Mint plant spreading
by
Barb
+26
Some type of mint plant is spreading throughout my garden. i find its impossible to get rid of. Anyone have any ideas?
28 answers
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USE IT! great in cooking, marinades, salad etc. plus it's a natural mosquito repellant
Pepsigirl13
on Jul 31, 2015
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mint spreads like wildfire! I agree with Jeanne, use it!
Laura
on Jul 31, 2015
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Depending on the type of mint, you can add peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, etc. to water or ice tea. Great in salads, or as a garnish, too. If you know an herbalist, they might be interested in harvesting. Some cats love catmint, and if you don't have cats, perhaps a friend or shelter might be interested? If you pick it before it goes to seed after flowering, it helps to control the spread. If it grows where you don't want it, pick it early when it's small/young, it's very easy to pull up roots then.
Connie Mar
on Jul 31, 2015
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Dig up every last little piece you can find!!!!. You may have to do that for a few years, but you WILL succeed. I know - because I did!!! (even a teeny, tiny piece can root and start growing again!!!!) Have you rubbed the leaves between your fingers and smelled it to get an idea of what it might be? Mine smells 'lemony' and is known as Lemon Balm. Years ago I'd dug up a rather large mint plant, so I put it in a big, deep pot to allow its roots room to grow. (I hate to throw anything out!!) And, it is refreshing to crush some leaves and smell the 'lemons' while I'm out gardening!!! (and if you rub it on your skin it does help keep the bugs away). ANYWAY.....imagine my surprise a few years later when it was obvious that the plant had outgrown its pot -- and I tipped my pot over and I found that their roots don't go down - but out -- and they had gone around and around my pot SEVERAL times. So - I was able to use my big pot for a plant that needed it and replanted my mint in a shallow pot!! Bees like their flowers.
Arlene S. King
on Jul 31, 2015
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Mint is incredibly invasive. I suggest you harvest a small amount of root stock to keep in a pot and then use Finale or Roundup to do a total kill in your beds. Be careful with these products, tho, as they are designed to kill any vegetation they contact.
Sue
on Jul 31, 2015
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Roundup may also kill the bees and butterflies. I vote for doing it the hard way and digging it out.
Mary Ker
on Jul 31, 2015
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Dig and pot bits and pieces, put ad on Craig's List, and make money off it all.
Sheryls.aerials
on Jul 31, 2015
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If it's Peppermint, it will keep rodents from around your home. Living in the country surrounded by corn and bean fields I'd love to have it instead of a lawn! LOL
Z
on Jul 31, 2015
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The only way I have found is the old fashion pull it up by it's roots and nip it in the bud every time you see a sprig.
Georgia Garrett
on Aug 01, 2015
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Pull up as much as you can. Pot into small pot and plant pot in ground, keeps mint inside pot.
Cynthia Nye
on Aug 01, 2015
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Pulling by the roots. If you like it for your iced tea, plant in a small pot.
Liliana Wells
on Aug 01, 2015
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This was helpful I just moved to a rental with spearmint taking over near the back porch
Brenda Albright
on Aug 01, 2015
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I have the peppermint and also the chocolate mint, I just pull it up where I don't want it, also put some in containers, I love it. When I water its smells so good. You can also boil some and makes your home smell good.
Carol Harris
on Aug 01, 2015
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To actually get rid of it, vegetation killer is the only thing that works. You have to carefully paint the leaves so it doesn't get on anything growing nearby. But if you like the flavour, take some with a root and plant it in a pot. I've had my mint in a pot for several years and it's quite healthy. It makes a great mojito!
Judy Borman
on Aug 01, 2015
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I just pulled it all up and it never came back. Put some in a hanging basket and still enjoyed my mint. Problem solved.
Pepper Wright
on Aug 01, 2015
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The best container I've seen is a piece of terra cotta flue liner. Bury half of it into the ground and fill with garden soil. Plant your mint in the liner. Keep it trimmed so it doesnt take root. The half sunk liner will be deep enough to keep the roots from spreading.
Lynne Marsh
on Aug 01, 2015
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Have you tried white vinger? Just pour it on and in a few days it will be gone.
Kay1611874
on Aug 01, 2015
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i give the leaves to my cats love it a little like catnip
Julia houzenga
on Aug 01, 2015
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Thank you all for your great ideas !
Barb
on Aug 01, 2015
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Thank you all for your great ideas !
Barb
on Aug 01, 2015
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Round Up.
Cat1786735
on Aug 01, 2015
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I had the same problem several years ago. I pulled it all up and kept pulling up any new sprouts that came up later. After awhile, it was gone. Next time plant mint in a pot. That way it won't spread. Someone told me this after the fact. Good luck.
Linda Phillips
on Aug 01, 2015
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I have 3 different mints I try to plant them in an area that they are "cut off" by concrete edges of the patio etc.. as long as there is dirt near them they spread... one way is they grow tall fall over and new roots form from that stem and shoot another stem from there which does the same thing... also the roots under the ground will send up sprouts..... Just this afternoon I picked up some long stalks that were falling too far out and turned them the other direction to "hopefully" redirect their growth.... some types grow much faster than others as well..... Mint ... Ya gotta love or hate it.... it does have good side as well as bad!
Buster Evans
on Aug 01, 2015
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Pull out a few sprigs to transplant into a empty container. When area is at least 80 degrees, spray round-up on area, then cover this spot with black plastic, leave on a couple of weeks while weather is hot. Uncover, wait about a month then plant something else there. Never let mint get so tall that they go to seed. Wind will carry that seed to areas and here you go again.
JoAnna Cooper
on Aug 02, 2015
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Clip the stems off and dry the leaves. Wonderful tea.
Snk1296795
on Aug 02, 2015
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mix white vinegar, salt, and a little Dawn, put into spray bottle and spray... better on a hot day...
Pat
on Aug 02, 2015
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Mint is one of several plants that will take over wherever it is planted. The key is to grow it in containers.
Martha Hinkle
on Aug 04, 2015
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Mine are so easy to just pull up. Like they said, dry them for tea, or give starts away. Mine were gone at a garage sale....
Lyn2398900
on Mar 14, 2016
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