Let’s look at a short list of some of the types and the differences between them.Monarda bradburiana, ‘Eastern beebalm’This perennial variety has a lower cushion of rich green foliage, with lightly-toothed edges along oval leaves. Dodge County University of Wisconsin Extension: Monarda, How to Remove Mold & Mildew on Garden Phlox. Always use sterile pruning tools or scissors and dip them into rubbing alcohol or a household cleanser, such as Lysol or Pine-Sol, between cuts, to prevent the spread of infections. In extremely hot climates, a little afternoon sun extends the flowers' lives. The foliage may develop mildew after the plants finish flowering. Each piece needs a clump of roots and two or three shoots. Avoid wetting the leaves, which encourages mildew growth. Remove … Put the debris in the trash. Deadhead spent flowers as they wilt and fade. This encourages the plants to produce more flowers. Cut the stem off, using hand pruners, 1/4 inch above the outward facing bud. To help prevent mildew infections, plant mildew-resistant varieties, such as 'Colrain Red,' 'Marshall's Delight,' 'Raspberry Wine' and 'Violet Queen.'. When young plants or new spring growth reaches 1 foot tall, cut the plant back to 6 inches tall. Grasp the stalk of one of the dead flower stalks with your hand and look at the stem. Step 3. Identify any flower blooms on the bee balm plant which are wilted, turning brown, or stalks that have rounded tops but no petals. Bee balm plants, which are also called monarda, grow in bushy, vertical stalks and produce brightly colored flowers in the spring and summer. She writes a weekly garden column and authored 50 Fabulous Tomatoes for Your Garden. Step 2. Prune off dead bee balm stalks after the flowers die. Bee balm, known botanically as Monarda fistulosa and commonly as wild bergamot, is a flowering perennial herb belonging to the mint family. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and began writing professionally in 2001. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. This encourages side growth and helps keep the plant at a manageable size. Trace the stem down until you locate the first small, green projection on the side, which is a bud. The bud should be facing the outside of the plant. Bee balm begins blooming in early summer and continues through late summer and early fall. When preparing for winter, cut the entire plant back to 1 to 2 inches tall. Alternately, pinch back regularly. Prune in Late Fall. Remove the mulch in spring with new growth appears. Kimberly Johnson is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in various online publications including eHow, Suite101 and Examiner. How Do I Cut Back a Perennial Hollyhock Flower? Scatter a teaspoon or two of 10-10-10 fertilizer around each plant in early spring and water it in well. Dig up and divide the plants in early spring, as soon as the new leaves begin to appear. Place the cut-off section of the stalk into the trash or into a compost bin. Cut the infected foliage back to the base of the plant, where the foliage is unaffected. Deep-water every seven to 10 days through the growing season. Replant the divisions 18 to 24 inches apart in full sun and moist soil. Put the debris in the trash, not on the compost pile. The flowers attract bees as well as butterflies, which is where the plant gets its name. These are the old blooms which must be removed by deadheading. Cutting back the entire bee balm after the first major flowering flush is over removes … The bee balm plant is a repeat bloomer, which means that after one bloom fades, a new one replaces it. Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist and writer who focuses primarily on garden topics. Bee balm grows best in full sun, which also helps discourage mildew infections. Cut the plant into divisions with a sterile knife. It also helps reduce reseeding in the flowerbeds. Repeat the deadheading process to remove all remaining dead and wilted blooms on the bee balm plant. Grasp the stalk of one of the dead flower stalks with your hand and look at the stem. Bee balm, also known as Oswego tea, is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Careful cleanup helps prevent mildew growth in spring; the spores overwinter in infected plant debris. Once the smaller plants begin growing, you can transplant them into large containers or in the garden. But an awful lot of bee balm varieties are naturally-growing wildflowers in the United States. How to Deadhead a Bee Balm Plant Step 1. Bee balm is usually pinched back to make the plant bushy, deadheaded to encourage new flowers and cut back severely in late summer after flowering. Small divisions may be potted and placed in light shade until new leaves develop. Cutting Back. Increase watering during hot, dry weather to keep the soil moist to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Bee balm (Monarda didyma) is one of the 16 species of Monarda that are native to North America. Thinning the stems also helps reduce powdery mildew infections by increasing air circulation around the plant. Divide the bee balm when the center of the plant begins dying out, every two to three years. A member of the Lamiaceae, or mint, family, bee balm is aggressive but not as invasive as its Mentha relatives. R… She continues to write nonfiction articles on gardening and other topics and is working on a second "50" book about plants that attract hummingbirds. Bee balm grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 1/2 to 3 feet wide. Remove the old stems and clean up the mulch around the plants. To encourage quicker blooming, you can deadhead the flower stalks, which removes the wilted blooms. Pull each cut flower stem from the bee balm plant mass and compost or discard it. Cut each stem back to its base in the crown of the plant. It prefers moist, well-drained soil, but tolerates heavy clay soils. Deadheading can occur throughout the growing season, but the majority of it will take place in the fall as the plant stops blooming for the year. When preparing for winter, cut the entire plant back to 1 to 2 inches tall. There are many different varieties of the Monarda species, and about 50 commercial cultivars commonly available. In addition, add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the plant and pull it back 3 or 4 inches from the stem. In cold climates, wait until the first hard freeze, and then cover the plant with a 3- to 6-inch layer of straw or pine needles. As the flowers begin to fade, snip off the blossoms before they form seed heads.
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