Four Unsuitable Locations for Mint Growth
Did you fall in love with mint's versatile uses in cooking and beverages? The zest of mint in lamb dishes and salad zing has you craving more, but beware! This easy-to-grow herb can quickly outshine your garden if not managed properly. We've got you covered; follow these strategies to enjoy mint without letting it take over!
The Secret to Containing Mint Mayhem
To put the brakes on mint's aggressive root system, it's essential to provide a suitable container that meets the herb's depth, size, and drainage requirements.
The Container Craze
Finding the perfect container for your mint habit is vital. Aim for at least 10 to 12 inches of depth to accommodate mint's deep roots and provide a total capacity of around 5 gallons. This ensures ample room for growth while reducing the possibility of roots escaping into the garden soil[1][2][4].
In choosing a container material, don't sweat the small stuff — terracotta, plastic, wood, or metal containers are all great options. Ensure they have good drainage holes to prevent waterlogged soil, which can harm the roots[1][5].
Containment Strategy
To further harness mint's vigorous growth while keeping it contained, consider these tactics:
- Potstravaganza: Grow mint in a single container or mix it up by planting the pot inside a larger container for even better containment. This method minimizes the risk of your mint's roots breaking free and invading the garden[2].
- Sinking Sensation: Roll the pot edges or add soil to the container to slow down the mint's growth in flexible containers. Sink the container partially into the ground for extra control, especially in mild-winter regions where mint can grow year-round[4].
Keep Mint in its Place: In the Garden or Indoors?
The good news is that you don't have to relegate mint growing to your windowsill. With the appropriate container strategies, you can enjoy your mint indoors or in the garden.
When Smart Container Choices Aren't Enough
Even with the best container choices, your mint may still wreak havoc in your garden. Don't fret! Here are some creative ways to use your excess mint.
- Dry Mint Delight: Use a dehydrator or a warm, airy room to dry mint leaves. Store the crumbled dried leaves in an airtight container for tea-making[7].
- Mint Pesto Marathon: Blend your overabundant mint leaves in a food processor with parsley, basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, nuts, and Parmesan cheese. For long-term storage, keep the pesto in the fridge or freeze for later[8].
- Mint Jelly Mixer: Boil your abundance of mint leaves in water, strain, and combine with sugar, pectin, and food coloring in your favorite jelly recipe[8].
- To control mint's spread, choose a container with a minimum depth of 10 to 12 inches and a capacity of about 5 gallons, providing enough space for growth and reducing the chance of roots escaping.
- When selecting a container material, opt for terracotta, plastic, wood, or metal options, ensuring they have adequate drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
- To further contain mint's growth, consider growing it in a single container or planting it within a larger one, or slow down growth by rolling pot edges, adding soil, or sinking the container partially into the ground.
- With the right container strategies, it's possible to grow mint indoors or in the garden, without restricting it to a windowsill.
- If container strategies fail to contain mint, try alternative uses such as drying mint leaves for tea, making mint pesto, or creating mint jelly.
- Gardening enthusiasts can find more safest gardening ideas and home-and-garden lifestyle tips on Southern Living and other trusted home-and-garden resources.
