. If you’ve been having trouble with pests, just break out your mint and you’ll be good to go!

Keep reading as below I cover whether you can control pests with mint and whether mint repels mosquitoes, bugs, rodents, bees, lice, spiders and more! You’ll soon learn everything mint repels as well as how to plant mint for the best results and whether mint oil can work even better to repel pests.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Can Plants Control Bugs And Pests?

Yes! Mint keeps bugs away. Of course, this doesn’t apply to all plants, but there are a lot of plants that can control bugs and other pests. Many herbs are a popular choice for bug repellents, and mint is one of the best.

The reason that pests hate mint so much is because of its strong aroma. This may seem odd to us — the strong aroma of mint is what makes so many people love the herb, after all. But, bugs and other pests don’t feel the same way.

A strong scent is the main factor determining whether a plant will drive away pests or not. This is why many people will use herbs, like rosemary, as companion plants. A companion plant with a strong odor can help protect all of the garden’s plants from pests.

Unfortunately, mint is considered an invasive plant and can grow wildly out of control if not kept under control. For this reason, most experts don’t recommend using it as a companion plant. Still, it can be done as long as you’re pruning it regularly.

Why Grow Mint?

There are a lot of great reasons to grow mint. Most people do it to aid in their cooking or to help their home smell fresh. Keeping fresh mint in your kitchen or garden ensures that you always have fresh herb available for your cooking. The most commonly used mints for cooking are peppermint, spearmint, and orange mint.

Many people also dry their leaves to keep for later cooking. Others use the dry leaves for the aroma, packing them up in satchels that they leave around the house. The most commonly used mints for aroma are peppermint and spearmint.

Pest Control

One of the great things about mint is that it aids in pest control. If you’re having trouble with pests in your garden or in your home, mint can help repel them and prevent them from coming back.

The best type of mint to use for bug repellent is peppermint. Peppermint is a cross between spearmint and watermint and has a significantly stronger taste and smell to it.

If you prefer not to use peppermint, you can also use pennyroyal and spearmint.

Either way, mint is helpful for repelling bugs in both your garden and your home. How you’re going to use the mint varies on where you’re having the problem, though. If you have pests in your garden, you can simply plant some mint to help repel the bugs. If you’re having trouble in your home, though, you’ll want to use essential oils or a mint spray.

Mint is effective at deterring bugs because it has biocidal properties. The main active ingredient in mint is menthol which acts as a pesticide that deters bugs, but does not kill them.

Does Mint Repel Mosquitoes?

Yes — mint works really well at repelling mosquitos. We’ll provide a mint-spray recipe below that works well for repelling these bloodsuckers. Spearmint and peppermint are the two mints that work best against mosquitos.

Does Mint Repel Bugs?

Yes — spearmint, peppermint, and pennyroyal are all effective bug repellents.

Does Mint Repel Rodents?

Yes — spearmint and peppermint work best at repelling mice and rats.

Does Mint Repel Bees?

Yes — peppermint works best at repelling bees.

Does Mint Repel Lice?

Yes — peppermint works best at repelling lice.

Does Mint Repel Spiders?

Yes — spearmint and peppermint work best at repelling spiders.

Does Mint Repel Fleas?

Yes — pennyroyal mint works best to repel fleas.

Does Mint Repel Snakes?

Yes and no — it may be effective when use in combination with other essential oils like garlic, clove, cinnamon, and lemongrass.

Does Mint Repel Wasps?

Mint works great for repelling both wasps and hornets. We all know how frightening it can be to have wasps — and especially hornets — make their home in our yards. Planting mint in your garden can prevent these pests from setting up camp there.

If, unfortunately, you already have these flying fiends in your garden, there is an easy way to get rid of them.

You’ll want to purchase a bit of Castile liquid soap. Make sure it’s peppermint scented. Add one cup of this soap to your hose sprayer and spray at the nest from a safe distance. Keep spraying until the nests falls down or begins to disintegrate.

