Need help in geting rid of mint

[Figment2]

Okay, okay, I now know to keep mint in pots, but I didn't and it is taking over my garden. Any ideas of how to get rid of it? I've tried pulling it out with no success.

Thanks in advance.

Cyn

 

[TigH]

I was going to say pull it out. Good luck! I don't know how it got there, but we have some spreading through our back lawn! D'oh!

 

[CindyKansas]

The only way I was able to get rid of mine was to pull it and it took a long time to get it all, but I was determined that I would get it out of my flower beds.

 

[Snowwark]

Welcome , Figment2 and CindyKansas.

I don't know how accurate this information is, but it might be of some help to you.

It sure sounds like an awful nuisance, good luck!!

" I'm afraid mint doesn't blow in, it ain't a dandelion. the underground runners from a neighbor perhaps, made a beeline for your tree. it is hard, if not impossible to eradicate. best thing todo is wait til after a really soaking rain, very, i mean very gently try and pull the main plant out of the ground. you don't want to break off the underground runners, because they will then be stimulated into putting out leaves , and more runners. follow the runners from the main plant and try to ease them out of the soil, they are normally quite close to the surface. it's a big task, every piece you leave brhind is a potential plant. face it, mint is eternal. you can keep cutting back the plants that do pop up, and eventually(?) you'll starve them, perhaps your children or grandchildren will take over ,afteryou've gone. if you do succeed, do as the previous writer suggested and plant it in a pot, WAY above ground."


Kim

 

[Figment2]

Thanks, everyone! I may try tomorrow night (nothing like gardening in the dark). It rained a lot last Friday and now we have snow which is melting. Might be a good time to try to pull it out.

Cyn

 

[DixieDreamer]

The best I have ever managed was to keep it "confined" to areas I did not mind it. In the garden areas I just pulled it up constantly until I starved it out.


Our topsoil for our lawn came from a local farm area... which we are the nations top producer of ... you guessed it... MINT! LOL! My lawn has lots of mint growing interspersed throughout it. I really don't mind though... because it smells WONDERFUL after DH mows it! I just keep it from invading the rest of the gardens through diligent pulling... and enjoy the plants that are in the lawn.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

would roundup work?

 

[Snowwark]

Yes WMA, from what I've read Roundup would work, but, you'd have to be extremely careful not to get any on your grass or that would die too.

"Mint can be very invasive and somewhat difficult to manage. If it is in a grassy area and you do not wish to injure the grass, you may use a trans-located, post-emergent, broadleaf weed herbicide (Weed-B-Gone, Weed-out, or other such product labeled for use in controlling broadleaf weeds in grasses. Be sure it is labeled to be safe for your type of grass.) In areas with no other desirable vegetation you can use a "glyphosate" based herbicide (check the active ingredients for potassium based salt of glyphosate - Roundup TM, or other product with this ingredient - this is absorbed through the leaves and may kill any plant to which it is applied to green leaves). If the mint is in an area with other desirable plants, you may find it necessary to apply the herbicide to only the mint using a paint brush. This is tedious, but if you are careful and persistent, you should be able to remove the mint without doing too much damage to the surrounding plants. If you choose to use a herbicide be certain to read and follow the label directions carefully. Please read the label before purchasing the product to be sure you understand the directions. If you prefer not to use herbicides, the mint can be removed by frequent cultivation until the mint no longer develops from its extensive system of underground stems. This may take several years of cultivation every two weeks. This will take persistence regardless which method you select. "