How to Grow Catmint in Florida

Spread 2 to 4 inches of organic matter, such as leaf mold or compost, over the planting site. Incorporate the matter into the soil 12 to 15 inches deep with a spade or tiller. Perform this task in an area with direct sunlight exposure in the morning and some shade in the afternoon. This helps protect the catmint from burning during Florida’s hot summer.

Water the catmint in its nursery container until you see the water drain out the bottom. Wait one or two hours so the plant is not water-stressed at planting time.

Dig a hole that is two times as wide and the same depth as the nursery container. Take the catmint out of its container, and set it in the hole. Backfill the soil and pack it lightly with your hands. Space holes 18 to 30 inches apart, depending on the mature size of the catmint, if growing more than one plant.

Water the catmint with 1 inch of water immediately after planting. Continue to provide it with water so it receives a total of 1 inch of water per week from rain, garden hose or a combination of both. It might not need watering very often during Florida’s rainy summers. Place a shallow container near the catmint to help gauge how much water the plant is receiving after each rain and watering.

Spread a 1-inch layer of compost each spring around the catmint to enrich the soil with essential nutrients. It does not need fertilizing.

Cut back catmint by one-third after it finishes flowering in summer. Use hand clippers that have been cleaned with rubbing alcohol or disinfectant spray to prevent the spread of disease. This annual pruning helps keep the catmint from getting tall and leggy. It also encourages a second flush of flowers.

Dig around the catmint about 8 inches deep and cut under to lift it from the soil. Use your spade to cut though the roots to divide each plant into three or four sections, each with healthy roots and growth. Perform this task in early spring or late fall when Florida’s weather is mild. Divide catmint every three to four years.