The Downside Of Growing Mint In Containers You Didn't Even Consider

Old-school gardening wisdom has long suggested you grow mint in containers as this invasive herb has a habit of taking over your garden if left to its own devices. And while you can bring beneficial bugs to your garden with one type of garden mint, no one wants their entire outdoor space dedicated to it. So, yes, the container advice isn't bad, but it overestimates mint's ability to be contained. You see, more casual gardeners might not realise that even in a container, mint is nothing if not determined and will always find a way to spread.

Mint doesn't just expand its territory through seeds; many mint varieties actually send stems out underground (called runners) that can move large distances in search of new territory. Accordingly, there's a downside of growing mint in containers you didn't even consider: Even the tiniest crack or drainage hole is all a runner needs to get on its merry, minty way. These runners are mint's most brilliant weapon in the pursuit of new areas: They grow out horizontally under the ground before they start popping out new mint plants across their length. The perseverance of mint has to be admired. If you give them enough time and just enough of an opening, they will find the structural weakness in your container they need to break free.

If you want to create a guaranteed mint-escape-proof container, you'll have to do a little extra work first. Make sure your container is made from the thickest and most durable material, such as heavy-duty plastic or glazed ceramic. While making the switch to terracotta planters to say goodbye to plant pests is appealing, they are too susceptible to breakages and fractures to grow mint in.

And then, you should consider where you place your mint. Putting the container on a type of platform, stand, or paved surface is a clever way to stop the runners from reaching the ground. You may also want to consider putting a landscape fabric under the container as an additional barrier, and make sure to inspect your mint containers as much as possible, looking for signs of jailbreak attempts. What you want to stop is roots emerging from drainage holes or cracks. So, if you find them, prune mint to keep the herb from taking over your back yard.

These little extra efforts will pay off when you have a fully functioning herb garden that behaves how you want it to. Think of all the benefits of having a properly contained mint supply at your disposable. You'll have so many fresh leaves for tea, cocktails, and cooking — without any of the headache of trying to remove mint that made an escape.