Unlike mint used on its own, peppermint soap will act to suffocate the wasps or hornets. The soap is what kills them, but the peppermint scent will prevent any survivors from coming back to rebuild their nest.

Do Mint Leaves Repel Ants?

No — mint is not effective at repelling ants.

Do Mint Plants Repel Insects?

Yes — spearmint, peppermint, and pennyroyal are all effective insect repellents.

What Does Mint Repel? Everything Else

What Animals Does Mint Repel?

If you’re having trouble with animals coming into your garden and digging up your plants, you can try to use a bit of mint mixed with thyme. This combination helps repel dogs, cats, and some wildlife like deer and raccoons.

Flies

Peppermint and spearmint work really well to repel flies.

Ticks

Pennyroyal mint works best to repel ticks.

How To Plant Mint To Stop Pests

If you want to keep pests out of your home and prefer live plants, that’s doable. Simply plant some mint in a pot and keep it on your windowsill. This is where most bugs enter the home, so it’ll help keep your home pest free.

If you’re planting mint in your garden, you won’t want to plant it near your other plants. Mint spreads rapidly and will take over your garden. Instead, try planting it on the outskirts of your garden. Doing so will give your other plants room to grow and will prevent pests from entering the garden.

You can also use mint sprays on your garden plants to protect them. We’ll include some recipes later.

Does Mint Repel Better In An Oil Or Concoction?

When any kind of herb or plant is made into an essential oil, it’s going to be highly concentrated and potent. So, while the mint plant itself does have bug repelling properties, it’s going to be more effective in oil form.

This is good news for anyone having pest trouble in their house. It’s easier to spray some essential oil than it is to grow mint in your home. Using essential oils can be cost effective as well. While it may seem like a lot of money for a small bottle of oil, you only need to use a few drops to reap the benefits. A single bottle can last for months.

For use in the home, a lot of people will put a few drops of the essential oil into a spray bottle. Then, they will dilute the oil and use that as a spray for around the house. Even though the spray is diluted, it is still going to be more concentrated and more effective than using a live mint plant.

If you’re having a particularly bad problem with pests, it could be more effective to use non-diluted oil. For example, placing a few drops of the oil across your window ledge could prevent pesky bugs from entering your home.

Here is a recipe to create your own mint spray with rubbing alcohol:

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
• 10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Here’s What To Do:

• Add both ingredients to a spray bottle
• Mix well before using

Where You Can Use It:

• On your skin — it works well as a mosquito repellent when rubbed into your skin
• In your home — windowsills and doorways usually work best

Here is a recipe to create your own mint spray with white vinegar or witch hazel:

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• 10 drops of mint essential oil
• White vinegar or witch hazel

Here’s What To Do:

• Add both ingredients to a spray bottle
• Mix well before using

Where You Can Use It:

• On your skin — it works well as a mosquito repellent when rubbed into your skin
• In your home — windowsills and doorways usually work best

Here is a recipe to create a mint spray with your home-grown mint leaves:

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Peppermint leaves
• Citrus peels
• Water
• Rubbing Alcohol

Here’s What To Do:

• Place the citrus peels and peppermint leaves in a pot of water
• Bring the water to a boil, then turn off the heat
• Allow the mixture to sit overnight
• In the morning, strain the mixture, pouring the liquid into a spray bottle with equal parts rubbing alcohol

Where You Can Use It:

• On your skin — it works well as a mosquito repellent when rubbed into your skin
• In your home — windowsills and doorways usually work best

Final Words

As you can see, bugs and other pests hate mint. Crazy, right? The strong scent and taste of the herb drives them away. So, you can easily deter pesky pests by spraying mint around your home or planting it in your garden.

This is a win-win for you because not only will the bugs be gone, but your home will be left with a nice, minty smell!

Want to learn more? Click here to learn if spearmint also repels bugs and here to learn if mint spreads. You can also find all my guides to growing mint here.

The post Does Mint Repel Bugs? Pests You Can Keep Away With Mint appeared first on Gardening Chief.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Why Grow Mint?

