Best way to get rid of mint?

xmaryrickx

I didn't listen and planted mint in my garden last year, not in a container. It has now spread to about 5ftx5ft. It's ridiculous. And while I am excited about the copious amounts of mojitos in my future, it has got to go. I dug it up last fall, no good. It's thriving. I would like to kill it sooner, rather than later, as I Plan to put down pavers and make a container herb garden (less weeding). Ideas???

living_insanity

We are trying vinegar to kill off our weeds today.  Maybe you could spray all the mint with vinegar and see if it'll get rid of it. 

 

kaylie622

Ack. I planted mint with two other herbs in a container and had a similar experience. HUGE roots wrapped around the inside of the pot and choked the others. It really has to be in its own container.

 You probably need to dig out the roots completely and pour boiling water and vinegar over the area. 

GRsweetpea

Move. 

Dig it up.  Inspect the area every month, and dig whatever comes up, up.  Keep at it.

I don't think vinegar will work on mint, but it's worth a try. 

meganyani

oh god...I've never had mint before but planted it in the bed against our house. Should I dig the seeds up?!

pdxmouse

GRsweetpea:

Move. 

Dig it up.  Inspect the area every month, and dig whatever comes up, up.  Keep at it.

I've done this every spring since we moved into our house 4 years ago. This year only a few dozen popped up. Use one of those three pronged claws, the runners go everywhere, and I find that tool the most effective. Luckily mine is on a driveway strip and not going anywhere else. It does limit what I can plant there though.

Is the bed otherwise contained? If so I would just plop down your pavers and containers and let the mint come up where it wants. Mow it down when you want mojitos. 

dirtyred

Napalm.

And to the poster who planted mint--yes, get out there and get those seeds up, and yank up the plants as soon as they come up.

Niffa2003

My mom still has mint coming up in her garden that I planted 15 years ago.  That stuff will. not. die.

curlydoglover

Who said "move"?

Pretty much that. The previous owners planted mint in their beds.  We're dealing with the aftermath.

We dug up an entire bed that was taken over by mint.  Removed all the plants.  It still came back.  Eventually I had to Round-Up the hell out of it.  Even THEN I still get shoots up.

The front bed is completely taken over by it now, too.  It crowded out black-eyed susans, FFS.  We're going to have to re-do that entire bed, too.

nitaw

Every time I walk by mint at Lowes/Home Depot, I think of these horror stories. I stare at it, smile and think "I'll just buy you at the grocery store when I need you."

Bless your hearts for having to deal with this nightmare. Good Luck killing it OP!! 

rubyiu

Curly, I'm in your situation. THe people before me had it planted. This year it exploded I pulled up all these weeds, mostly mint, and my yard waste smelled like a mojito. I Have a GROVE of it still too. It's all I can do to keep it out of my veg plants.

meganyani

dirtyred:

Napalm.

And to the poster who planted mint--yes, get out there and get those seeds up, and yank up the plants as soon as they come up.

 

I dug it all up (none of them had even germinated yet, luckily). I'm going to get rid of the soil they were in too, haha.

NewEnglandWifey

Mojitos

Ginger Le Coeur

This is why I plant my mint in flower pots, which I have partially planted in the ground. I have a tiny garden, and I really don't want it to be taken over by mint...

Although, xmaryrickx.... I'd be happy to have some strawberry mojitos when I come for a visit... : )

BTW... you can't move... your home is way to amazing!!!

annalisel

Thank you for asking this. I was just going to plant mint in the ground. I think I'll stick to a container now.

I'm kind of surprised. My mom had a mint plant that I remember as a single bush. 

+j+k+

I'm a big fan of Round Up myself. The kind that you mix - and I mix it twice as strong as recommended.