Mint is a vigorously growing, frost-tolerant plant that grows even in the poorest conditions with minimum nutrients and moisture. If you don't trim mint plants regularly, it tends to take over your entire garden bed, and you won't be able to plant anything else nearby. Plus, at a certain stage of growth, when it starts flowering or produced seed, it loses its taste and fragrance.
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How to Trim Mint Plant?
It is necessary to figure out the right time and best way to trim the plant. Otherwise, it might don't grow back. Today, I will share how and when I trim both potted and ground mint to get the maximum yield and maintain its health throughout the year.
What Is The Best Time to Trim a Mint Plant?
In winters, mint stops growing, and sometimes its leaves become almost dead and unresponsive. This is an ideal time for insects and pest diseases to invade the plants. Therefore it is critical to trim down the mint plant to the garden level just before winter. The roots and grown stems can tolerate extreme winters, and they will grow back to their full potential in the spring.
Additionally, I regularly look for unruly and overgrown parts of mint underneath the bushes and trim them from time to time. For a large yield of mint, the best time to harvest the mint is just before it blooms. Regularly look for the buds in the mint plant. This is a sign telling the mint plant is about to bloom. It is the best time to prune and trim the plant.
How To Trim The Mint Plant?
You can trim or prune the mint plant using a sharp knife or scissors. If you are trimming mint for daily use in the kitchen, look for the stem that has grown 3 to 4 inches tall. Then cut carefully, leaving the stem at least 2 inches above the ground with at least 2 leaves on it. It will help mint grow back quickly.
If the mint plant is growing vigorously and it has taken over your garden bed, you need to cut the entire plant by leaving a stem only one inch above the ground. In cases of potted mint, you need to prune the overgrown stem to about one inch above ground from time to time. If you have a large potted mint plant, you can cut back the entire plant to half of its length to maintain the health and shape of the plant.
Precautions
- Always trim or prune the mint plant in the morning. It will prevent the freshly cut parts from the direct sun.
- Always trim the plant before it forms seed because it will result in self-sown wild growth and take over the entire garden bed.
- To get healthy and dense growth of mint plant, water the plant immediately after trimming.
- When trimming the overgrown leggy stem, do not cut or damage the new growth coming out.
FAQs
How do you fix leggy mint?
How often can you harvest mint?
What do you do with mint after flowering?
Conclusion
I hope my experience will help you get the highest yield with the best flavor and maximum fragrance. Also, I would recommend planting the mint in a pot because it is easier to maintain and control the wild growth of the plant.
