The Ultimate Guide to Raising Catmint Like a Pro

How to Grow and Care For Catmint

Catmint can be easily grown from both seed and cuttings. Start from seeds six to eight weeks before the last spring frost in an appropriate seed-starting mix and regularly mist them with water to keep the soil moist.

Established plantings require minimal care besides applying organic compost mulch in the fall and shearing after their flowers fade to encourage new blooms. Furthermore, they're both drought and heat-tolerant.

Planting Your Catmint

As members of the mint family, catmints (Nepeta genus) are easy-to-grow perennials with long flowering times. These perennials thrive in full sun or partial shade environments and thrive best when grown on well-draining soil containing plenty of humus-rich material; additionally, they tolerate drought and heat well.

Newly planted or transplanted catmint needs to be kept watered until it is established. A general guideline would be providing about an inch of water every week until established; after that point, however, most plants should be able to take care of themselves, provided there aren't extremely dry weather conditions present.

Once your catmint plant reaches a desirable size, divide it in autumn or early spring. To divide, divide by digging up and taking apart sections with great shoots before replanting into fresh soil amended with compost or soil conditioner.

 As catmints tend to flop over easily when grown indoors, consider including their flailing into your landscape design plan - perhaps placing them atop a retainer wall as part of its design plan.

Watering

Catmint thrives best as an ornamental garden plant when grown in well-draining, moderately heavy, and fertile soil, with enough drainage and no more water than necessary to sustain itself. It tolerates heat and drought conditions while still needing regular watering until established. 

It would help if you sheared faded flowers off to encourage another bloom later during the summer and cut back foliage once its first sign of die-back occurs in autumn (before new growth appears in spring).

Watering container plants on an average weekly with approximately an inch of moisture is generally sufficient. While frequent shallow watering may seem necessary at first, too often shallow watering could result in wilted plants with roots seeking moisture on the surface rather than deep down in the soil.

To propagate new catmint plants, select healthy stem cuttings with several buds and dip them in rooting hormone before planting them in small pots or containers with fresh, moist soil. Place your cuttings in a bright, warm location where misting water as needed helps ensure their roots and leaves stay moist - this prevents powdery mildew from occurring on their roots and leaves.

Fertilizing

If starting catmint from seeds indoors, do so six to eight weeks before the last spring frost in seed trays or small pots filled with potting soil mix and aim for a 50 percent germination rate.

Once established catmint requires minimal care once established. As it's heat and drought-tolerant, there is no need to water frequently; some mulch containing well-rotted compost should be added each autumn for best results.

Applying some compost to the base of a plant in the fall will provide sufficient nutrition for at least a year; most garden plants don't produce lots of leaves that need additional nourishment.

Most varieties of catmint are sprawling plants that make great fillers between garden beds or running along pathways, while Nepeta x faassenii 'Six Hills Giant' grows taller and more upright; for this reason, it benefits from shearing to tidy its appearance as well as promotes second bloomings late summer.

Pruning

Catmint (not catnip) can quickly become an eyesore with its beautiful foliage and vibrant blue flowers that draw humans and pollinators to its garden. Pruning practices should help it regrow more vigorously while simultaneously controlling it more effectively. Prune in a cool environment with sterilized tools before beginning for optimal results. To minimize stressing the plant during pruning sessions.

Plants thrive best when grown in full sun, though partial shade may also work. They prefer dry to average, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.0 and 8.0; if your soil is extremely rich, consider adding compost in autumn or spring before planting.

Once the initial flush of bloom has ended, prune back the plants by half or more to tidy up and promote a second blooming period later in the summer. Deadheading plants is another good practice recommended if you wish to stop self-seeding. In colder regions, it's also advised that plants be pruned early winter to protect them from heavy snowfall or winds that might damage them.

Overwintering

Catmint can serve as both an attractive ground cover and container plantings or border edging options, with certain varieties such as "Cat's Meow" (Nepeta faassenii) producing beautiful lavender-blue blooms on upright stems that don't collapse - ideal choices for use edging sidewalks or garden beds.

As with other perennials, 'Cat's Meow' and other species bloom best when not overfertilized; too much fertilizer could prevent future blooms later in the season! Mulching can help retain soil moisture levels while simultaneously suppressing weeds.

When planting catmint varieties like "Cat's Meow" in pots or containers, report when their roots become root-bound. Replant them into larger containers filled with fresh potting mix that contains slow-release fertilizer for best results.

Once the last frost has passed, or in autumn for milder climates with longer growing seasons. When grown indoors, overwinter it in a cool area with plenty of light - such as an unheated garage or basement - before taking it outside for several weeks every winter to harden off before returning indoors.

Conclusion:

With these insights into growing and caring for catmint, you're now ready to cultivate a flourishing and aromatic addition to your garden. By following these guidelines, you'll be able to enjoy the vibrant blooms and enchanting fragrances of catmint while providing a haven for pollinators. Embrace the joy of nurturing this delightful herb and watch as it adds a touch of natural beauty to your outdoor space.

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