Catmint/Catnip - cutting back

[Millie1]

I've read that i should cut my catmint/catnip back now when the blooms are spent. How far back should i take it - do I just take off the dead blooms or do I take the whole thing, foliage et al, right back to a few inches? Thanks!

If its not obviously ugly, leave it will winter. Seeds are precious to wildlife.

Then cut it right to the ground and it will grow back next year.

Thanks Mars ... that's what I did last year but then landscape guy made a remark about cutting it back in a few weeks (that was about 6w ago) and I read in a gardening section to take it back in order to get a second flush of flowers. It's a bit unsightly at the front so I'll take that back but will leave the plants at the back. Thanks!

Yes you can cut it back to get a second flush - the same as geraniums. I only bother with the geraniums. July is probably the best time, as your landscape guy said.

Hi Millie - you will need to cut the whole plant back to get a second flush. If you leave seedheads on the plant, it thinks it's done its job for the year and won't produce more flowers. You only get a second flush of flowers as it's the plant's last chance to set seed that season. HTH!!

Thanks folks - too late this year but will trim some back anyway to tidy it up.