is mint growing in yard harmful to pets?

Question

I'm considering mint as a ground cover in my back yard

Answer 1

Mint is a great ground cover and it won't hurt your pets. Some mints can get leggy and brown, showing green foliage only on the longest half of the stems. Most propagate by underground runners and can become invasive, popping up everywhere. However, they typically die back in extreme hot or cold weather, and the runners come up easily, so they're pretty controllable.

Spearmint and peppermint are the most common. But, there are a number of other varieties with different aromas. Most are sold by their fragrance when brushed or crushed: apple, pineapple, and sage are just a few of the ones sold in the herb section of nurseries. One that is really unusual is called "chocolate mint" (not really a mint, I'm told) and it smells like mint and chocolate - really!. The leaf is different from mint plants and it is not as green or as ruffled.

Mint does best in areas that get some shade on hot days. It grows really well under eaves, trees, and around other bushes. It is also drought-tolerant so you don't have to pay much attention to it. Many have small flowers that don't smell as good as the leaves.

Most insects don't pay too much attention to mint, but it does have one major enemy: white flies. White flies will suck the life out of mint and cause it to die back. Because it grows so fast, though, it can survive until cold weather chases the white flies away. If overrun, I have used a solution of insecticidal soap followed by rinsing the soap off with clean water. Be careful with insecticidal soap on mint, though, as it can burn mint back to the ground if not rinsed off within a few minutes after spraying.

Answer 2

I grew chocolate mint in our hydroponic setup and it ended up twelve feet long and draped over the sides and onto the ground. My cat would roll in the leaves, didn't do him any harm..Enjoy.

Answer 3

No it will just spread and take over everything but it's good to pick and put in vases makes house smell good also good for putting in tea. My dogs lay in it in the summer time and it makes them smell minty. I will pick and suck on the leaves for fresh breath.

Answer 4

No. I have both lemonbalm and spearmint, never had any problems. Catmint will attract cats though.

Answer 5

Your pets will have very fesh and minty breath

Answer 6

i don't trhink so.......maybe put chicken wire around it so they can't get at it