Mint is one of the most popular herbs grown in gardens and kitchens. Having fresh herbs at your fingertips can save a lot of time and money at the grocery store.

Most people keep mint because they like to use it in their cooking. Adding mint to your dishes will give your cooking a refreshing kick. Fresh mint leaves can even be used to make tea.

Many people love to have mint in their gardens because it helps protect other plants. The strong minty odor that humans love so much is hated by insects and rodents. By planting mint near your other crops, you’ll help keep them protected.

Mint can also be used to freshen up your home. Many people will dry the leaves and use them as potpourri. This is a great way to easily freshen up your home.

Fresh mint can even help with minor aches and pains. The aroma of mint can help relieve mild nausea and headaches. For a stronger effect, you can make your fresh mint into a stronger essential oil and use it that way.

When To Plant Mint

The growing time for mint stays basically the same whether you’re planting from a seed, a cutting, or a juvenile plant. Mint is best planted in the late spring to early summer if it’s being planted outside.

Of course, if you plan to plant your mint inside, you can do it whenever you like.

When To Plant Mint Seeds

If you want to start out with seeds, it’s going to be a bit more difficult than using cuttings or a juvenile plant. That’s okay, though, you just need to know when to plant.

When exactly you plant your mint seeds depends on where you live. Most people prefer to have their seedlings ready to go come spring. This way, you can plant the small seedlings rather than starting fresh with a seed.

For most people, this means planting your seeds indoors. You’ll plant them inside in growing pots over winter. Now, you may be wondering, “when can I plant mint outside?”

In the spring, they’ll be ready to be transported outside. You’ll want to start sowing seeds about 8-10 weeks before the last projected frost date in your area.

If you live in a warmer region, you can plant the seeds directly in the garden. Of course, you’ll still want to wait until spring time to do this. The exact time in spring that you plant the seeds is not that important. Mint plants are extremely hardy and can grow under almost any circumstance.

It’s still recommended that you plant your mint in spring. However, you have a 2 month buffer period. You can plant your mint plant from spring through fall up until 2 months before the first frost.

If you plan to keep your mint plant inside indefinitely, then you can plant them at any time of year.

Tips For Planting Mint Seed

Most people will begin growing their seeds in containers or flats. As I said, you can do it directly in your garden as well. Just make sure you have prepared garden soil.

You’ll only want to place the seeds 1/4 inch deep into the soil. Seeds don’t technically need to be spaced apart, but it does make things easier as your plants start to grow. Germination takes between 10-15 days.

You’re going to want to keep the container of seeds in a warm environment. Keep the soil slightly moist, but don’t overdo it. Keeping the container covered will help speed up the growing process.

If you’re growing seeds outdoors, you’ll want to cover them with a light layer of vermiculite.

Once the plants have grown two leaves, it’s time to plant them into a bigger container. When you’re ready to plant them outdoors, leave them in containers for awhile first. Place the containers outside for about a week so that the seedlings can acclimate.

When To Plant Mint Cuttings

Planting cuttings is the same as planting seeds or juvenile plants. You’ll want to wait to plant until after the last frost of spring. The best time to plant is late spring to early summer. This is when the plant will be actively growing the most, so it makes sense that your new cuttings will do best at this time.

Using cuttings is really easy, and it can save you some money. It’s certainly simpler than started from scratch with seeds. If you already have a mint plant, or know someone who does, this is a good way to go.

Here is how you’ll collect and plant a mint cutting:

1. Use pruning shears to cut a stem that is 4-6 inches long
2. Remove any leaves from the lower portion of the stem
3. Plant the root
   • The root can be placed in a cup of water
     1. Change the water every other day to keep it fresh
     2. After the roots have grown a few inches, transplant it into soil
   • It can also be placed in a small pot with potting mix
     1. Keep soil slightly moist
   • The container should be placed where there is lots of indirect sunlight

This whole process will take about 2 weeks. At this point you, can transplant the clipping into the ground.

