Question by FarmerK: How do I keep my mint from taking over my vegetable/herb garden?
I planted some spearmint and chocolate mint starters last year. I later found out they take over whatever space is available. I want to control them while planting other vegetables or herbs around them?
Best answer:
Answer by ray z
You will have to take most of it out and only keep it in the area you want it to grow in. After you have removed most of it, dig a large hole and put a five gallon plastic bucket all the way down in the hole, with only the first two inches showing over the top. Punch holes in the very bottom for drainage. You have to leave the lip up a couple of inches though, since they put out roots from their stems.
this will contain the plant roots to a specific area. You can put mulch or bark around the top of the lid, to keep it looking nice.
This technique works very well with Bamboo too. It is actually required by law in some parts of California, to stop the rampant growth of non native species of Bamboo.
Good luck!
What do you think? Answer below!
Hey Farmer -
Mint can (and usually is) invasive. I grow it all the time and found some more tame and shorter varieties which do not spread so much by the roots. Because you already have it started, by advice would be simple: replant it (or start it) in a pot (preferably clay or plastic without a bottom) and plant/sink the entire thing to soil level – this keeps the plant and roots from spreading out further past the boundaries of the plant and the mint plant will “appear” to still be in ground.
Good luck and happy minting …
I have mine in a pot of its own in the ground so the roots have a specific amount of space, if they strart over growing i trim them back
Try planting your mint in pots , then put the pots into the ground , and plant round them . It works for me>
YOU ARE RIGHT, THEY WILL INDEED TAKE OVER. HOWEVER, THEY CAN BE EASILY TRIMMED WITHOUT DAMANGING THE PLANT.
Pull out enough for some pots. Totally pull the excess. Set the pots into the ground. You will have some grow back from where it was, but it should help bring it under control.
plant your mints in an old pail and bury the pail in the garden hence the roots will only go in the pail and not spread into othert plants