Can You Trim Mint Runners?

Mint ranges in fragrance from pineapple to chocolate.

Mint ranges in fragrance from pineapple to chocolate.

Mint (Mentha spp.) is a genus of perennial plants that encompasses 25 species and hundreds of cultivars. Most prefer moist, well-draining soil and full sun but adapt to a range of soils and grow in partial shade. Most mints are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, depending on the variety. Many mint cultivars produce attractive foliage that releases fragrance when brushed, making them prized plants for herb and flower gardens. However, due to its habit of spreading via underground runners, mint can be an aggressive grower.

Creating New Plants

Because the runners from mint travel under the soil and emerge as new plants, cutting the runner between the main mint plant and the new plants allows you to multiply the number of mint plants with ease. Digging and moving the new plant after severing the runner provides you with a healthy plant that soon resumes vigorous growth.

Controlling Spreading

Many gardeners routinely trim or cut the runners from their mint plants to keep them from spreading in the garden. This can be accomplished by cutting around the base of the plant with a shovel and pulling the runners free of the soil. Be careful of how you dispose of the runners. Runners thrown in the compost bin or discarded near the garden take root quickly and may spread in areas where you'd prefer they didn't grow.

Some types of mint spread so aggressively that they are considered invasive or potentially invasive in certain areas. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata), as well as pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), should be watched and controlled carefully. All three grow well in USDA zones 8 and 9.


Many gardeners grow mint in containers above the soil to prevent them from spreading in the garden. Alternately, sinking a large pail or metal container into the soil and placing the mint plant inside the container prevents the runners from escaping to nearby areas while allowing you to grow you mint in the garden with your other herbs and flowers.


Before planting mint in your flower or herb garden, consider whether you are willing to provide the care it needs to prevent it from spreading to surrounding areas. Another location may be your best option for easy care. Growing mint on hillsides or other bare spots is always an option. Some people prefer to grow mint as a border to the lawn because it releases sweet fragrance whenever it is mowed, but beware: Mint spreads to lawns too.

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