Garden

[candys mine]

I started a " Bee" garden last year with Corn Flowers, Garlic Chives and Borage and picked up a plant pot at the farmers market that read Bee Balm.  The Bee Balm struggled last year and I was amazed how well it grew and how BIG it turned out to be this year!  I have read it should be cut back but my question is... It is done flowering and the flower heads are dried up.  Should I cut it back now or wait until the whole plant has died back?  Since it's such a game little guy I want to give it the best shot at coming back.  Any help, thoughts would be appreciated.

[tends2dogs]

@candys mine  I ususally wait until the stalk is pretty much dried out, but I don't know if that is the right thing to do.  Sometimes I dead head them first and then wait for the rest to dry out.  Mine seem to be thinning out though.  I love it - nice addition to a perennial garden.

Good luck with it.  I don't really think you can hurt it.  I have found "volunteers" of it all over my yard!

[candys mine]

@tends2dogsThanks!  I'll dead head the flowers and let it be for a while.  Sometimes I think plants grow better when I don't try to help them!  It really did attract a lot of different kinds of bees!  Beautiful flowers you've got there!

[Julie928]

I have a butterfly garden out front that includes bee balm.  I think I started with a couple of plants and now it's the main focus of the flower bed!  I also don't know if this is the right thing to do but I have already started cutting mine back ~ only about halfway.  I have so much I leave some of it all winter because the snow looks so pretty on it.  I also still see the hummingbirds flying around it even though the flowers are long gone.  This is what I have done the past few years and each year it comes back stronger than ever!  :-)

[tends2dogs]

@candys mine  I don't know if the heads actually have seeds in them, but if they do, I like to drop those to the ground.  Then later, the stems can be cut and taken away.  I do this with most of my perennials. 

[candys mine]

@Julie928I wish I had hummingbirds!  It's good to know Bee Balm is a hardy plant.  Makes me think I may see it again next year!  Thanks!

[candys mine]

@tends2dogsI wouldn't know what the seeds look like if i Did see them but I'll crush up a few and see whats inside.  It'd be cool If I could get it to come up in a couple of other places.  It's a real eye catcher!

[Carmie]

I love Bee Balm, it's a beautiful plant.

I cut mine back to about 3 inches in the late fall usually after the first frost.

[candys mine]

@CarmieI agree, it's Stunning!  I had no idea what it would grow up to look like when I brought home that little pot!  Looks like the concensus is to wait till the weather cools off to cut it back.  I will be sure to leave a good 3 inches of it then.

[goldensrbest]

I cut my bee balm back this week ,it got to close to 5 ft .tall.