Why You Should Never Grow Mint in Your Garden—and Which Herbs to Plant Instead

If you love the cool, crisp, refreshing taste of mint in your lemonade or atop a summer salad, then you may be tempted to plant it in your garden. After all, this hardy perennial is easy to grow, and has a number of benefits, from attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies to deterring pests like ants, mosquitoes and flies.

However, growing mint can be a very bad idea. Here's why experts say you should avoid it—plus, a few tasty herbs they recommend planting instead.

Why You Shouldn't Grow Mint

Mint is a highly invasive species, and can grow up to two feet tall in a single growing season—and up to two feet wide in a year.

“Most mints are extremely aggressive, spreading quickly by underground stems and colonizing the garden,” says Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society. “Even the smallest piece of stem or root from a mint plant can quickly establish.”

When mint takes over your garden space, its vigorous growth can crowd out other plants, creating a lack of biodiversity.

“It’s actually hard to get rid of mint in the garden once the plant has taken hold,” says Victor Castro, owner of The Nursery Project USA on Palmstreet. “[But] these problems can basically be gotten around if you limit your mint to container gardening.”

How to Grow It in Pots and Containers

The best way to grow mint is to limit the spread of the plant's roots by planting it first in a pot, then sinking the pot into the soil within a larger container.

“Every few weeks, give the pot a quarter turn to keep the roots from escaping through the drainage holes,” Castro says. “When possible, use a plastic pot, which won't dry out as quickly as clay, and will be easier to turn.”

Here's how a step by step guide on how to properly grow mint in a container.

1. Buy a small mint plant. You don’t need a big one—it will grow quickly.
2. Choose a 12 to 14 inch pot. Preferably one that will withstand freezing winter temperatures.
3. Add well-draining potting soil.
4. Plant the mint in the pot and water it thoroughly. Then water again when the surface is dry. “Mint might not need to be watered as much as other plants,” Bunting notes.
5. Place mint pot inside a second, larger planter. This way, you can add it to your garden. If the mint will live on a deck, patio, or windowsill, it’s fine in a single pot.
6. Harvest the mint regularly to keep it under control. You’ll want to snip the tallest mint stems just above the leaf node—avoid plucking off individual leaves. Also avoid tossing harvested mint on a compost pile, because it might root.
7. Store the mint once it's harvested. Place it in the fridge in a tall jar or glass filled with an inch or so of cold water. Loosely cover it with a produce bag secured with a rubber band to create a greenhouse effect. You can also freeze mint in ice cubes or air dry it in a cool, well-ventilated area.

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Alternative Herbs You Can Grow

Want to grow herbs directly in your garden? These options are not invasive, and they add delicious, fresh flavor to many recipes.

Thyme

Thyme is a slow-growing perennial that attracts pollinators and repels everything from aphids to deer. “I love to plant thyme near plants that tend to pull aphids toward them, like leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumber, squash, and zucchini,” Castro says. “When thyme flowers, this herb will be swarming with very happy bees.”

Grow tip: Give your thyme full sun and avoid overwatering. Harvest thyme regularly to encourage new growth and prevent the stems from getting too woody.

Basil

Basil makes an excellent companion plant for tomatoes; they can actually influence the taste of some tomatoes when planted next to each other, says Castro. Basil also aids in repelling thrips, flies and mosquitoes.

Grow tip: Basil can take a little shade, but make sure it has good air circulation, and keep an eye out for powdery mildew.

Chives

Chives make good neighbors in the garden and produce chemicals that work to repel garden pests like aphids. They also bloom with pom pom-like flowers in purple, pink, and white hues, which attract beneficial pollinators to the garden.

Grow tip: Chives prefer full sun and well-drained soil.

Dill

Dill makes a great companion plant for your vegetable or herb garden, as it attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs, praying mantises, and wasps, which deter pests like aphids and cabbage moths.

Grow tip: Dill likes full sun but needs to stay moist, so water frequently, but use well-draining soil so it doesn’t get soggy.

Parsley

This annual grower is a popular addition to many summer recipes and is relatively easy to grow, typically living for two years. If you’re planting parsley from seeds, be patient, because they can take two to four weeks to germinate.

Grow tip: Parsley likes full sun and well-draining soil. Harvest the leaves regularly (snip stems at the base) to help it grow bushy.