When To Plant Mint Outside

If you’re planting your mint outside, the best time to do it is in spring. Springtime is when the plant will grow the fastest and the healthiest.

Wait to plant until after the last frost though. Mint is a hardy plant, but it won’t survive a frost.

Can You Plant Mint At Other Times Of The Year?

Mint plants are very hardy plants. Technically, they can grow anytime between the last frost of spring and the first frost of fall. Still, it’s recommended to plant in late spring and early summer.

Just after the last frost of spring is when mint really begins to grow. This time of year is when you’ll see the most new growth, and it’s when your plants will be healthiest. For the best results, just stick to planting in the spring.

How Long Does Mint Take To Grow?

Mint is an extremely fast growing plant. The exact growth rate will vary between the species of mint.

Still, on average, mint can grow about 4 inches a month. If you’ve started with seeds, you’ll find that they might fill out a 4-inch pot in only a month.

By 2 months of age, they’ll need to go outside or into a bigger pot. In just 6 months, the plant may be 2 feet long.

You can read my full guide to how long mint takes to grows here.

Tips For Planting Mint

The Planting Site: Select a site not too close to other plants where it has room to spread out.

Soil: Mint does best with well-draining soil. It likes lots of water, though, so it should be kept where it’s moist. Lightly damp soil is better than waterlogged, soggy soil.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral pH.

Sun: Partial shade is preferred. Will grow in full sun if watered frequently. Read more here.

Temperature: Widely adaptable. Exact temperature requirements depends on the species.

Humidity: Moderate humidity. Mint doesn’t do well in low humidity and may need misting during dry spells.

Nutrients: Fertile soil with compost.

Spacing: Plants should be at least 18 inches to 2 feet apart.

When To Harvest Mint

You’ll want to wait to harvest your mint until it’s about 2 months old. The plant should have multiple stems, and they should be at least 6-8 inches long. If they are any shorter, you should wait to harvest.

When the plant is mature, it should be harvested in the summer and fall. You’ll want to harvest before it gets too cold. As the temperatures drop, the shoots begin to die back.

You should never harvest more than 1/3 of the plant at once. If you harvest more, you risk the plant not growing back properly.

You can harvest all of your needed mint at once — as long as it’s not more than 1/3 of the plant — or you can harvest as needed.

If you don’t make it a habit to harvest your mint, you’ll want to shear it about halfway through the season. You’ll likely notice the stems getting longer while the leaves get smaller. At this point, you should cut your plant back to 1/3. This will help new growth to appear and for the leaves to grow bigger.

You can dry your mint after you harvest it here to help it last longer. Read how here.

Will Mint Survive Winter?

Mint is an extremely hardy plant, so it’s quite difficult to kill. Still, the plants are sensitive to the cold, so there are a few things you can do to help it survive the winter.

You’ll want to trim your mint plants low to the ground. You’ll then want to cover the roots with mulch. Once that’s done, simply leave them alone until springtime comes again.

If you keep your mint plants in pots outdoors, you’ll want to bring them inside over winter. Make sure to bring the containers inside before the first frost of the season, or it may be too late. Keep the pots in an area with lots of light, and make sure they’re watered well.

Read more about how to prepare mint for winter here.

Final Words on When to Plant Mint

As you can see, mint is a very hardy plant. It can be grown at almost any time of year, even if you’re planting it outside. It even does well over winter without much help from us. Still, mint does best when planted in late spring to early summer. This fact stays the same whether you’re planting seeds, cuttings, or a juvenile plant. Planting during spring is the best thing you can do for your new plant. We’re closely approaching spring. So, if you’re thinking of planting mint in your garden this spring, you’ll want to start planning. I hope I’ve helped with that process!

Want to learn more? Click here to learn what are good companion plants for peppermint and here for information about how mint spreads. You can also find all my mint guides here and learn how to grow mint from seeds here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post When To Plant Mint: What You Need To Know appeared first on Gardening Chief.

