Bee balm: The colorful garden star that keeps ticks away
Bee balm is a plant that grabs attention with its colorful blooms and effectively repels ticks. It's no wonder that so many people have it in their gardens. Additionally, it blooms almost all summer long.
In our gardens, you can often find plants such as nasturtiums, marigolds, calendulas, and stocks, which add charm. This year, it's worth enhancing this collection with bee balm, also known as monarda or bergamot. No wonder gardeners love it.
Bee balm: A hit in the garden
Bee balm amazes with the variety of colors of its flowers—burgundy, cream, pink, purple, and yellow—making it a wonderful decoration for any garden. However, its charm goes beyond its appearance.
Bee balm is characterized by a unique scent that may resemble lemon, strawberry, or even lavender. Its essential oils not only attract insects like butterflies and bees but also effectively repel ticks.
Caring for bee balm
Bee balm prefers warm, sunny locations, which allow it to bloom for up to 90 days, from July to September. In full shade, the plant will still bloom, but with smaller flowers. It's also beneficial to provide it with fertile and slightly moist soil.
Caring for bee balm mostly involves regular watering and pruning. On hot days, when temperatures are high, the plant requires more frequent watering, but overwatering should be avoided. The soil should be moderately moist but not soggy.
Pruning bee balm should occur after the flowering period ends, which stimulates the plant to bloom again. It can also be strengthened with organic fertilizers. Interestingly, due to its frost resistance, it doesn't require winter protection.
