Yes, I know that all the mints are invasive.
But I also read that they are a very good insecticide/repellent and of rodents as well.
I was wondering if planting them at the base of our trees could prove useful.
A weedwacker can keep them at 6-8 inches with the benefit of the pleasant aroma for us and deterrent for our pests.
Spread can also be controlled with the weed wacker and a little additional fertilizer if they prove nutrient competetive to our trees.
Mike
Hey Mike,
I just remediated a large chunk of my garden that a previous owner had let get overrun with mint. As difficult as it was to get rid of, I would strongly caution you on this one. The only way I would plant mint in-ground again would be to surround it with rhizome barrier (treat it like bamboo). But of course that would also restrict your tree roots from growing out as well.
Maybe put some decorative pots of mint around your trees?
Hope that helps…
Be careful though, mint will grow right through the bottom of the pot, I would advice against planting it in the ground. If potting, elevate the pot so you can see when it tries to root into the native soil. Mint natively wants to take over the world and it will if you take your eye off it.
I grow chocolate mint under one of my peach tree. It spreads all over, but my 5 years old tree does not have a peach borer yest, knock on the wood. In the summer, when it grows too tall, before it flowers, I cut the mint and dry them to make tea and seasoning. From time to time, I will pull the root out to control it from spreading too far. I found most of my mint root is shallow, in the mulch layer. I think the tree’s roots is a bit deeper, if I give them enough fertilizer, I don’t think the mint will took all the fertilizer from the tree.
I weigh the Pros and Cons, the time to spend to pull the roots out, is way less and easier than digging a borer out of the tree.