Water
Mint prefers moist soil via infrequent, deep watering, but it will adapt to its environment. Mulch the soil with 2 inches of straw or wood chips to prevent evaporation. In the heat of the summer, water when the top inch of soil is dry. Mint in containers will need more water than mint planted in the ground.Fertilizer
When transplanting parsley plant starts into the garden, give them a nitrogen-rich starter fertilizer. Give one more balanced slow-release fertilizer application halfway through the season. If planting in a container, fertilize more frequently - every 4-6 weeks - to maintain soil health. Use a liquid fertilizer for container plants.Overwintering
Parsley is hardy to zone 4, meaning it can survive temperatures down to -30˚ before coming back the following year to go to seed. However, you'll want to take some steps to ensure the plant survives bitter cold days and comes back thriving in the spring.In the fall, prune the plant down 1-3 inches from the ground and cover with a thick layer of organic mulch such as compost or shredded leaves. This will help prevent disease and pests from taking up residence in your plant and emerging in the spring.
When gardening in containers, your zone decreases by at least one full zone due to the lack of insulation compared with in-ground plants (i.e. if you garden in zone 6, treat your containers like you're in zone 5). If that drops your zone to 4 or below, consider moving your containers to a protected area like inside a garage or shed. You can also sink the entire pot into the ground, cover with mulch, and dig out in the spring to help insulate the roots during the cold season.
