Does bee balm like sun or shade?
Light: Bee balm does best in full sun. Though it will grow in part shade, it tends to stretch and become leggy over time. A low-maintenance perennial, bee balm has a long blooming period, giving your garden up to 8 weeks of colour in the summer and early fall. The bee balm plant is treasured for attracting beneficial bees as well as other pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds who come to feast on its nectar.Bee balm prefers full sun but will grow in partial shade, and requires moist but well-drained soil. In terms of climate, bee balm is a hardy plant that can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C.One of the most common issues that impedes flowering is a lack of sun. Bee balm requires full sun, with a minimum of six to eight hours per day needed for most varieties to bloom to their full potential.However, you should cut back your bee balm in the fall if it suffered from powdery mildew during the growing season. Pruning helps prevent this disease from spreading. To further reduce mildew issues, use proper plant spacing (18 to 24 inches) and water at the base.
How do I care for my bee balm?
Bee balms perform best in moist, well-drained soils in full sun. The planting site should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Plants won’t flower as heavily and are more susceptible to powdery mildew when grown in partial shade. Bee balms like an even supply of moisture during the growing season. For best performance, water bee balms every seven to 10 days during dry periods. When watering, soak the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.The most common problem with bee balm is a foliage disease called powdery mildew. That is a good name for it, because the leaves look like they have been dusted with powder. Unfortunately, leaves will turn brown and drop or be deformed.Mid- to Late Summer Summer is the time to deadhead bee balm flowers, which can be accomplished by simply pinching old flowers off at the closest leaf node. This is the best way to reduce self-sowing,” Baisden says.If you house your container bee balm indoor from the initial planting, it can grow successfully year round with well drained soil and full sunlight. Bee balm go dormant for the winter and successfully return each spring.
Does bee balm need a lot of water?
Bee balms like an even supply of moisture during the growing season. For best performance, water bee balms every 7 to 10 days during dry periods. When watering, soak the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Apply a mulch around plants to conserve soil moisture and reduce the frequency of watering. Bee balms don’t require frequent or heavy fertilizer applications. Sprinkling a small amount of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, around each plant in early spring is usually sufficient. Avoid excessive fertilization.Key Takeaways. Pinching or cutting back bee balm early in the season can promote branching and flowering. Late season pruning is best for disease prevention. Diseased plant material should be thrown in the trash or burned, but never composted.Planting: plant bee balm in the spring or early fall. Either time of year works well; however, when fall-planting bee balm, it’s best to trim back the foliage to encourage the plant to focus its energy towards the roots.Bee balm plants are perennial , coming back year after year to add cheerful color to your garden.
What to do with bee balm after it blooms?
Deadhead faded blooms to encourage the plant to re- bloom in late summer. After the first frost in the fall, cut stems back to about 2 inches above the soil. See local frost dates. Divide bee balm every 2 to 3 years to ensure its vigor. Tips for Planting Bee Balm Nutrient-rich soil is ideal. Add compost or coffee grounds to the soil in the weeks leading up to planting to give your bee balm flowers an extra boost.Give your bee balm full sun (at least 6 hours a day) to maximize blooms. Bee balm can handle partial shade, but your plants are likely to become leggy over time. If you live in a hot climate, consider planting bee balm somewhere it’ll receive some afternoon shade.This annual Bee Balm (it will reseed itself, or need to be reseeded every year after a frost) has a wonderful lemony scent. Its flowers have multiple tiered levels of amazingness.Division of plants is the easiest and most dependable method for propagating bee balm. The plants are guaranteed to be identical to the parent and can be immediately planted in the garden.
Does bee balm come back every year?
Bee balm plants are perennial , coming back year after year to add cheerful color to your garden. Plant bee balm in spring or fall, once all chances of frost have passed. Space bee balm plants 18 to 24 inches apart in an area with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6. Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.However, you should cut back your bee balm in the fall if it suffered from powdery mildew during the growing season. Pruning helps prevent this disease from spreading. To further reduce mildew issues, use proper plant spacing (18 to 24 inches) and water at the base.Bee Balm pairs nicely with shrubs that prefer drier soils and full sun exposure. Lavender, rosemary, and thyme typically form the backbone of a fully stocked herb garden and look lovely behind lower-growing Bee Balm and its vivid flowers.Petals are tubular, which gives the blooms their characteristic spiky appearance. Each little tube is filled with nectar, which means bee balm is a huge hit with hummingbirds and beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. Like many other wildflowers, these plants are super easy to grow and care for.
Does bee balm need to be cut back?
Garden Care Of Bee Balm (Monarda) Monarda are herbaceous perennials that die back to ground level each winter. Leave them standing over the winter months and cut back the dead stems to just above ground level in mid-spring. Bee balm or bergamot (Monarda), another member of the indomitable mint family, also responds to deadheading. If you cut back perennial salvias such as ‘May Night’ (Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’) after their first May bloom, they will likely rebloom in July.