I put one mint plant in the corner of a 4 x 4 raised garden bed. When I bought the house the whole yard was gravel the soil underneath of clay. I got busy and in two years the whole 4 x 4 bid was taken over. I took it out and put it in gallon pots I ended up with 30 of them believe it or not. Then in order to actually get the mint out of the bed. I had to get a tarp. Take out all the dirt down to the clay. Painstakingly cook through the dirt. And then let it air dry which I hated to do but I figured I’d be inoculated with goodies later. I had to pull up all the routes all the runners on top of the clay. Remove the wooden garden box. And let it dry out really good. Which meant that every time it looks like rain I had to throw a tarp over the 4 x 4 spot. It took a couple good months before I felt safe about putting dirt back and planting some thing else.
Been loving the bees and wanting to keep the deer away, I had put it in 1 gallon pots. A friend came over and we literally drilled holes in the clay, soak the 1 gallon pots in between the curb and the sidewalk. It’s been growing fabulous little one foot tall plus bushes. The deer stay away in the bees swarm it. I was really happy.
Now this is my third summer with mint, only it’s grown out of the pot so I’m sure it came up through the holes in the bottom.
And it’s gotten to the sidewalk and coming up in a straight line with the sidewalk. This is not good because I’m concerned that it would literally go under 4 feet of sidewalk and come up on the other side. Stuff can be invasive, I feel like that’s an understatement.
So now at five in the morning I’m on the Internet looking for answers to kill the men next to the sidewalk without hurting the concrete.
I think I’m gonna quit watering it from what I’m reading above. I’m gonna have to take a shovel and dig around the edge which is not easy in clay and tight spaces.
And I’m afraid I might have to water it pretty good to get it out we’ll see. Then at this point, my plan is to pour some white vinegar about 3 inches from the concrete and probably have to do that couple times this summer.
Wish me luck because this isn’t an easy job.
I do love meant it has so many benefits as I mentioned.
I like to have three reasons for doing something.
1. It’s edible.
2. Smells wonderful.
3. Keeps the deer away (at least they don’t eat it anyway).
4. The bees and other pollinators love it!
5. It’s pretty with the blue flowers I enjoy looking at it and the neighbors do as well.
6. There’s plenty to share, more than enough.
On the subject of deer.
Our town is deer friendly. Personally I think they should all go back to the mountains. Driving around them is not exactly my favorite thing.
Put on a good note. I have a fenced in backyard. So the six garden boxes I had installed in the front are being shut down and my edibles are being moved to the back.
I have discovered that deer do not like irises. I live in a head friends tell me to plant irises near plants that deer ate and they won’t come near them.
By the way, I live in Canon City Colorado. If anybody’s nearby would love to meet you.
I’m at the corner of 10th and Ohio. I share my address because I’m not on the Internet much.
Best wishes,
Deb
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