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Why Grow Peppermint?

Growing peppermint in your garden or kitchen is a great way to have the fresh herb on hand at all times. Peppermint is one of the most popular kinds of mint used in tea, candies, and cooking. It’s smell is also great at brightening up any home, as well as deterring pests in the garden.

For more information on what makes peppermint so great, check out our full guide here.

Should You Grow Peppermint From Seeds?

Growing peppermint seeds is a good way to propagate your own plant. Sure, you can go to the store and purchase a juvenile mint plant, but the experience won’t be as rewarding.

Also, growing mint from seeds is significantly cheaper than purchasing the plant itself. Seed packets are usually less than one dollar at most stores. Even better, if you or a friend have an existing plant, you can get the seeds for free.

Many people avoid planting from seeds because it can be tricky. Rest assured, though, that peppermint is very easy to propagate. Peppermint is a very hardy plant and can grow in almost any conditions.

When To Plant Peppermint Seeds

If you’re planning to grow your peppermint seeds indoors, you can start growing them at any time of year. Your house will be warm enough that the seeds will grow even through winter.

However, if you plant to grow your peppermint outside, the best time to plant is in the late spring. Late spring is when the environment will be moist and warm, but not too hot. These are ideal growing conditions for mint, and this is when they will grow the best and the healthiest.

Peppermint is a very hardy plant, so late spring is not the only time you can plant. Peppermint can be grown anytime between the last frost of spring and 2 months before the first frost of fall.

Rather than planting the seeds outside, you can also begin growing the seeds inside. After the last frost has passed, you can then transplant the seedlings into the ground. If you’re going to do this, you’ll want to start sowing your seeds about 8-10 weeks before the last predicted frost.

How To Get Peppermint Seeds

It’s really easy to get ahold of peppermint seeds. Many people buy them from the store. You can also harvest your own seeds if you have an existing peppermint plant or know someone who does.

From A Store

Purchasing seeds from a store is a good option if you’re looking for a specific kind of mint plant. You’re going to have many more options at the store than you would just harvesting from your own mint plant.

If you’re looking for a varied selection of mint plants, you’ll have better luck checking out an online store. Online stores like Burpee, Eden Brothers, and True Leaf Market all have a wide selection of plants to choose from.

If you prefer to support your local stores, that’s okay too. You just might not have as many options to choose from.

Farmers markets are the best places to get fresh seeds, and you’ll be supporting your local farms. Just keep in mind that farmers will generally only sell local crops.

Large stores like Walmart and grocery stores generally have a small gardening section as well. You should be able to find peppermint seeds here, but the selection likely won’t be as great.

One of the best places to purchase seed in person is at a home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot. They generally have a large gardening section with a wider assortment of plants and seeds.

How To Harvest Mint Seeds

If you’d rather harvest your seeds than buy them, great! It’s not hard to harvest peppermint seeds. Better yet, it can be very rewarding to grow your own plant from seed to maturity.

The only downside to harvesting your own seeds is that you likely won’t be able to use them until the next growing season.

Peppermint seeds are harvested from the dying flowers that blossom on the plant. You can’t harvest the seeds until the flowers have died and dried out, which often doesn’t happen until the fall.

By then, it’s too late to grow seeds unless you plan to grow them inside.

Here’s a guide to harvest peppermint seeds:

1. At the end of the growing season, prune off any dead flowers but leave a few of the flowers intact for later harvesting
2. Leave the remaining flowers on the plant until they turn brown
3. Once they turn brown, you can clip them and place them in a paper bag
4. Leave the paper bag in a cool, dry place until the flowers dry out. It will take about 2 weeks for the flowers to dry
5. Remove the flowers from the bag and crush them until they release their seeds
6. Blow any excess flower petals away with your breath
7. All done!

If you’re not going to use the seeds right away, you’ll also want to store them properly. You can use a small envelope to place the seeds inside. Make sure that you label and date the envelope so you don’t forget what you’ve harvested.

