Mint dying?

susan_garden

Mint was growing back after disappearing over winter. It was growing very vigorously and lovely and green and health, but has suddenly started to die back. Lots of stems are completely dead suddenly, and the ones left are not looking well at all, despite new growth at the tips. This happened very suddenly. Any ideas what is going on?

strelitzia32

That looks like crispy mint! Mint likes mostly shady, damp spots, not in direct intense sun. A few hours of evening sun is perfect, and keep the roots moist. I'd strip off all the dead leaves etc, change its position and see what happens. Mint is really tough, worst case you can just cut it down and leave it, it will regrow.

Also looking at the photos, I'll take a guess and say you've had that plant a while? You might want to pull it up, divide it and replant with fresh compost. The middle of the clump will get woody and unproductive, you'll help it along by breaking it apart, discarding the old dead growth in the middle, and moving the fresh edge growth back to the middle. Generally you'll want to do this earlier in spring though.

Buttercupdays

It's in lockdown and pining for its freedom. Mint likes to travel or even emigrate to a place it really likes and doesn't take kindly to being confined unless it gets 5 star treatment

susan_garden

Thank you for the advice! Will chance repotting and discarding all the woody bits!

Buttercupdays

My ginger mint has moved itself from where I planted it, through a little dry stone wall, up a foot or so and is now happily colonising the gaps between my strawberries!

tui34

@Buttercupdays:   Ginger mint?  Does it taste like ginger?  What is its botanical name as I would like to find some here (In France)?  Thank you in advance.  Tui