Mint plant is a creeper: True or false?

Mint will spread through your garden in the warmer months as it creeps or spreads through underground roots. Each root notch can send up a mint stem which can be trimmed off and grow into a new plant. Mint is a creeper and will quickly fill the pot, garden bed or space you give it.

How does mint creep?

Mint will ‘creep’ or spread through the garden by sending out deep, healthy roots under the ground which can send up new mint sprouts. Mint can send up stems from each node on its root so will be quick to travel through your garden.

When I moved into my new house, there was a mint plant that had been left to grow for over 2 years and had spread to around a 3 feet square space. While the whole bed was not full of mint because it was dormant, it would have taken over if left in the soil.

It can be difficult to see how far mint has spread during the cooler months as the stems will die back and go dormant. The stems will be a dark brown or dirt color and the plant can have almost no leaves. This will make it difficult to find how far it has spread.

How to deal with creeping mint that has taken over

The best way to deal with creeping mint that has taken over a garden bed is to grab a garden fork and lift up the whole plant.

If this process is done gently, the long roots of the mint will stay in one piece and can be lifted from the soil. Roots will usually clump in one area where the plant had been growing originally.

Try to remove all of the root as any healthy piece left in the ground will re-sprout and you will be back to the same problem at the end of Summer.

Once the mint roots have been removed, they can be separated to find the healthy roots. These will look white and healthy. Any brown roots can be discarded.

Get rid of any mint roots you don’t want into the bin. Do not put them into your compost or worm farm otherwise they will re-sprout and take over that space.

How to re-pot creeping mint

Creeping mint is a great plant if kept contained. It is best to grow it in a pot or in a garden bed with defined edges.

Remember: Mint will take over the space it is given so choose wisely before planting.

Choose a pot as large as you like and fill with good quality potting soil. Mint loves rich soil so add some extra pelleted chicken manure.

Mint will look dead when it is winter but healthy, white roots can be buried 1 inch below the soil and watered well. They will grow back healthy when the weather warms in Spring.

My mint that I had re-plated in the middle of winter, has now sprung to life right at the end of winter.

It is best to transplant mint when it is dormant in the cool weather. It will also be easier to remove from the ground if it has taken over a space.

Benefits of creeping mint

There are some fantastic benefits of mint’s ability to creep and reproduce from all areas of its root system. Here are the top benefits of creeping mint.

Mint plants for free

One of the best things about mint is that it will endlessly reproduce so 1 plant can make many for free. You only need to buy 1 mint plant if you take care of it as you can make more by transplanting root pieces or take stem cuttings and place them in water.

To take mint stem cuttings simply cut a 4 inch piece an remove the lower half of the leaves. Place the stem in a jar of water and I a few weeks it will send out new roots. This can then be replanted in new potting soil to make a new plant.

Mint can be given away to friends or make new plants for yourself for hanging baskets, windowsills or decorative pots.

How to care for creeping mint

Creeping mint is easy care but there are a few steps to get the most out of your mint plant and keep it contained.

Water it regularly

Mint plants love regular water especially in the warmer months. If you live in a hot region that gets very hot summers, a part shade position will help the soil stay moist and prevent sun burn.

Mulch the mint plant to keep the moisture in the soil longer.

Keep it contained in a pot

The best way to grow mint is to grow it in a pot. This give you the added benefit of being able to move the plant in and out of the sun as it needs. You can also place it out of the way when the plant goes dormant and looks like brown sticks.

Mint in its dormant state is not very attractive so keep it happy in a corner near your vegetable garden and bring it back out on display in the spring when the weather warms and it looks bright and green.

Feed with chicken manure

Feeding mint with pelleted chicken manure in Spring when it begins to grow again will give it an extra nitrogen boost to help it grow healthy, green stems. Mint grows rapidly and will feed you over the warmer months so feed it to get the best result for your efforts/

Mint plant is a creeper: Summary

Mint plants will creep around your garden and spread by their roots which will grow under the ground and sprout new leaves all over the place. Mint is a hardy plant and I have used it in a shady area that is difficult to grow in.

Before you plant mint, make sure are happy with that area being taken over. Mint is fantastic feature plant so take care and it will reward you with minty leaves all Summer.