From our perspective, we are not "taking over"; we are simply thriving as we were designed to do. Our primary survival strategy is an extensive network of vigorous underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes grow rapidly, spreading horizontally just beneath the soil surface. From every node on these rhizomes, new roots and shoots can emerge, creating a new mint plant that is genetically identical to its parent. This allows us to colonize fertile ground with incredible efficiency. Above ground, we also produce seeds, though this is a secondary method. Our goal is to claim as much territory as possible to ensure our lineage continues, which, in the language of gardeners, is interpreted as invasiveness.
The single most effective way to control us is to understand our growth habit and work with it, not against it. Planting us directly into the open soil of a garden bed is an invitation for us to explore every inch of that bed. Instead, we recommend a strategy of confinement. Planting us in a pot, specifically one made of a solid material like plastic, metal, or ceramic, is an excellent solution. The pot's walls act as a physical barrier that our rhizomes cannot penetrate. For even greater security, this pot can then be sunk into the garden soil, with its rim remaining at least an inch (2.5 cm) above the soil line. This prevents our runners from simply climbing over the edge and escaping into the surrounding earth.
You can direct our growth through regular interaction. When you frequently harvest our leaves for your teas and recipes, you are essentially pruning us. This pruning signals us to become bushier and more compact rather than focusing our energy on spreading. Pinching off our flower buds before they bloom is a particularly powerful tactic. Flowering and setting seed requires a massive amount of our energy. By preventing this, you force us to redirect that energy back into vegetative growth—producing the flavorful leaves you desire—and into our rhizome system. While this can strengthen the rhizomes, it is less of a concern if we are already properly contained within a physical barrier.
If we are already in a garden bed and relocation is not desired, you can install defensive barriers. This involves digging a trench around our colony and inserting a physical barrier that our rhizomes cannot breach. A material like HDPE plastic (often sold as root barrier) is ideal, as it is durable and smooth. The barrier should be inserted at least 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) deep to prevent our rhizomes from diving underneath it. The top of the barrier should also protrude slightly above the soil surface to block surface runners. This method creates an underground corral, containing our exploratory nature within a designated plot.
If our presence is no longer welcome, you must be thorough. Simply pulling our stems will leave countless fragments of rhizome in the soil. Each fragment, as small as an inch, can regenerate into a new plant. Complete eradication requires diligently sifting through the soil to remove every piece of pale, fleshy rhizome you can find. This is a tedious process and often requires multiple sessions over a season to catch all the regrowth. Alternatively, you can smother us by covering the area with a light-blocking material like cardboard or thick black plastic for an entire growing season, depriving us of the sunlight we need to survive.
