How to Design With Catmint Flowers

Create a design plan. Before planting catmint, decide how it will fit in with your gardening plans. Catmint can be an aggressive addition to the garden. Healthy plants can grow up to 3 feet tall. Catmint can easily take over a garden unless it is somehow contained.

Test the soil. Catmint will tolerate a relatively wide pH range. As long as the soil is fertile and not overly acidic, catmint will do well. Fertilizing usually is not necessary.

Choose a suitable location. Catmint thrives best in sunny conditions. Since catmint is susceptible to mold, make sure soils are well-drained and air circulation around the plant is good. Avoid planting in shady conditions or in areas that only receive afternoon sun.

Plant seeds or cuttings from existing plants. Catmint can be grown from seed, but best results come from transplanting established catmint. Plant after the last frost of the season. Catmint can be planted throughout the growing season.

Plant catmint plants near vegetable gardens to take advantage of pollinators that catmint attracts. Bumblebees are highly attracted to the aromatic pink and violet flowers.

Create a butterfly garden by planting catmint with other butterfly-attracting flowers such as blazing star and coneflower. Choose native plants that will require little maintenance for additional benefits.

Encourage birds to use your garden by planting catmint with species such as bottlebrush grass or black-eyed Susan. Birds will relish the seeds produced by these plants. Adding a bird bath will make the garden even more attractive to birds.

Plant catmint in containers to reap the benefits of having it in the garden, while preventing its spread. Make sure the container drains well.

Transplant catmint to bare areas to achieve quick, attractive cover and prevent soil erosion. Catmint's perennial nature and fast growth pattern make it a good choice for areas subject to runoff and topsoil erosion.