How to Cut Back Potted Mint

Many common mint varieties such as peppermint are known for their aggressive nature, so some gardeners prefer to grow them in pots. Potted herbs like mint also work well in small gardens or on balconies and patios where tiered shelving can add more vertical space. Mint thrives under most growing conditions and it is cut back throughout the growing season when it is harvested and again in the fall to prepare it for winter.

Things You'll Need

• Hand clippers

Show More

Instructions

1. • 1

     Wait until the mint forms three or four sets of leaves in the spring to cut them back for harvesting.

   • 2

     Snip or pinch the stems back just above a lower set of leaves for harvesting. Do this as often as you want since mint grows back even fuller than before, provided you care for its other needs. Cut back the younger stems to use fresh and cut the longer and older stems for drying.

   • 3

     Prune back a perennial potted mint in the fall back to the ground. Then, move it to a sheltered location such as a porch for the winter.