Transplanting Nepeta

This was a quick project I did last weekend when the weather was absolutely gorgeous in New Jersey. Last summer I planted some Walker’s Low Catmint (Nepeta) in one of our flower beds. I had never planted this before, and quite frankly, was not familiar with it at all. I heard about it from Laura on gardenanswer.com and figured I would give it a try.

I believe that Laura grows a full-height variety of Nepeta and I didn’t have room for that so sourced a smaller version of the same plant which is Walker’s Low catmint. I am really happy I did.

Catmint is an absolute work horse in the garden and thrives in the heat of the summer. The foliage is really soft green/blue with delicate purple flowers. I sheared it back about midway through the summer and it flushed out beautifully one more time.

However, I think I placed too many plants in the space as the Nepeta started to completely swallow my beautiful Veronica plants. Some of them suffered quite a bit as they were so covered by the catmint. The good news is they seem to not have been permanently damaged and are coming in nicely now. I took out the most egregious offender and also a middle plant as I think the ones I left will continue to fill the space really nicely without mugging any other of the plants in the area.

I replanted the four catmint in a different, newer bed in our backyard that receives nearly full sun most of the day. I dug the holes, put a little peat mix and BioTone plant starter in the hole, mixed everything up and set them down in there. I watered them in well and so far so good!

I apologize that I don’t have pictures of it from last year but promise to be better about taking pictures of the garden at different times throughout the season so you all can follow along and see the progress of things I plant or transplant. I had no idea I wanted to become a blogger when I grew up! I will do better!