Pest identification
What's eating my apple mint?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on tender new growth; leaves curl and yellow; sticky honeydew promotes sooty mold.
Control: Knock off with water jet; insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; attract natural predators like ladybugs.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale, stippled leaves with fine webbing on undersides; worst in hot, dry spells.
Control: Mist foliage regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested stems.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Ragged holes in leaves and young stems; slime trails visible in morning.
Control: Iron phosphate bait; copper tape around containers; hand-pick at night.
Rabbits
Signs: Clean, clipped-off stems near soil level; whole young shoots missing overnight.
Control: Low wire mesh barrier (30 cm / 12 in) around beds; plant in raised containers.
Keep apple mint pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Apple Mint pests — FAQ
What is eating my apple mint?
Apple Mint's soft, fuzzy foliage is particularly attractive to aphids and spider mites, and its low sprawling habit makes it vulnerable to slugs and snails. Mint rust fungus, though not a pest, often accompanies pest damage. Rabbits will graze young growth despite the minty scent. Aphid colonies are the most reliably recurring problem.
How do I get rid of aphids on apple mint?
Dense colonies on tender new growth; leaves curl and yellow; sticky honeydew promotes sooty mold. Knock off with water jet; insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; attract natural predators like ladybugs.
How do I get rid of spider mites on apple mint?
Pale, stippled leaves with fine webbing on undersides; worst in hot, dry spells. Mist foliage regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested stems.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on apple mint?
Ragged holes in leaves and young stems; slime trails visible in morning. Iron phosphate bait; copper tape around containers; hand-pick at night.
How do I get rid of rabbits on apple mint?
Clean, clipped-off stems near soil level; whole young shoots missing overnight. Low wire mesh barrier (30 cm / 12 in) around beds; plant in raised containers.