This is especially important if you harvest seeds from multiple plants. Then, store the envelope in a cool, dry area like a basement or your refrigerator.

Exactly How To Grow Peppermint From Seed In The Garden

There are a few less steps when it comes to planting peppermint in the garden versus in a pot. Still, the process is pretty similar.

1. Make sure you have prepared soil in your garden that is fit for peppermint
2. Place the seeds on the top of the soil – do not plant the seeds into the soil
3. Cover the seeds lightly with a layer of vermiculite
4. Water the soil frequently, making sure the soil is moist and not soggy
5. Seeds will begin to sprout in 2 weeks

Exactly How To Plant Peppermint Seeds In A Pot

Starting your seeds inside takes a bit of extra work than just planting them directly outside.

However, beginning their life inside is usually better for the peppermint plants. They aren’t exposed to the harsh conditions of the outdoors and are more likely to sprout.

Here’s how to plant peppermint seeds inside:

1. Get some small, individual pots or a seed flat. I personally think a seed flat is easier, especially if you’re growing more than one plant
2. Place a small layer of prepared soil into the container
3. Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep into the soil
   • I recommend separating the seeds with a seed injector
   • Without a seed injector, the seedlings will grow together and you’ll need to separate them later
4. Keep the container in a warm and humid location
   • I recommend keeping a lid over the container to hold the humidity in
   • Remove the cover when you notice the seeds sprouting
5. Mist the inside of the container a few times a week. Make sure that the soil always stays soft, but don’t let it get soggy
6. Seeds will begin to sprout in about two weeks
7. Once you notice two true leaves develop on all your seedlings, it’s time to harden them off

Hardening off is the process of getting your new seedlings ready for the outside climate. If you transplant the seeds directly into the ground without preparing them first, they can go into shock and die. Here’s how to harden your seedlings:

1. Place the box of seedlings somewhere outside where they’ll also be sheltered. A good place is a slightly enclosed area that is shaded, like a porch
2. You’re then going to leave the box outside for a few hours before bringing it back inside
   • Repeat this every day for about a week
   • Each day, gradually increase the amount of time your seedlings spend outside
   • NEVER leave your seedlings outside overnight
3. After the seedlings have spent a full day outside, you can move them to a sunny location
   • At this point, you’re still hardening them, so they should remain in their container
   • You’ll repeat the above process for another week, but use a sunny area rather than a shaded one
4. Once they spend a full day in a sunny area, you can plant them into the ground

What To Do Next?

It’s not difficult to take care of peppermint because it’s a hardy plant. Here are some guidelines:

Temperature: Peppermint grows best in temperatures between 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit. It does best in cooler temperatures, but can survive hotter temperatures as well.

Light: Peppermint prefers partial shade.

Water: Peppermint likes lots of water, but not too much. Keep soil moist, but not soggy.

Fertilizer: Fertilizer is not necessary unless you notice your plant suffering from lack of nutrients.

For more detailed care information, check out our guide here.

Final Words on How to Plant Peppermint Seeds

As you can see, growing peppermint from seeds isn’t as hard as you probably anticipated. If you want to grow your seeds directly outside, no worries. Your plants should do just fine. If you want to be extra careful with your seeds and grow them inside, that’s great too. They’ll get your extra attention and love. No matter which you choose, you’ll be growing beautiful new peppermint plants in no time.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn whether peppermint spreads and here to learn how much water mint needs. You can also find all my guides to growing mint here.

Gardening Chief is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The post Exactly How To Plant Peppermint Seeds [Full Guide] appeared first on Gardening Chief.

But, how long does it take mint to grow? Maybe you’ve heard that mint spreads very quickly, and you’re wondering if that applies to seeds and seedlings as well. If you’ve ever wanted to grow mint, you’ll find everything you need right here.

Below, I cover whether mint is easy to grow, how big it grows and exactly how long it takes to grow whether you plant a seed or cutting. I also give you tips to help mint grow as fast as possible as well as how to stop it from spreading and how to harvest it.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Is Mint Easy To Grow?

