Last spring I planted 2 small 1-gallon samples of Monarda didyma (Bee Balm) in
a partly sunny area which was behind a retaining wall. The backfill behind the
wall was mostly 4 cu. yds. of homemade compost I needed to relocate. This year
the plants look more like large shrubs and have completely overgrown the
surrounding vegitation.

At this point their flower pedals have mostly dropped. Would shaving these down
to about 50% of their current 4' height promote re-growth and re-bloom this
year? If not, will it harm next year's growth?

TIA

In article ,
(HA HA Budys Here) wrote:

Last spring I planted 2 small 1-gallon samples of Monarda didyma (Bee Balm) in
a partly sunny area which was behind a retaining wall. The backfill behind the
wall was mostly 4 cu. yds. of homemade compost I needed to relocate. This year
the plants look more like large shrubs and have completely overgrown the
surrounding vegitation.

At this point their flower pedals have mostly dropped. Would shaving
these down
to about 50% of their current 4' height promote re-growth and re-bloom this
year? If not, will it harm next year's growth?

TIA

Beebalms definitely rebloom if clipped back between bloomings.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com

"HA HA Budys Here" wrote in message
...
Last spring I planted 2 small 1-gallon samples of Monarda didyma (Bee
Balm) in
a partly sunny area which was behind a retaining wall. The backfill behind
the
wall was mostly 4 cu. yds. of homemade compost I needed to relocate. This
year
the plants look more like large shrubs and have completely overgrown the
surrounding vegitation.

At this point their flower pedals have mostly dropped. Would shaving these
down
to about 50% of their current 4' height promote re-growth and re-bloom
this
year? If not, will it harm next year's growth?

Its probably a good idea to trim it. Monarda often declines after it blooms
and powdery mildew sets in, making the plant look ratty.

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 14:00:13 +0000, HA HA Budys Here wrote:

Last spring I planted 2 small 1-gallon samples of Monarda didyma (Bee Balm) in
a partly sunny area which was behind a retaining wall. The backfill behind the
wall was mostly 4 cu. yds. of homemade compost I needed to relocate. This year
the plants look more like large shrubs and have completely overgrown the
surrounding vegitation.

At this point their flower pedals have mostly dropped. Would shaving these down
to about 50% of their current 4' height promote re-growth and re-bloom this
year?


Yup!


If not, will it harm next year's growth?

Nope! I LOVE Bee balm!


Tom

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 23:53:51 GMT, Tom Randy
wrote:

===On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 14:00:13 +0000, HA HA Budys Here wrote:
===
=== Last spring I planted 2 small 1-gallon samples of Monarda didyma (Bee Balm) in
=== a partly sunny area which was behind a retaining wall. The backfill behind the
=== wall was mostly 4 cu. yds. of homemade compost I needed to relocate. This year
=== the plants look more like large shrubs and have completely overgrown the
=== surrounding vegitation.
===
=== At this point their flower pedals have mostly dropped. Would shaving these down
=== to about 50% of their current 4' height promote re-growth and re-bloom this
=== year?
===
===
===Yup!
===
===
===If not, will it harm next year's growth?
===
===Nope! I LOVE Bee balm!
===
===
===Tom


Well I sure wish my Bee Balm would get back to at least 1/2 of what it
was prior to h aving a large oak tree uproot and fall on my garden
area. The tree did not directly cruch or harm the bee balm to the
extnt that it broke it, and it was only on the bee balm no more than 2
or 3 hours tops, as the tree no sooner fell and the wife and I were on
it with chainsaws and moving limbs off the flower garden right away.
Other than my one crepe myrtle nothing appeared to be broken, but
evidently the plants all got shocked, as just abnout over night both
my bee balms died back to just about nothing, as well as my hydrangia
and ferns. Actually the only thing showing any real life and growth is
the busted off crepe myrtle. I cut the broken trunk flush with the
ground, and in three weeks time frame since it got broken, it is now
pushing out 11 beautiful stems approx 2 to 2 1/2 foot tall already and
growing every day. Bee Balm just sets there less than 3 inches tall.
Fern never did come back, and the hydrangia are now just starting to
put out new leaves.

Just what could that fallen oak tree have done to these plants. It
provided them no nutrients or shade, and it was just the top of the
oak that hit this garden area, so there really was no soil compaction
of any kind. Watering frequency has not changed.
Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
Opinions expressed are those of my wifes,
I had no input whatsoever.
Remove "nospam" from email addy.

On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 13:39:58 +0000, Roy wrote:

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 23:53:51 GMT, Tom Randy
wrote:

===On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 14:00:13 +0000, HA HA Budys Here wrote:
===
=== Last spring I planted 2 small 1-gallon samples of Monarda didyma (Bee Balm) in
=== a partly sunny area which was behind a retaining wall. The backfill behind the
=== wall was mostly 4 cu. yds. of homemade compost I needed to relocate. This year
=== the plants look more like large shrubs and have completely overgrown the
=== surrounding vegitation.
===
=== At this point their flower pedals have mostly dropped. Would shaving these down
=== to about 50% of their current 4' height promote re-growth and re-bloom this
=== year?
===
===
===Yup!
===
===
===If not, will it harm next year's growth?
===
===Nope! I LOVE Bee balm!
===
===
===Tom


Well I sure wish my Bee Balm would get back to at least 1/2 of what it
was prior to h aving a large oak tree uproot and fall on my garden
area. The tree did not directly cruch or harm the bee balm to the
extnt that it broke it, and it was only on the bee balm no more than 2
or 3 hours tops, as the tree no sooner fell and the wife and I were on
it with chainsaws and moving limbs off the flower garden right away.
Other than my one crepe myrtle nothing appeared to be broken, but
evidently the plants all got shocked, as just abnout over night both
my bee balms died back to just about nothing, as well as my hydrangia
and ferns. Actually the only thing showing any real life and growth is
the busted off crepe myrtle. I cut the broken trunk flush with the
ground, and in three weeks time frame since it got broken, it is now
pushing out 11 beautiful stems approx 2 to 2 1/2 foot tall already and
growing every day. Bee Balm just sets there less than 3 inches tall.
Fern never did come back, and the hydrangia are now just starting to
put out new leaves.

Just what could that fallen oak tree have done to these plants. It
provided them no nutrients or shade, and it was just the top of the
oak that hit this garden area, so there really was no soil compaction
of any kind. Watering frequency has not changed.
Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
Opinions expressed are those of my wifes,
I had no input whatsoever.
Remove "nospam" from email addy.


How long was those Bee balms in the ground? Maybe they are getting
crowded? Every few years it's good to thin them out a bit. Give them time...

Tom