Creepy Crawlies

I knew it was a mistake… I planted mint in the garden and I didn’t contain it. Mint tends to crawl unabashedly across the garden. Most (smart) people will bury a quart container of mint in the ground. By planting the container in the ground, the roots get protection during the winter months. And the container then contains the roots in the summer to keep the mint at bay.

I, of course, just transplanted the mint directly into the garden, with no means of controlling its growth. When it begins to creep out of control, I yank up the roots, and squelch it back.

If it was only mint that grew this way in my garden, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But now I have other things to contend with… the raspberries, the strawberries, and some lily of the valley. The strawberries went into the garden last year. I only got 4 berries for the entire season, and decided to give them another year to prove their worth. Now, I have potential for about a dozen berries, but they have spread into the tomato and kale patches.

If I let them grow out of control, they will take over the garden, with their roots suffocating other plants, depriving them of water and nutrients. As much as I like raspberries, strawberries and mint, I don’t like them enough to give up lettuces, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

My normal morning routine had been to grab a cup of coffee, head into the garden and take a survey… seeing what’s growing, what’s ready to harvest and pluck out the beginnings of new weeds. Now I head out with a trowel, digging up the roots that have shot up plants above the soil.

Comments

[Kathleen]

I have the hardest time growing mint. I live neat the coast and its always a struggle. I'm jealous of yours!

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

Embrace the sprawl! I let my mint free-range in the garden, too.

[grace]

mint mania! enjoy it while it lasts, julia, and make some awesome stuff with it. do i hear lamb? juleps? :)

[Jake the Girl]

Haha you have to read The Imperfect Garden, a memoir by Adina Sara. She lets her garden grow by itself at first, but she's constantly at war with aggressive plants. It's pretty funny. Eventually she comes to terms with plants sprouting in inexplicable places.

[Julia]

Lydia - If my garden were bigger, I'd embrace the sprawl.

Grace -- I'm definitely looking forward to mojitos!

Jake the Girl -- thanks for the recommendation. I'll have to check it out.