Mint is a very hardy plant and is one of the easiest herbs to grow. If you’ve never grown a plant before, mint is one of the best options. Here is a good guide for everything you need to know about growing mint.

How Big Does Mint Grow?

Mint is not a very tall plant, and can only grow up to 3 feet tall. Most plants will stay between 1-2 feet tall. However, mint is a profuse spreader. Mint can spread outward at a rate of 4 inches per month. It will continue to grow for as long as you allow it.

Why does mint spread so quickly? This is owed to their underground rhizomes.

Unlike regular roots, mint grows using rhizomes. Rhizomes are thick and tough, growing horizontally through the soil.

Yes, rhizomes can spread out quickly, but that’s not all. When rhizomes spread, they’re actually creating new plants. Although the large mint plant in your garden appears to be one plant, it’s actually not. New plants will sprout up from the rhizomes so that you’re dealing with multiple plants in one.

How Long Does It Take To Grow Mint?

Overall, it will take mint 90 days to grow to full maturity from a seed. Being a mature mint plant means that it will have reached its full height, which is about 1-2 feet.

Notice that I said it will have reached its full “height”, not growth potential. Mint is a creeping spreader and will continue to grow outwards as long as you allow it. Just because the plant has reached its full “height” does not mean its done growing for good.

As far as spreading goes, mint can grow up to 4 inches a month. This means that a single plant can grow to 1-2 feet wide in just 6 months.

How Long Does Mint Take To Germinate?

When grown in temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, mint seeds can germinate in just 10-15 days.

How Fast Does Mint Grow From Seed?

As I said, mint can grow from a seed in just 10-15 days. From there, it can grow 4 inches every month. The plant will reach full maturity in about 90 days, but it will continue growing.

How Long Does It Take Mint To Grow From Cuttings?

Similar to sprouting seeds, mint will take about 1-2 weeks to grow from cuttings. This is the timeframe in which you’ll begin to see roots sprout from the cuttings. From there, they will grow just like any other mint plant, at a rate of 4 inches per month.

Tips To Help Mint Grow As Fast As Possible

Have you noticed that your mint is growing slower than it should? Mint is supposed to be a quick spreader, right? So, why isn’t it growing like you expected it to? How do you get it to grow faster?

It’s Too Cold

Mint does great in cooler weather — particularly temperatures in the 60s and 70s. But, it cannot grow well in very cold temperatures. Between late fall and early spring is when mint naturally begins to slow down and goes dormant.

In this case, you just have to wait until spring when the temperatures warm back up. Your mint plant will naturally bounce back.

Not Enough Nitrogen

Mint likes a lot of nitrogen in the soil because it helps with leaf growth. If the soil is devoid of nitrogen, you may notice that it’s not growing as well.

If you believe your mint is lacking nitrogen in the soil, you can add some. Simply purchase some liquid nitrogen fertilizer to use every two weeks.

The Pot Is Too Small

Pots are a great way to keep your mint from growing out of control. Still, a pot that is too small can hinder the growth of your mint.

Having a smaller pot can also lead to your mint plant becoming underwatered or lacking nitrogen. Less soil means that water will dry out quicker and the leaves may begin to wilt. Also, any nitrogen in the soil will be completely depleted in a small pot.

If you want your mint to grow faster, it’s good practice to upgrade the pot every 1-2 years.

You don’t even necessarily need to move your plant to a larger pot. Sometimes, all you need to do is remove the plant and trim it back. Trim off the dead roots and stems and replace it in the pot with fresh soil.

Not Enough Water

As I said before, underwatering can cause your mint plant to wilt and have stunted growth. This can especially be a problem in the summer months when the temperature is extra hot.

Always make sure that the soil is moist. Mint needs lots of water, but shouldn’t be oversaturated. Make sure to water your plant whenever you notice the top 1 inch of soil is dry to the touch.

