Mint is probably the herb with the most uses compared to any other herb, and that's why I love this fantastic, versatile herb! It is one of my favorites to use around our garden and in our home.

Mint is an inexpensive addition to any garden and great for use in your household. It is the perfect herb for any budget-conscious person and great if you want to transition to more organically friendly products.

We use it for lots of things at home! Keep reading to see some of them!

Some benefits of mint

In the garden, mint attracts beneficial insects such as butterflies, bees, and hoverflies. The mint plant is rich in nectar and pollen and helps to pollinate other plants and crops.

It can help to soothe an upset stomach, calm inflammation, and aid in digestion. I also like to use a mint vapor rub for Ava to ease congestion.

Mint is a popular ingredient in mouth hygiene products. The mint adds a burst of fresh flavor and fragrance to disguise and ward off bad breath. Simply chew on a few leaves to get the same effect! Ava loves running to the garden and grabbing some fresh mint to chew.

Using mint to spice up your food, drinks, and water is also a natural way to add flavor without all the added sugars and sodium. Saving you some calories! I love fresh mint in my water!

How to Grow Mint

The best time to plant mint is in Spring after the last frost or early autumn in frost-free regions. Mint is a perennial herb (meaning they can live for three or more growing seasons), and will regrow every Spring.

It is relatively easy to grow and frost hardy to some degree. Mint will die back and survive throughout the winter as far north as zone 5 and sometimes even zone 3, depending on the variety. When Spring comes around, your mint will come to life again. You could of course plant mint indoors to have it available all year round. If you want to know more about how to build and design a greenhouse for indoor winter planting, I shared all about that in this BLOG.

Mint is a fast-growing and quickly spreading plant, often getting a bad rep for invading your garden. It can quickly turn into a large lush green bush if you don't keep an eye on it. For this reason, many people recommend planting mint in containers. You can also consider planting mint in containers and sink the pots into the ground to contain its roots and still be part of the beds. I have mine in a raised bed. It has most definitely taken over the entire bed but I don’t mind!

Full sun to semi-shade is ideal for mint and it loves soil with good moisture that drains well. Soil with pH levels 6.0 - 7.0 is perfect for mint. Consider giving regular doses of plant food if you are harvesting a lot during the year.

With some mint varieties, you can harvest two to three times per growing season per plant. Frequent harvesting is also vital to keep the plant producing at its best.

Keep an eye out for whiteflies, black flies, mildew, rust, leaf spot, spider mites, snails, and slugs, as mint is vulnerable to all of these diseases and pests. However, mint is also used to ward off pests against other plants. Learn more about natural pest control and companion planting HERE, to keep the pests away.

10 Uses for Your Fresh Mint Leaves

For your animals

You can feed mint to your rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens. Mint has natural antibacterial qualities, which are great for the animals' teeth and a source of vitamin A. My chickens love to nibble on it.

Use in Food

Mint adds lots of zingy flavor to many dishes. Add to your salads, fruit bowls, roasted potatoes, or veggies. You can also make pesto with mint and basil, which is a yummy combination. Adding mint will instantly make any dish more interesting! Just Google mint food recipes, and you’ll find a ton of ideas.

Refresh your refreshments

Spice up any drink, mocktails, smoothies, lemonade, or water for a healthy alternative to added sugars and flavorants. On a hot summer's day, frozen mint ice cubes can cool you down and make you feel refreshed and hydrated instantly.

Make mint tea

I love to drink home-brewed mint tea as a soothing drink before bedtime. It helps me to de-stress and calms the gut. Steep mint leaves in boiling water for a few minutes and add lemon and honey for extra flavor and health benefits. See my instagram post HERE for a fun recipe!

Mint syrup

Make a mint syrup that's easy to grab and use anytime to add flavor to drinks, desserts, and more. Just boil mint leaves with one part sugar and two parts water to create the syrup.

Peppermint oil

Used topically, it can ease muscle pain or joint stiffness. It can also be used in aromatherapy for congestion and reducing stress. Or used as a flavoring agent in your cooking and baking. And mint chocolate! Yumm!

Muddle the leaves, cover with olive or grapeseed oil, let it sit for a few days, strain the leaves and repeat the process 3 -4 times depending on the amount of oil you desire. Always dilute your mint oil to about 2% with another oil, as undiluted essential oils can irritate the skin.

Citrus mint air freshener spray

This air freshener will give any room a crisp, invigorating feel and delicious smell. You need 3/4 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of real vanilla essence or vodka, 10 drops of wild orange essential oil, and 8 drops of peppermint oil. Simply mix in your spray bottle and spray away! Remember to always shake before spraying. It won’t last as long as chemical fresheners but it contains no toxins.

Cucumber & mint bath soak

Another treat to delight yourself in. This bath soak will make you relaxed and feel like you are in your very own private spa. Get the full recipe HERE.

Peppermint bath soap

If you're a true DIYer, you can always make refreshing peppermint bath soap, using dried mint leaves and peppermint oil. By the way, peppermint has a stronger and more intense flavor and aroma than spearmint. Hence the reason why many DIY recipes suggest peppermint.