How to prune mint and how to use the pruned mint

1. Pruning during the seedling stage

Mint needs to be pruned once during the seedling stage. Generally, when it grows to 8-10 cm, its top bud needs to be cut off. Pinching can remove the apical dominance of the plant and promote the growth of side branches, which can make it look more lush and avoid the risk of excessive growth and lodging. When the branches grow to a certain extent, you can also cut off their terminal buds to promote further branching.

2. Pruning after flowering

Mint blooms in summer and usually needs to be pruned after flowering. Since flowering will continuously consume nutrients, the remaining flowers should be cut off in time after the flowers fade, and the thinner branches should also be cut off. This can reduce nutrient loss and allow it to grow stronger. In addition, pruning should be done early. If it is done late, it will affect its smell.

3. Pruning during the growing season

Mint needs to be heavily pruned during the growing season, and branches showing signs of disease and insect pests should be cut off to prevent the situation from getting worse. At the same time, some thicker branches should be thinned out appropriately. This can increase internal ventilation and light transmission, and provide space for the growth of new branches.

4. Pruning during dormancy

Winter is the dormant period of mint. The pruning at this time should not be too large. Just remove the dead branches and rotten leaves. For some branches that are not growing well, you can also shorten them by about 3-5 cm to make the nutrient supply more concentrated.