I was talking with my neighbor and he said he interplants spearmint in his grass to repel gophers and it smells nice when he mows.

Does anyone else do this? Will it also repel a nice lawn because it spreads? Or would mint make a nice ground cover?

Next, I read that the victorians grew lavendar beneath their clothes drying line because it helped make the clothes smell nice. I'd like to do this.

I know that in California, among other places that grapes grown with olives will yield a nice smelling wine. I don't make wine, but was wondering what other herbs might impart a nice flavor or aroma to my grapes by growing beneath it?

Lastly, I know that creeping thyme makes a nice groundcover between pavers, stepping stones, brick walkways because it spreads and can be easily mowed. When walked upon, it gives a nice scent.

Any other nice smelling thoughts about growing things?

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), April 23, 2002

Answers

interplanting mint, i would think would be pretty simple, and safe, sounds like a good idea, i would think though for the mint to survive, you would have to cut your lawn higher than otherwise would, like maybe 3 inches instead of the "normal" inch or two

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), April 23, 2002.

Great ideas Ann! I just read in the last two weeks or so..and I cannot for the life of me remember where...that planting spearmint, peppermint, lavender, etc. along your house foundation, would deter ants and many other bugs from coming into your house. I am going to try this this year.

Thanks again for this post..cannot wait to see what others add. Have a great day Ann!

-- Sher (riverdobbers@webtv.net), April 23, 2002.

I used to have a large patch of peppermint under my clothesline, and when I hung up clothes the kids would love to roll around in the mint. It smelled wonderful!! I found that peppermint is very tolerant of being gently walked on and rolled in but then someone who thought it was a weed patch mowed it close to the ground--and did it again 2 weeks later. The mint had just started to grow again after the first mowing but died after the second mowing. Perhaps it can be mowed high as was suggested.

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), April 23, 2002.

I plant lavendar, various mints, rosemary, basil and lemon balm are some of my favorites for fragrance, I intermix them everywhere, as they smell wonderful! Wooley thyme is also excellent for edging. If your climate is warm enough, eucalyptus smells wonderful as well. Bugs hate it.

-- CJ (sheep@katahdins.net), April 23, 2002.

Pennyroyal makes a good groundcover. Smells nice, takes light foot traffic, and also deters bugs esp. fleas. Makes a dense cover that grows less than an inch tall. Only problem is that it is not edible. Other mints grow much taller and looser, they also can't take as much abuse.

-- Diana in FL (dvance4@juno.com), April 23, 2002.

WILD ONIONS, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- K C G (kcg@nuwavenet.com), April 23, 2002.

wow, this is a neat thread! Thanks Ann! Be aware that Lavender is a bit scratchy to walk on(actally, through, it can get tall, depending on the species and variety) if you are going to plant it under your cloths line. The mints would be nicer, and they sure do smell nice don't they? Now you all have done it! I must drive into town and go to the nursery! LOL LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 23, 2002.

Elizabeth,

I can send you some peppermint sprigs or plantlets if you would like some. A very strong smelling variety.

-- charles (cr@dixienet.com), April 23, 2002.

Ann, Did you notice how most of the people who want to help you tell you where they live? If you live in something like my micro-climate (closely guarded secret), the most fragrant and low maintenance perrennial you can plant is Dame's Rocket (hesperus matronalis). Smells like daphnea and phlox with spice overtones. It's not the world's prettiest plant (3 feet high and sort of rank until it blooms) but if it likes you and where you live, it will make your evenings on the porch fragrant all summer.

-- Griff in OR. USDA Zone 5 (griff@hangnail.com), April 23, 2002.

Elizabeth, we don't live very far apart. You are welcome to some of my peppermint, too. I have lots and lots of it.

-- Jodie in E TX (stanchnmotion@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

I love fragrant plants (that's why I have a ton of roses:-). I would add Chocolate Cosmos in there, if you find it. Really neat plant - flowers are not only chocolate colored, but also smell like chocolate (have had friends verify it). Also, sweet peas have wonderful fragrance. Bought a plant who's Latin name I can't remember, but the common name is "7-Up Plant", & the leaves really do smell like 7-Up when you rub them (think it's a member of the Stachys family). If you get thyme, look for lemon, lime, & orange thyme - they smell great! They are taller though, about 4" or so high. I wonder if you could grow jasmine or honeysuckle thru your grapevine?

-- Erica (natureselegance@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

I have peppermint and spearmint planted all over my yard. It doesn't require any special care. I cut it as short as the grass, which is short to deter snakes (or at least allow us to see them). My five kids play hard on it, too. Thirty chickens, 4 cats, and a dog all have access to it. It has really held up and it smells nice, too.

It really doesn't get any special care, either. We never water. When we were in a drought a couple of years ago, it went dormant, as did most of the grass, but they both came back.

-- Gayle in KY (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Scented pelargoriums are very nice scented plants. The leaves, not the flowers, carry the scent and everytime you touch them they release their fragrence. There are different scents available, my favorite is a rose scented variety. Only drawback is they are not cold hardy and must be taken in for the winter.

-- VickiP. (countrymous@webtv.net), April 24, 2002.

Hi Ann... I grow Spearmint and Applemint and Lemon Balm around our sandstone patio...If we have friends over, about half an hour before they arrive I take my broom and briskly sweep the top of the plants around the patio... it smells like heaven while we are visiting! Ah the joys of homesteading. P.S. Try some chocolate scented geraniums! Now there's a smell that will make ya want to bake a batch of brownies!

-- Harmony (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

If you have T clothesline poles, trellis them and grow your sweetpeas up the trellis. I actually plant my sweetpeas in planter boxes under the poles, string twine from nails placed along planter edge to top of T, and let sweetpeas grow to top. Not only smells wonderful, but looks beautiful!

-- JoAnne Gosen (gosenbj@pe.net), April 25, 2002.

orange mint is nice---smells good, but not terribly fragrant until the leaves are crushed (good in tea). i wouldn't advise planting it tho...because it takes over everything...sends out runners like strawberries do!! i tore mine out this year and it came up like a carpet. hehe. if you like the smell of anise...i had a very fragrant "tutti frutti anise" plant last year. wow...very strong. but bugs loved it...

-- C (punk_chicadee@yahoo.com), April 25, 2002.