Hello,
Last summer I planted a mint plant in my garden without knowing how it spreads. Now I am worried.Is there a solution to keep the
mint growing?
Thanks.
L

Hi L,
Yes, mint can really be invasive. I’d dig it all up and then cut the bottom out of a gallon size plastic plant pot. Bury the pot in the ground and fill all but the top inch of the pot with soil. Plant your mint in the pot. This should help control the runners.
Katelyn

I love to hear from my readers. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. I will be making my gardening advice column a regular feature.

Hi,
I was reading about how you go about some of you r overwintering of
certain plants. I have very little to no experience with gardening. I have several large Easter Lilies. They are still in flower and I understand that when they wilt we can transplant them outdoors and they will bloom again either later in the summer or next year… and will then continue to come back each year. Would it be appropriate to transplant the plants once the flowers go and just leave them, perhaps with some straw mulch if the weather actually
gets cold? or should we dig the bulbs up again in the fall before it gets
to freezing temperatures and store them to plant in the spring again?

AW
North Carolina

Hi AW,

Easter Lilies can go into the ground when they finish blooming and can remain in the ground year round. I live in zone 6b-7a, which is colder than NC and mine come back every year. You can place a few inches of mulch around the base of the plants to keep down weeds and conserve moisture.
Katelyn

As someone who prefers organic gardening methods and loves roses, I spend a lot of time experimenting with organic rose fertilizers. Here are my top five choices for rose food:

1. Compost - Roses love a nice, rich compost. You can substitute compost for mulch. Just be sure to keep an eye on the compost, as it will break down faster than shredded bark. You may need to spread another few inches partway through the summer.

2. Banana peels - They break down slowly, but these peels provide valuable nutrients in small doses. Bury a banana peel a few inches away from your rose bush and let it start feeding the bush.

3. Epsom salt - Not just for your gardening aches and pains anymore. Feed a quarter cup of Epsom salt to each bush by pushing back the mulch, working the Epsom salt carefully into the top few inches of soil near the bush’s base and then replacing the mulch.

4. Manure - Bunny or goat manure can be spread near roses almost immediately. Cow, horse and pig manure must be composted first or the roses will be damaged by the heat of the manure. Manure tea is a better option.

5. Coffee - Pour left over coffee near your rose at the base of the plant. (Never water the rose’s leaves with coffee.) You can also try spreading coffee grounds near your roses.