When To Cut Back Bee Balm? [All You Need To Know]

With tubular petals in shades of pink, red, purple, and white, bee balm is a real beauty, but when to cut back bee balm?

Bee balm plants is a flowering plant native to North America. It is also called Monarda didyma scientifically or wild bergamot or Oswego tea, an ornamental plant with an attractive foliage scent.

It is an excellent addition to a pollinating garden. This is because its bright flowers and scent attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It is an aggressive plant that is not invasive.

There is a need to cut the plant back to encourage the production of new flowers.

When To Prune Young Bee Balm

Cutting back can help prevent the infestation of mildew. There are different stages in the growth of the bee balm when the pruning activity is needed.

It is required for a young bee balm to allow for a better spread in development. Pinching back can encourage the bee balm plant’s fair and bulky spread. Side growth is achieved more when the plant is cut back early.

The plant grows to an average height of 3 feet and about 2 feet in width. To allow for more stems to develop on the sides, it is best to pinch it back when it is about a foot tall. You can cut the plant back to 5-6 inches from a foot tall. This allows for more spread of new stems towards the side. Invariably more space around the plant’s center, leading to sufficient ventilation.

The increased ventilation prevents mildew, which is common to bee balms. This pruning practice maintains the plant at a desired size and height.

Also, a more even spread of stems and foliage is achieved with the side growths.

Cut Back During and After Flowering

The bee balm produces flowers as earlier as summer starts and can last till the beginning of the fall.

There is a need to deadhead the flowers as they age and fade. It would help if you cut off the blossoms as they fade to allow for fresh flower production. Since it is still in its flowering season, it will produce new flowers when the old ones are removed. This is also good for preventing seed production that may lead to reseeding and congestion of the flower bed.

After the plant has finished flowering, cut back the plant. The cutback may be necessary because of mildew infestation, common after flowering. Cut back the infected leaves to leave the plant base. New and fresh foliage will come forth from the base left behind. A more luxuriant bee balm will emerge after this cutback. The plant is kept fresh and alive.

Cut Back in the Fall

The third pruning of the bee balm plant is done towards the end of the fall. You should cut back your bee balm when it is late fall in preparation for winter. This also keeps the plant from mildew growth as the winter begins. It also helps to keep the plant fresh and luxurious.

Before winter starts, cut back the bee balms to about 1.5 inches in height. This removes the old stem and foliage, allowing new ones to grow. It is like a plant renewal system that renews the foliage and stems as the season changes. This cutback also causes increased blooming when the time comes.

The aesthetics the plant offers are maintained and even improved upon.

Divide the Bee Balm Plant

When the bee balm tree has grown for about two years or more, it is good to divide the plant. This can be done every two or three years. This is for keeping the plant vibrant and maintaining its vigor. This is done in the early spring.

Dig up the plants, then cut them into divisions. Each division should contain many healthy roots and two or three shoots.

These divisions are then replanted with the usual spacing of about 20 inches. The planting should be done in full sunshine and well-moist soil. The divisions can be planted in pots and transplanted as new leaves develop. The dividing and replanting control mildew growth. The old leaves and stems are entirely removed.

Care for the Beauty

Bee balm offers beautiful flowers and lovely scented foliage; it is also a good attractor for pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and birds love to greet the sight of the plant. To keep these advantages, taking good care of the plant is necessary.

One good way to care for it is by pruning and cutting back. Remember that the pruning process starts as soon as the plant blossoms. Cut off the fading flowers to give way for new and brighter ones.

After the flowering, cut the plant to about 2 inches above the ground. This cut back to about 2 inches above the ground is also done late fall in preparation for winter. It is also necessary to divide and replant the plant after two years of growth.

All these are to keep the flowers fresh and blooming. Also, to ensure the stems are well and alive all season round. It is also a means of keeping mildew out. It is ultimately for the health of the bee balm plant and a tidy flower bed.

How Often Should I Cut Back Bee Balm?

The charming perennial plant known as bee balm needs to be pruned frequently to maintain its beauty and health.

Pruning can be done any time of year, but some gardeners prefer to perform it in the early spring to eliminate any dead or damaged stems and promote wholesome new growth.

While pruning, use sharp, clean pruning shears, be alert of any illnesses or pests and remove only one-third of the plant’s foliage.

Following these straightforward recommendations may maintain your bee balm healthy and beautiful for many years.

What Tools Should I Use To Cut Back Bee Balm?

Monarda, usually called bee balm, is a well-liked perennial flowering plant indigenous to North America.

As discussed earlier, bee balm must be pruned often to be healthy and appealing, and the best equipment to use are long-handled loppers and clean, sharp pruning shears.

To guarantee that the plant remains healthy and attractive for many years, you must employ the proper approach and, if required, apply an insecticide.

There Is More

Asides from these pruning processes, you also need to take off your bee balm in other ways. The plant requires a lot of sunshine, so you must be careful with the location. Besides being suitable for growth, the sunny condition helps stop mildew growth. Moist, well-drained soil is also needed. This is why watering is vital for the bee balm plant. A 2-inch layer of mulch should be around each plant to ensure the soil is kept moist.