Keep Your Mint Plants Thriving All Winter Long With These Tips

Mint is a great herb to have in your garden because it not only tastes amazing in a fresh-brewed tea but it's also one of those plants that can naturally repel pests. In fact, because of its ability to ward off pests while attracting pollinators at the same time, mint is often recommended as a good companion plant in the garden (except with cucumbers, which don't grow well near strong-scented herbs). However, if you are growing mint in zones three through seven, you've probably noticed that potted mint usually dies in the winter after a hard freeze. Although mint may be better able to survive the winter a little better when planted in the ground, it's invasive tendency to take over an entire area and outcompete other plants means that it's best kept in a pot. Luckily, there are a few ways you can keep your potted mint alive and thriving all winter long.

The first way to do this is to bring your mint pot inside. Mint prefers indirect sunlight and partial shade to full sun, so it's a great plant to keep inside in the winter as it can be placed by the window and doesn't require grow lights. Mint also typically prefers temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity. If your house air tends to be quite dry in the winter, you can help your mint thrive by regularly watering and misting the leaves. However, if you don't want to bring your giant potted mint inside, there are ways to help it survive the winter outdoors.

Despite the leaves of a mint plant being very susceptible to cold temperatures, the roots are actually quite hardy and can survive in temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if the winter temperatures get lower than that in your area, you can still successfully overwinter potted mint with a few simple steps. The first step is to drastically cut back your mint plant in autumn. In fact, it is recommended that you cut off all of the foliage until just a few inches above the soil. Then, you should cover the soil in mulch — whether that is dead leaves or straw. One Redditor on r/plants even recommended covering the mint roots with the trimmed mint leaves, saying, "I've been keeping the same mint and peppermint inside a large pot for a few years by cutting the tops off and covering the roots with the cut pieces, leaves, and small twigs right before everything freezes."

Once your mint has been trimmed and covered with the mulch of your choice, you can go ahead and move your pots to an area that is protected from wind. Then, throughout the winter you should occasionally add small amounts of water to make sure the soil never dries out completely. If you live in an area that has very cold winters, you can even consider wrapping the pot in garden fleece or storing it in your garage or basement. Then, in spring, after the last frost, you can return your potted mint to its original location to regrow.