A Guide to Caring for Nepeta – Tips for Growing Healthy Catmint Plants

With its aromatic foliage and weeks of lavender blooms, catmint (Nepeta) is one of the most useful perennials for gardens and landscapes. Nepeta is low-maintenance, deer and rabbit resistant, and attracts pollinators. But providing the proper care optimizes the plant’s performance and longevity. In this guide, we’ll review the key elements of catmint care so you can keep your Nepeta thriving for years to come.

Overview of Caring for Catmint

Nepeta species are hardy perennials in the mint family. They produce clusters of tubular flowers in shades of blue, lavender, or white from late spring through summer. The plants form bushy mounds of fragrant, often silver-green foliage.

While catmints are quite rugged once established, providing good growing conditions and proper care will maximize flowering and maintain plant health. Here’s an overview of catmint’s care needs

• Full sun exposure
• Average to dry, well-draining soil
• Regular watering when newly planted
• Occasional fertilizing
• Pruning of faded blooms
• Division every 2-3 years
• Pest monitoring for thrips

Detailed growing tips will help you succeed with these delightful perennials in your garden.

Sun and Soil Requirements

• Sun: Catmints thrive in full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sun is essential. Light afternoon shade can be tolerated in hot climates.

• Soil Nepeta grows best in average to dry well-draining soil. Wet or heavy clay soils can lead to root rot. Amend planting areas with compost to improve drainage.

• pH: Soil pH between 6.0-7.0 is ideal. Catmint tolerates slightly alkaline conditions.

• Moisture: Water new plantings regularly until established. Mature plants are quite drought tolerant and require little irrigation.

Matching the plant to the site’s sun exposure and soil conditions prevents environmental stresses.

Watering Catmint Plants

• Newly planted catmint requires regular watering for the first year to develop an extensive root system.

• Established plants are quite drought tolerant, but occasional watering during prolonged dry spells will improve flowering.

• Avoid overwatering which leads to root rot. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.

• Japanese catmint varieties prefer consistently moist soil. All others thrive in drier conditions.

• Add a layer of mulch around plants to help retain soil moisture and reduce weeds.

Adjusting watering based on the plant’s age and your local weather optimizes growth.

Fertilizing Catmint

• Fertilizing is usually not necessary for catmints grown in average garden soil.

• If plants underperform, apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring when growth resumes.

• Avoid over-fertilizing which can cause leggy, floppy growth.

• For potted plants, use a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.

• Discontinue fertilizing after mid-summer to harden off plants for winter dormancy.

With proper site conditions, catmint is unlikely to require extra feeding. Go easy when fertilizing to avoid causing limp growth unable to support the flowers.

Pruning Catmint

• Prune spent flower stems back by 1/3 after the initial spring bloom to encourage reblooming.

• Shearing plants halfway back in mid-summer rejuvenates growth and provides lush new foliage.

• Leave some faded blooms for pollinators visiting the flowers into fall.

• Cut back any dead, damaged, or diseased growth as needed to improve appearance.

• Cut plants back to the ground in late fall after the growing season concludes.

• Remove winter debris in early spring to clear space for new growth.

Regular deadheading, shearing, and pruning keeps catmint looking its best while promoting more blooms.

Dividing Catmint Plants

• Divide congested clumps every 2-3 years in early spring or fall. This rejuvenates growth.

• Use a spade or garden fork to dig up and split the plant into smaller sections.

• Replant divisions 12-18 inches apart. Water well until re-established.

• Dividing periodically maintains vigor and prevents die out in the center of overgrown clumps.

Dividing catmint frequently prevents overcrowding and keeps the plants blooming strong.

Potential Problems and Solutions

• Thrips: Small insects that feed on flowers. Treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap sprays.

• Powdery mildew: Fungal disease shown as white powdery coating on leaves. Improve air circulation.

• Root rot: Caused by overwatering or poorly-draining soil. Allow soil to dry between waterings.

• Leggy growth: Insufficient sunlight or excess nitrogen. Move to a sunny spot and reduce fertilizer.

• Few flowers: Needs dividing or pruning to rejuvenate. Deadhead to promote more blooms.

With proper site selection and care, catmint is relatively trouble-free. Monitor for common issues like thrips or mildew and treat accordingly.

Overwintering Catmint

• Cut plants back after a killing frost. Evergreen foliage can harbor overwintering pests and diseases.

• Avoid mulching too early in fall before the ground has frozen. Enhances winter survival.

• Apply a winter mulch layer in very cold climates for added insulation once the soil has frozen solid.

• Resume watering when new growth appears in spring. Fertilize lightly if needed.

• Remove any winter protection when the threat of frost has passed.

Basic winter care preparations allow your catmint to sail through the off season and re-emerge vigorously in spring.

Tips for Selecting Catmint

• Choose named varieties rather than generic “catmint” for best performance. Look for outstanding selections.

• Seek out plants with a compact, mounding habit if wishing to contain spread. Some spread aggressively.

• Consider foliage color – silver, gray-green, green. Select for desired aesthetic.

• Match plant size to space available. Compact types work well in smaller gardens.

• For long bloom time, opt for reblooming varieties that flower until frost.

• Purchase nursery starts or divisions over seeds for quicker, more uniform growth.

Do some research to pick catmint varieties tailored to your specific needs and growing conditions.

Ideal Companion Plants for Catmint

• Roses – Provides nice contrast to rose blooms and foliage

• Lavender – Complements the colors and growth habit

• Russian sage – Creates attractive blue & silver-grey pairings

• Coreopsis – Yellow flowers look nice with catmint’s blues

• Yarrow – Similar habits and growth requirements

• Salvia – Contrast dark and pastel blues effectively

• Ornamental grasses – Textural contrast and movement

Grouping catmint with contrasting flowers, foliage textures, shapes and sizes creates attractive combinations.

The Takeaway

With this overview of catmint care, you can provide the growing conditions these rugged plants need to thrive and bloom prolifically for years of enjoyment. A little attention to their care pays off with healthy, vigorous catmint that adds months of color, fragrance, and pollinator appeal to your landscape. Make Nepeta a staple perennial in your full sun gardens and borders for outstanding performance.