WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
This summer blooming perennial can be planted in early spring or fall.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Bee balm is an essential perennial for sunny, moist meadow plantings and informal borders, where it attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. For the best show, plant into compost-enriched soils and space well apart to discourage powdery mildew. Deadhead flower heads that have faded to encourage a rebloom or cut down after flowering. A member of the mint family, it spreads by runners, creating a wide mounded shape. Divide every 2-3 years, or cut offshoots to replant.
Watering Details:
Keep moist, especially in full sun, but avoid overly saturated soils.
Soil pH:
Prefers acidic to neutral, but will grow in slightly alkaline soils.
Fertilizer:
Each spring, apply about 1/2-1" of compost.
Diseases & Pests:
Excellent resistance to powdery mildew. Best practices include thinning stems of established clumps to allow good air circulation and keeping soil evenly moist.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Harvest when the flowers are nearly open.