Click here to learn how much water mint needs.

Too Much Light

Mint is capable of growing in full sun, but it’s not ideal. Partial shade is what’s best for mint. If it’s forced to grow in full sun, it may not grow as well.

Too Much Shade

Just as too much light can damage your plant, so can too much shade. Mint needs plenty of light to grow healthy. When it doesn’t get enough light, its growth will be stunted. If your plant isn’t getting enough light, make sure to move it where there is more sun.

Not Enough Trimming

Believe it or not, but plants grow best when they’re regularly pruned. If you don’t trim your plant on a regular basis, it will not grow to its full potential.

Untrimmed plants will become leggy and will grow leaves that are too large. This combination will prevent new growth from occurring.

For best results, mint should be pruned at least 3 times over the growing season. You’ll want to take off about 2-3 inches of the stem. Just make sure not to trim more than 1/3 of the plant or it might not grow back properly.

When To Harvest Mint

If you’re growing your mint inside, you can harvest at any time of the year. If you’re growing your mint outside, it can be harvested between late spring and early fall. Generally, you can harvest mint plants a total of 3 times throughout the growing season.

One thing to keep in mind is that you only want to harvest mature plants. If you’ve just planted a new mint plant, you’re going to have to wait awhile before you can make your first harvest.

You should wait to harvest your new mint plant until the stems have reached 6-8 inches. This will take about 2 months if you’re growing your mint from a seed.

How To Harvest Mint

There are a couple different ways to harvest your mint plant. It all depends on what you’re looking to achieve.

Some people will harvest the entire plant. This means that you will be cutting all of the stems down to only 1 inch. This method allows you to collect all the leaves while preventing your plant from growing out of control.

However, I don’t recommend this option. I don’t recommend harvesting more than 1/3 of the plant at a time. Harvesting the whole plant at once can irreparably damage the plant. It might not grow back properly.

Instead, you should harvest and prune on a regular basis, never taking more than 1/3 of the plant at once. Regularly snipping sprigs and leaves will keep your plant in check and will help it grow healthy. Removing old sprigs will help new growth to establish

How To Stop Mint From Spreading?

Many people are afraid to grow mint in their gardens because of how quickly it spreads. When left unchecked, it can easily take over an entire garden. Fortunately, though, mint is very easy to manage if you plan ahead.

The easiest and best way to prevent mint from spreading is to put up boundaries. Yes, the rhizomes can spread quickly, but they can only grow horizontally. It’s not really possible for rhizomes to grow vertically.

So, if you set up a boundary that the rhizome can’t grow around, you’ll stop the mint from spreading. There are a few ways you can do this.

Some people will get fence-like barriers and bury them in the ground. This is a great option, but you need to make sure you bury the barrier deep enough. 18-24 inches underground is usually ideal.

Other people simply use pots as barriers. That’s right, you can literally plant a pot into the ground and it will prevent your mint from spreading.

Simply dig a hole in the ground where you’d like the pot to go and place the pot inside. You can then plant the mint inside the pot just like you would if you were growing it inside.

How Long Does Mint Last?

We’re not exactly sure how long mint can live, but the odds look good. Mint is a perennial plant which means that it can grow back year after if it’s taken care of properly.

Because it’s a perennial plant and a prolific spreader, it stands to reason that the plant could live for several years.

Final Words

Mint is a very fast growing plant. The quickness for which it spreads begins as a seed and doesn’t stop as an adult. If you allow it to go unchecked, mint can spread for as long as it likes.

Maybe you aren’t experiencing this. Maybe your mint plant isn’t growing nearly as quickly as you expected it to. There are reasons for this as well, and most of them can be corrected. The best way to ensure your mint is growing properly is to simply provide it with everything it needs.

Want to learn more? Click here how to plant peppermint seeds and here to learn when to plant mint. You can also find all my guides to growing mint here.

The post How Long Does Mint Take To Grow? [Full Guide To A Healthy Plant] appeared first on Gardening Chief.