Pruning garden catmint
Advice for October in the Netherlands
Garden catmint can be cut back after its first flowering for a more compact clump and possible repeat bloom. In spring, first clear only the dead stems. The months are a guide for gardens in the Netherlands and Belgium; growth stage and weather take priority.
Garden catmint — October
Check this first
No calendar-driven cut is needed now. Keep active flowers and green foliage, and leave dry winter stems until the spring tidy if you wish.
Pay attention to this
- Wait to cut in summer until most spikes have finished flowering.
- Leave young basal shoots intact; do not cut into the crown.
- Do not cut a drought-stressed clump hard during a heatwave; restore soil moisture first.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a second flowering guaranteed?
- No. Cutting after the first flowering can encourage another flush, but drought, plant condition and late cutting limit the response.
- Must catmint be cut bare in autumn?
- No. Dry stems may remain until spring; then clear them without damaging new shoots.
- Does this apply to every Nepeta?
- This advice is limited to Nepeta × faassenii and its garden selections, not every catmint species.