Something's eating my mint!

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MandyRose Carrollton, TX May 25, 2011

I'm a brand new gardener. I bought a house last year and I'm experimenting with all different kinds of plants.

The front of our house doesn't have much growing (except for a whole mess of weeds, which I've been pulling up) so I purchased a small Sweet Mint plant and put it in the ground about a week and a half ago.

It seems to be doing well, except that recently, something has been eating the leaves. There are eaten spots on the insides of the leaves (not on the edges, so I think it's insects rather than animals). What can I spray/treat the mint plant with that keeps the bugs off, but doesn't contaminate the leaves, so I can still use them in tea?

Thanks!

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yehudith silver spring, MD(Zone 7a) May 25, 2011

Mandy

If I were you I'd grow the mint in a pot on a concrete patio. Mint once it gets a hold is terribly invasive and will totally take over.

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MandyRose Carrollton, TX May 26, 2011

I am actually looking for a ground cover so I'm not worried if it takes over. Surely it would be better than the ugly, spiny weeds and poison ivy that keeps coming up now...

But I am concerned that something is eating it. Does anyone have suggestions for something to get rid of the bugs?

This message was edited May 26, 2011 8:54 AM

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brigidlily Lumberton, TX(Zone 8b) May 26, 2011

Depends on whether you want to be organic, and what kind of bugs they are. If they are little tiny holes all over the leaves, probably flea beetles. Safer makes a soap that I've found to be effective, but you have to be careful and frankly lucky. You have to spray the bug; it's not a repellant. Also don't want to spray it on there in full sun.

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