Catnip is quite frugal, but needs a trim every now and then. Here's what to look out for when cutting catnip.
Caring for catnip (Nepeta) includes proper watering and fertilizing as well as pruning. To ensure that your catnip has the best conditions for he althy growth and beautiful flowers, you should know what to look out for when cutting. In this article, you'll learn why you should trim your catnip, when is the perfect time, and how to do it.
Why cut catnip?
Catnip belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and usually grows perennial as a herbaceous perennial. Under optimal conditions, it can grow 20 to 90 centimeters in height. In gardens it is often used as a bed border, in a perennial bed or in a herb or scented bed. In general, mint is considered to be quite undemanding and easy to care for. However, there are some instances where a catnip trim may be necessary.
You should trim your catnip for the following reasons:
- Bloom Extension
- Maintaining He alth
- Use as medicinal and spice plant
- Prevent Spread
- For Propagation
We'll tell you when it's time for these catnip pruning measures and how best to do the pruning.
Catnip: When to Cut?
Depending on what you want to achieve by cutting your catnip, there are different cutting times for the individual measures. If you want to extend the flowering time of your catnip, you should cut it back after the main flowering period. In July, the flowering period is usually over and it is time to cut back. If your catnip is infested with diseases or pests, you should cut off and remove the affected parts of the plant immediately and at any time. If you want to use the leaves and flowers of your catnip as a medicinal and spice plant, the right time for a cut is in summer. Do you want theseTo prevent and control the spread of your catnip, the right time to cut back in spring is between February and March.
Tip: Pruning the plant in autumn will not be rewarded, so be sure to wait until spring to do so. If the catnip is cut back in autumn, it will be unnecessarily weakened before the cold season.
To propagate catnip, you can cut off individual shoots between April and July.
Summary Catnip Cutting Time:
- Blooming extension: After the main flowering period in July
- Maintenance of he alth: at any time in case of disease or pests
- For use as a medicinal and spice plant: In summer
- Prevention of spreading: In the spring between February and March
- For Propagation: Between April and July
Catnip: how and how much to cut?
It's not just the optimal time that is important when cutting the catnip, but also the correct procedure. Depending on your intention, you should proceed differently. Below are instructions on each pruning option for catnip.
Pruning catnip to prolong flowering
If you want to enjoy the lush flowering of catnip for as long as possible, you can encourage it to flower longer by pruning. To do this, all shoots of the plant are cut off with clean and sharp pruning shears to just above the ground. Alternatively, you can also cut off all the inflorescences up to just above the first leaf. With this measure, your catnip will usually continue to bloom until autumn.
It can also make sense to give your catnip new strength with fresh nutrients after pruning. To do this, you can spread nettle manure or a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - for example our Plantura organic universal fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - immediately after pruning.
An overview of the procedure for pruning catnip:
- Use sharp secateurs
- Shorten all shoots to just above the ground
- Or shorten all inflorescences to above the first leaf
- If necessary, fertilize with nettle manure or a fertilizer with long-term organic effects
Hint: Through this oneCutting, however, also prevents the self-seeding of the catnip. If you intend for your catnip to spread further into the garden and self-seed, then you'd better refrain from this pruning.
Cut catnip when infested
Catnip is sometimes attacked by powdery mildew. In such a case, it helps to remove the affected parts of the plant and the buds. In this way, the plant no longer puts any energy into the development of the flowers, but can concentrate on fighting the fungus.
Cut catnip for use in the kitchen and Co.
Catnip has many uses as a medicinal and spice plant. To use the flowers and leaves of the special mint, you can cut off entire stems of the plant with sharp scissors. These can then be used fresh or dried. Or you can only harvest individual leaves or flowers to use fresh.
Cut catnip to prevent spread
To prevent the vigorous catnip from taking over your entire garden, a radical pruning is sometimes necessary. To do this, choose a frost-free day and cut the whole plant back to just above the ground with sharp pruning shears.
Cut catnip to propagate
If you want to propagate your catnip yourself, the simple method of propagating by cuttings is a good idea. For this you should make sure to cut the cuttings with clean and sharp scissors. Select a he althy young shoot of catnip and cut it about 6 inches long. Now remove the top leaves. You can then place the cuttings in the substrate and water them.
Alternatively, you can of course also propagate catnip by dividing it or - the simplest option - by self-sowing.
If you want to learn more about catnip, you should definitely continue reading here. For more mint cutting tips, click here.