Mint is one of the most popular herb to rise in home garden . With its fresh invigorating scent and flavor mint has countless use from teas and cocktail to sauce , gelatin , and more . However , this fast - spreading plant can quickly become invading in flower beds and overmaster other plant . Dividing mint plants regularly is the Florida key to continue your mint patch under control and the industrial plant healthy and vigorous .
When to Divide Mint Plants
Timing is authoritative when separate passel . The best time is in early spring , just as the plant begin actively growing . part in fall can also work well . Avoid part mint in the heat energy of summer , as this stresses the plant . Some signs it ’s clock time to part muckle admit :
part every 2 - 3 years prevents overcrowding and rejuvenates the works . Do n’t wait until the mint eyepatch is choking out other plants — act while the plants are still relatively lowly for easiest dividing .
How to Prepare for Dividing Mint
Before separate your stack gather these supplying to make the job easier
Next , water the spate plants well the twenty-four hour period before dividing . This helps loose the grime and makes digging up the cluster easier . Cut back any idle stem and remove pot around the mint . educate the new planting area by tease apart soil and mixing in compost .
Step-By-Step Guide to Dividing Mint
loose the roots by compass around the mint clod with a garden fork . Lift the integral cluster out of the ground .
Shake or rinse off excess grease to expose the roots . Look for place where born divisions have make .
lightly take out apart the root clump into smaller section . drive for clump with 3 - 5 stems each .
employ a sharp knife to divide any thick , tangled radical mass and separate plants .
Cut off any dead or damage roots or stems . Keep mountain of healthy rootage attached to each clump .
Replant divisions 12 - 18 column inch apart in prepared soil . tauten the dirt around the roots .
water system divisions exhaustively after embed to encourage tooth root outgrowth .
Consider potting up a few divisions to give away or expand your mint collection .
Caring for Divided Mint Plants
Keep your divided mint plants flourish with right care :
Water 1 - 2 times per week during dry periods
utilize a balanced organic fertiliser every 2 - 3 weeks
Watch for pests like spider mites and aphids
cut off any dead or damaged growth
harvest home often by cutting stems to a leafage node
withdraw efflorescence spikes to prolong foliage production
Re - water parting when plant exceed their space again
Proper watering and fertilizing is of the essence for divided sight in the first season . An constituent mulch around the flora helps retain soil moisture . Be prepared to separate again in a couple years when the mint grows back vigorously .
Propagating Mint from Divisions
Dividing provides the perfect opportunity to diffuse more mint for free . you may merely pot up divisions , but also try :
remove stem cuttings from healthy increment and rooting in pee
Layering stem by pin them to soil so they root
Planting runners that organise on the grease ’s surface
Once rooted and established , new plants can be plant in the garden or given to gardening champion . When mint is glad , it spreads pronto , giving you plenty of new plant to portion out .
Tips for Dividing Mint Successfully
habituate a shovel to cut off flawlessly through mint origin and divide the mass into clumps
Avoid over - dividing works into musical composition that are too small
Refresh soil by mixing compost into the planting expanse
Transplant variance quickly to avoid roots drying out
Plant divisions at the same depth they were originally growing
Apply rooting hormone to new divided flora to energise growth
Keep stain moist but not soaked for 2 - 3 hebdomad after divide
Use barriers like alloy comic strip or pots to bear spread after imbed
Common Questions about Dividing Mint
If you ’re new to separate plants , you likely have a few interrogation . Here are solution to some frequently asked interrogative sentence :
How often should you divide mint?
Every 2 - 3 years to restore the plants . Do n’t wait longer than 3 long time .
Can you divide mint in the summer?
It ’s best to forfend summer dividing , as heat stresses the plant . Stick to spring or lessen .
Do you have to divide the whole mint clump at once?
No , you may carve up part of the clump one year , and the remainder the following year .
How much root should be on each divided piece?
Aim for bunch with 3 - 5 stems and plenty of sizeable roots attached .
Can divided mint be planted in the same spot?
It ’s honest to move split mint to a new country to preclude speedy re - crowding .
Keep Your Mint Garden Lush and Healthy
How : 4When : 3Divide : 17Mint : 29Plant : 14Clump : 3Root : 10Soil : 6Stem : 4Spring : 2Fall : 2Water : 3Propagate : 2Pot : 3Healthy : 5Vigorous : 2Overcrowded : 2Rejuvenate : 2
