What does catmint do for cats?
Catnip has a very special effect on almost all cats and even on their wild relatives – like lions and tigers. The plant seems to have a magical attraction for the animals. For most cats, catmint leads to a euphoric, hyperactive state. The same compound that attracts cats to catnip, nepetalactone, has also been found to be effective in repelling mosquitoes. So, planting catnip in your garden not only benefits your feline friends but can also keep pesky mosquitoes away from you and your family.How does catnip work? One of the key components of catnip is a type of chemical called a terpene (a volatile oil), known as nepetalactone, which is found in the stem and leaves of the plant. When cats smell nepetalactone, it stimulates certain brain chemicals related to mood and happiness.
What are the disadvantages of catmint?
What are the disadvantages of catmint? One downside of catmint is its tendency to become floppy and look a bit wild in the summer. Some older types can also self-seed easily. To tackle these issues, choose a compact variety that doesn’t produce seeds and trim the plant in mid-summer to refresh its appearance. Within several weeks a new show of lavender-blue flowers will last into the weeks of late summer. Catmint grows well in full sun and average garden soil. It requires moderate to low water. These sturdy perennials are hardy to USDA zone 4, and will thrive in mountain gardens.What does catmint smell like? Catmint exudes a lemony-minty aroma. The white flowering perennials usually attract cats more than the plants with blue flowers.Flowering starts late in the spring and can continue through the early fall. Catmint may fail to bloom well in overly rich soil or in too much shade.
Does catmint spread a lot?
Catmint (Nepeta spp. Some species of catmint, such as Nepeta cataria (catnip), are known to self-seed and can spread rapidly if not controlled. Catmint (nepeta)is not at all like regular mint. It spreads very slowly for me, is not at all invasive, and is just a nice perennial flower that dies down in winter. You need to cut off the dead stems so the new growth looks good again come spring. I also cut mine back after first bloom to get a second summer bloom.
What does catmint do in winter?
Catmint is a hardy, herbaceous perennial that needs very little extra care or maintenance during the winter. This plant goes dormant and will die back completely in the coldest of the hardiness zones. Catmint may stay semi-evergreen in warmer climates. The plant still goes dormant, but for a shorter period of time. If you want to prevent and contain the spread of your catmint, the right time to prune it is in the spring between February and March. Tip: Pruning the plant in the autumn will not be rewarded, be sure to wait until spring. After all, if catmint is cut back in autumn, it unnecessarily weakens it before the cold season.Eventually, watering should be reduced to once a week as the plant settles in. Once well established, Catmint will usually need supplemental watering every week to 10 days. One long session is more beneficial to encourage the roots to grow deep and wide instead of more frequent, shorter sessions.In the fall, cut back the entire plant to about 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) above the ground to prepare it for winter. Winter care: Catmint is a hardy plant that can survive winter temperatures, but it is a good idea to cut back the plant in the fall and mulch it to protect the roots from frost.
What are the downsides of catmint?
If you cut the spent flowers it will bloom again. I love my Walker’s Low catmint. It’s in the back of my garden and provides a beautiful background for my colorful showstoppers come summer. Con is it spreads by seed and you need to cut it back periodically to keep it blooming and keep it from crowding other plants. If you are not aware, you can cut it back and it will regrow and re-bloom. Plants want to create seeds and seeds come from flowers. If you cut the dead flowers off before the plant has enough time to produce seeds it will start again.