We have a vegetable garden at the homestead that has never been used as such. Overall its just a massive bed of mint. Mint is neat, but besides the occasional pot of Mint tea, we don’t do much with the stuff. I decided its time for it to go. First I tried with a regular leaf rake, and the stuff didn’t budge. I had a garden claw and started rooting some of it up, but that was VERY tiring work. Bought a garden rake today and made some progress…but DAMN this shit is putting up a fight. I’m calling it quits for the evening, and I’m going to come at it full force in the morning.
I’ll probably turn my yard waste pit into a mint field…which I’m fine with.
Roundup is your friend. Make that glyphosate is your friend, as the Roundup name has such commercial value that it is plastered on all kinds of stuff that is not glyphosate.
The virtue of glyphosate is that it is absorbed by the foliage of the plant and it is not persistent in the soil. It breaks down quickly. So you can apply the solution to the mint, let it die, till it in, and plant your new veggies.
Roundup is indeed the easiest solution as the root system spreads far and wide. However, you could also make a crapload of mojitos and juleps.
Our mint grows in the middle of the driveway, with no direction to spread as long as we keep driving. It’s tough stuff, ain’t it? Gets by in the middle of summer in 105 degree temps without me watering it but once a month.
Mint is a pervasive, invasive, hardy weed. That coincidentally tastes good.
You could always try making mint jelly, though I should warn you about a few details before you try… Anywise, good way to cut down a lot of it. Ours is never going into the ground unless I have a patch of yard I do not want any more… that is controlled in some fashion (and, no, edging will not stop it, it will just go under).
Mint should always be grown in pots for this very reason.
I know its Massachusetts, Jennifer, but even though possession under an ounce carries a fine and confiscation but no criminal penalty, I believe GROWING Pot here is still illegal, not gonna try it!
😛
I loved taking the lawn mower over the mint in my grandma’s side yard. IIRC it retreated back to the flowerbed and gave up the captured lawn territory after a mowing season.
We got some spreading into the lawn as well…it didn’t stick around after a few months of mowing.