Mint, Mint, and More Mint: A Wildly Useful Herb

Crystal Wubbels
Jul 20
3 min read

Updated: Aug 31

Rooted In Season | July: Embracing the Mint Jungle

If you’ve ever planted mint, you might have found yourself muttering, “What have I done?” under your breath. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Mint is the herb that keeps on giving… and giving… and giving. However, when you learn to work with it instead of against it, it becomes one of the most rewarding, no-fuss plants you can grow.

Let’s dive into where to plant mint (and where to absolutely not), how to care for it, and—most importantly—all the things you can make with it once you have a mint jungle on your hands.

The Mint Basics: Why Gardeners Love (and Fear) It

Mint belongs to the Mentha genus and comes in a variety of delicious options: spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint, apple mint, pineapple mint, mojito mint—you get the idea. It’s a hardy perennial that spreads through underground runners. Left unchecked, it will happily take over an entire bed or lawn.

But that bold personality? It’s also why mint is a garden favorite:

It’s resilient (and borderline unkillable).
Deer and rabbits don’t love it.
It attracts pollinators.
It’s delicious and medicinal.
It smells like summer.

Where to Plant Mint (and Where Not to)

Best Places to Plant Mint:

Containers: This is the number one recommendation. A large pot on your patio will keep mint under control and make harvesting easy.
Raised beds with barriers: If you must put it in a bed, keep it quarantined—use underground barriers to stop runners.
Invasive-use zones: Got a place where nothing grows or you want something to fill in a space? Mint will oblige.
Near outdoor seating: Bonus—brushing against it smells amazing and can repel mosquitoes.

Places to Avoid Planting Mint:

In the ground near other herbs or vegetables: It’ll spread and choke them out.
In open beds with no borders: Unless you want mint to be the bed.
Next to delicate root systems: Mint is not polite—it’s a space hog.

Mint Care 101: Low-Maintenance but Not No-Maintenance

Mint is relatively easy to care for, but it still requires some attention. Here’s what you need to know:

Sunlight: Mint thrives in full sun to partial shade. In really hot zones, afternoon shade helps.
Watering: It likes consistently moist soil but not soggy. Water deeply when the topsoil is dry.
Harvesting: Pick often! Harvesting encourages bushy growth and helps prevent flowering.
Pruning: Cut it back before it blooms to preserve flavor. If it gets leggy or out of hand, give it a dramatic haircut—it’ll forgive you.
Wintering: Mint dies back in cold winters but returns in spring. Mulch lightly if you're in Zone 5 or below.

What to Make With All That Mint

Once you have mint, the only question is what not to do with it. Here are some of my favorite ideas:

In the Kitchen:

Mint-Infused Water: Refreshing and hydrating—just toss in fresh sprigs.
Mojitos or Mint Juleps: A summer essential.
Mint Simple Syrup: Great for cocktails, tea, or desserts.
Mint Pesto: Swap out basil for a unique twist.
Mint Yogurt Sauce: Perfect on grilled meats or falafel.
Cucumber-Mint Salad: Clean, crisp, and cooling.

In the Apothecary:

Mint Tincture: Digestive aid and energizing tonic.
Mint-Infused Oil: Great for headache balms or cooling foot rubs.
Mint Lip Balm or Salve: Tingly and refreshing.

In the Bath & Home:

Herbal Foot Soak: Combine dried mint, Epsom salt, and baking soda.
DIY Cooling Spray: Mint tea + witch hazel + essential oil = instant summer refresh.
Soap Bars: A fresh mint bar wakes up your skin and your mood.
Mint Sachets: Tuck dried mint into drawers to deter bugs and keep things fresh.

Final Thoughts: If You Can’t Beat It, Use It

Mint may be aggressive, but it’s also incredibly generous. The key is planting it with intention—and a little containment. If you do, you’ll have a hardy, healing, and wildly versatile herb that earns its keep in your garden and your home.

Rooted + Real

I thought I was being smart by “containing” my mint in a raised garden bed. Keyword: thought. One day while weeding, I tossed a few escapee sprigs onto the lawn beside the bed. I figured they’d dry out and be done.

Spoiler: they did not dry out. They thrived. Now I have a surprise mint patch growing outside the bed. Right next to it. Like it’s laughing at me.

Lesson: Mint doesn’t need encouragement—just opportunity.

What’s Your Mint Story?

Got a mint takeover tale? A favorite recipe? Drop it in the comments or tag me @RootedNRed. Trying is good, not trying is bad—and trust me, mint will make you try things you never expected.