How to Grow Mint - One of my favorite herbs to grow in our garden is mint. But if you're not careful, mint can slowly take over your entire garden. Here are 5 easy tips for growing mint in your garden without it spreading and taking over the entire garden! It is possible...trust me!
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The first summer we planted mint in our garden it slowly started growing everywhere. It was in our lettuce and then in our green beans. Even though we tried our best to cut it back, it kept growing and spreading.
Growing Mint in your Garden
Mint comes in many different varieties and is very easy to grow. Your mint plant can last for many years if cared for properly. Mint enjoys soil that is well drained and nutrient rich. It can grow in full sun as well as in part sun. You will find mint to be a very hardy plant to grow.
The plant is very invasive and will compete with surrounding plants if allowed to grow without restriction. The roots are called "runners" and grow very quickly. They sprout new leaves and new plants as they go and will take over a flower bed or a vegetable garden in no time if you're not careful.
The best way to grow mint is to contain it. That could be in a planter on your back porch or a planter in your vegetable garden. By restricting the growth of the plant's roots, you also restrict the mint from spreading or really over-taking your garden if you're not careful.
Printable Garden Planner
If you need help growing and planning a garden, check out my Garden Planner which includes 10 printable planning pages to help guide you through designing the perfect garden to grow flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables.
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Grow Mint in a Container
Step 1: Plant Mint in a Container
- Choose a 5 gallon bucket and plant the mint in the bucket. Plant the mint in a 5 gallon bucket.
- Make sure the bucket does NOT have any cracks! If it does, the mint will grow through the cracks and work its way back up to the surface of your garden and start spreading all over again.
Step 2: Find a Spot to Plant the Container
- Dig a hole deep enough to fit the entire bucket.
- Place the bucket in the hole and then cover with dirt leave the top of the bucket exposed.
Step 3: Make the Planter Pretty
- I know it's not exactly pretty, but you get the idea. We live out in the country, well the country for this Queen's girl, and our garden is pretty rustic.
- Put some stones around the bucket so you can't see the bucket.
- Once the other vegetables grow in in front of the mint you'll never know the mint is planted in a bucket in the ground.
- And the best part, the mint stays contained in the bucket and still grows beautifully.
Step 4: How to Water Mint
- Water the mint frequently the first year.
- Keep the soil damp but don't soak it. If your mint is in the direct sun, you'll want to water it more directly.
- Try to harvest the mint before the flowers appear. That's what everyone says, be we enjoy our mint all summer long. We just pick around the flowers.
More Beautiful Gardening Tips and Ideas:
- How to Grow Hostas
- Tips on Growing Tomatoes
- Mistakes to Avoid when Growing Tomatoes in Containers
- Tips on Growing Sunflowers in your Garden
- Outdoor Gardening Inspiration
How to Enjoy Fresh Mint from the Garden
Enjoy the mint leaves in your favorite recipes. Mint is great in iced tea, lemonade, salads, ice cream...the list goes on! Here are three recipes to enjoy fresh mint in this summer!
Easy to make and refreshing!
Homemade Peach Iced Tea is the perfect drink to help you beat the heat this summer!
A refreshing non-alcoholic drink perfect for all your summer parties.
Sarai says
Are all types of mint invasive? Spearmint, peppermint, sweet mint?
Lois says
I believe they are. Thank you for visiting!
VickiB says
A friend of my recently gave me some cuttings, so im going to try this method. Thank you for sharing
Lois says
Thank you for visiting. I hope this method works for you as well. Our mint is doing great this year!
Valerie says
Hi, my mint is growing well I except it has small holes in the leaves. Any idea on what is making the holes and how get rid of them. I sprayed with a solution of dish soap and water.
Lois says
Yes, your mint might have "flea beetles." Google flea beetles to find out how to get rid of them. I just read about it online and it's pretty interesting and easy to take care of. Thanks for visiting!
Melissa says
Ive grow mint similarly, just have to be careful that it doesnt fall back into the garden & root itself!!
Lois says
That's a good idea!
Janet says
Can you bring your plant inside over winter. Maybe In the basement??
Lois says
Mint will come back every year! We cover our mint with leaves or a tarp and then in the spring, we remove the cover and surprise, surprise, little buds are already sprouting! Thank you for visiting!
wen budro says
That's a great idea. I would love to grow my own mint. I don't have a lot of space so I don't want the mint taking over my garden.
S Marie says
I had no idea mint would take over your garden. Growing it in a buried container is genius. Thanks for sharing your tips with us at Merry Monday this week!
Anonymous says
How does it overwinter? Do you dig up the bucket and bring it in, or do you bury it in leaves and uncover in spring?
Lois says
It does great over winter. We cover our whole garden with tarps in the late fall and then when we uncover in the spring the mint does look dead but a few weeks later it starts to grow again. We've had the same plant for almost 10 years now.
JanVinyard says
Great tips regarding mint! I grow mine in a flower box so it can't go anywhere else! Thanks for sharing this info! Blessings, Janet
Sherry Nappa says
Thanks for sharing your gardening tips with us at Merry Monday!
Flat Enchilada says
Did you drill a hole in the five gallon bucket?
TENCHIS says
Make sure the container you use does NOT have a crack.
Anonymous says
I was wondering the same thing. how does it not get root rot with no drainage
Lois says
Make sure the container doesn't have a crack or the mint will start to grow through the crack. We haven't had any problem with root rot.
Rebecca at SimplePracticalBeautiful.com says
I've always wanted to grow mint, but I've been afraid to because I heard that it can take over a garden. That's a great idea to plant it in a hidden bucket. I'm going to try it!
Lee MacArthur says
I agree that mint needs to be contained if you want to keep it. I actually had a location in one place I lived that I allowed it to spread because nothing else really grew there. I actually planted mint, spearmint, and chocolate mint. I knew someone who used a buried children's wading pool for the mint.
Debra Pashkowsky says
This is excellent advice. I did plant mint in my garden bed last summer. It died back and I noticed in the area where it was it appears to be coming back. If so I will try this idea.