Dig up and divide the plants in early spring, as soon as the new leaves begin to appear. Cut the plant into divisions with a sterile knife. Each piece needs a clump of roots and two or three shoots. Replant the divisions 18 to 24 inches apart in full sun and moist soil. Small divisions may be potted and placed in light shade until new leaves develop. Once the smaller plants begin growing, you can transplant them into large containers or in the garden.
Bee balm grows best in full sun, which also helps discourage mildew infections. In extremely hot climates, a little afternoon sun extends the flowers' lives. It prefers moist, well-drained soil, but tolerates heavy clay soils.
Deep-water every seven to 10 days through the growing season. Increase watering during hot, dry weather to keep the soil moist to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Avoid wetting the leaves, which encourages mildew growth. Scatter a teaspoon or two of fertilizer around each plant in early spring and water it in well. 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.
Once a stem is finished flowering, trim it back to the ground. This will help the flower to produce another blossoming stem. Step 1 -Clean and Disinfect Pruning Shears This minimizes the spread of funguses, pests, or diseases. Step 3 - Clean up the garden area. Rake up and compost or dispose of the removed flowers. Step 4 - Check plants weekly for wilting clusters Remove old flowers so its seed production does not weaken the plant. You will want to begin deadheading your bee balm in early spring when there are just a few flowers to tend to.
Spending a few minutes every couple of days snipping the plant will make the task easier. Bee balm lose their attractive look when its flowers wilt and fade.
Regular deadheading results in continuous blooming all summer long. Many newer varieties of roses are bred to rebloom at least sporadically after their first June outburst, but you will get more flowers if you deadhead.
Careful deadheading is what prolongs the season in the Rose Garden until frost. Some plants, such as columbine Aguilegia spp. Other plants that can be cut back to encourage more bloom include balloon flower Platycodon gradiflorus and zinnia Zinnia elegans. Also, deadhead some annuals such as yellow-flowered alyssum Alyssum wulfenianum , trailing lobelia Lobelia erinus , million bells Calibrachoa , petunias, and impatiens.
Of course, when you cut any plant back severely, it will take a few weeks to rebound. In the meantime, distract attention with another blooming plant nearby.
It's a handy trick to have a pot or two of annuals that can be moved where they are needed to provide an attention-grabbing spot of color. Plants need nutrients, light, and water to power new growth, Pollak says. Make sure perennials have rich soil, slow-release fertilizer as needed, and keep the soil properly moist. Annuals usually need more fertilizing to keep up the show, since flowering is an energy-intensive process. And once that second flush of bloom appears, keep deadheading to squeeze out all the flowers you can.
Beth Botts is a garden writer and speaker who lives and gardens in Oak Park, Illinois.
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