Photo: Stanislav Doronenko, CC BY 2.5 · source
Pruning guide · Herb
Korean mint: when and how to prune
Agastache rugosa
Korean mint is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | July–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Korean mint: when to prune it?
Cut back the old stems in March, when new shoots appear at the base.
What else to prune in those months? March
Korean mint: how to prune it?
- Leave the stems standing in winter: they protect the crown of the plant and look lovely with frost.
- In March, cut them back to just above the new shoots at the base.
- In summer you can remove spent spikes; this limits self-seeding.
- A plant that grows too tall by June can be shortened by a third: it will flower a little later, on lower stems.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Korean mint flowers in July–September, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
Caution: Do not cut back to the ground in autumn: more water then gets into the crown and the plant rots more easily in a wet winter.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Korean mint · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.