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Yes, you can grow mint and lavender together, but it requires careful planning to keep both plants happy.
The short answer to whether you can grow mint and lavender together is yes, but only if you respect their very different personalities.
Mint is a thirsty, spreading thug that loves rich, moist soil, while lavender is a sunbathing diva that craves dry, sandy, and lean conditions.
So while you can grow mint and lavender together in the same garden, you’ll need to use containers, barriers, or strategic placement to make it work.
In this post, we’ll dig into why growing mint and lavender together is tricky, how to pull it off successfully, and what common mistakes to avoid.
Let’s get started.
Why You Can Grow Mint and Lavender Together (With Care)
You can grow mint and lavender together because they share a love for full sun, but that’s where the similarities end.
Both herbs are perennials that come back year after year, which makes them tempting companions.
However, their watering needs and soil preferences clash, so growing mint and lavender together means you must become a mediator.
Here’s a closer look at what each plant demands and why it’s possible to grow mint and lavender together if you’re willing to adapt.
1. Sunlight Is a Shared Love Language
Mint and lavender both thrive in at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.
When you grow mint and lavender together, pick a bright spot where neither will be shaded by larger plants or structures.
This shared need makes it feasible to place them near each other, as long as you manage the soil separately.
Full sun also helps lavender produce those fragrant oils and keeps mint’s leaves lush and flavorful.
2. Soil Drainage Is the Big Divider
Lavender absolutely hates wet feet, and its roots will rot in soggy soil.
Mint, on the other hand, loves consistent moisture and spreads aggressively in rich, damp earth.
To grow mint and lavender together successfully, you cannot simply toss them in the same garden bed with standard potting mix.
Lavender needs fast-draining, sandy, or gravelly soil with a pH around 6.5 to 7.5.
Mint prefers loamy, slightly acidic to neutral soil that retains some water.
That’s why growing mint and lavender together in the ground is risky, and why containers are your best friend here.
3. Watering Routines Must Be Compromised
When you grow mint and lavender together, watering becomes the trickiest chore.
Lavender wants the soil to dry out completely between waterings, and it only needs a drink every week or two.
Mint wants consistently moist soil, and it will wilt dramatically if you let it dry out for even a day.
If you water lavender as often as mint, you’ll kill the lavender.
If you water mint as rarely as lavender, your mint won’t grow and lavender will look sad and droopy.
This is why growing mint and lavender together in one shared pot rarely works out well.
Best Ways to Grow Mint and Lavender Together
Can you grow mint and lavender together in the same garden? Yes, but smart gardeners use these proven methods.
Here are the top strategies to keep both herbs thriving without one strangling the other.
1. Use Separate Pots Placed Side by Side
The easiest way to grow mint and lavender together is to plant each in its own container.
Place the pots next to each other so they look like a matched set on your patio or balcony.
Give lavender a pot with excellent drainage, like terracotta, using a gritty cactus mix blended with perlite.
Give mint a larger plastic pot or a container without drainage holes that you can monitor carefully, though drainage is still important to prevent root rot.
This way, you can water each herb according to its own needs, and you can grow mint and lavender together without conflict.
2. Bury a Barrier to Separate Roots in the Ground
If you really want to grow mint and lavender together in a garden bed, you must install a root barrier.
Dig a deep trench around the mint’s planting zone and sink a plastic or metal barrier at least 12 inches deep.
Mint spreads via underground runners, so this barrier stops it from invading lavender’s dry, sandy spot.
Then, amend the lavender’s side with sand or grit to improve drainage, while keeping the mint’s side richer with compost.
This allows you to grow mint and lavender together in the same bed, but you’ll still need to water the mint side more frequently.
3. Raise Lavender on a Mound or Slope
Another clever trick is to elevate lavender above mint’s moisture zone.
Plant lavender on a raised mound or a slight slope so water naturally flows away from its roots.
Mint can sit at the bottom of the slope where it receives the runoff and stays moist.
When you grow mint and lavender together this way, gravity does some of the work for you.
The lavender stays dry, and the mint gets the drink it craves.
Just make sure the entire area still gets full sun.
4. Grow Them in the Same Large Container with Dividers
If you want them in one planter, choose a wide, shallow container with built-in dividers or create your own.
Fill the lavender side with a fast-draining sandy mix and the mint side with a moisture-retentive potting soil.
Insert a solid divider down the middle so mint roots never reach lavender’s roots.
This lets you grow mint and lavender together in one attractive display while maintaining separate watering zones.
Water the mint side every couple of days, and only water the lavender side when its soil feels totally dry.
Common Mistakes When Growing Mint and Lavender Together
Even when you’re careful, it’s easy to slip up when you grow mint and lavender together.
Here are the top pitfalls to dodge.
1. Letting Mint Run Wild
Mint is invasive and will choke out lavender if given the chance.
Never plant mint directly in the ground without a barrier, or it will take over your whole garden.
Trim mint frequently and harvest leaves to keep it in check.
If you grow mint and lavender together, check monthly that mint isn’t creeping toward lavender’s roots.
2. Overwatering Lavender
The most common reason lavender dies is root rot from too much moisture.
When you grow mint and lavender together, you might accidentally water both equally.
Always test lavender’s soil by sticking your finger an inch deep—if it’s still damp, skip watering.
Better yet, water lavender less and let the soil dry out completely between drinks.
3. Underwatering Mint
Mint’s leaves will turn brown and crispy if you treat it like lavender.
Since you can grow mint and lavender together, don’t forget that mint needs consistent moisture.
Check mint daily during hot weather, and mulch around the mint’s base to hold in moisture.
4. Choosing the Wrong Location
If you grow mint and lavender together in a spot with partial shade, lavender will struggle to bloom and may become leggy.
Mint tolerates some shade but will grow slower and produce less flavorful leaves.
Always pick the sunniest spot in your garden or on your patio.
So, Can You Grow Mint and Lavender Together?
Yes, you can grow mint and lavender together, but it’s not as simple as tossing them into one hole and hoping for the best.
You can grow mint and lavender together successfully if you keep them in separate containers, install root barriers, or use dividers with individualized soil and watering.
The key is honoring each plant’s unique needs while finding a shared sunny spot in your garden.
So the next time someone asks you if you can grow mint and lavender together, tell them yes with confidence.
Just remember that mint wants a drink, lavender wants a drought, and you’re the hero who makes peace between them.
With a little effort, you’ll enjoy fresh mint for teas and mojitos and fragrant lavender for sachets and relaxation.
Happy planting!