Bee Balm in November: monthly care

Bee balm benefits from light pruning rather than heavy cutting back. The main pruning task takes place in November, after flowering has finished and the foliage begins to die back. Use clean secateurs or garden shears to cut the stems down to around 5–10 cm above ground level. This tidies the plant, removes old growth that may harbour fungal spores (especially powdery mildew), and makes way for fresh shoots in spring. Some gardeners prefer to leave the seed heads standing through winter to feed birds and provide structure in the border, but remove them by late winter at the latest. During the growing season, deadheading spent flowers encourages a second, lighter flush of blooms and keeps the plant looking tidy. Snip off faded flower heads just above a set of leaves. In mid-summer, if your bee balm shows signs of mildew on the lower leaves, remove affected foliage promptly to improve air flow and limit spread. Every three to four years, divide congested clumps in early spring (March or April) to rejuvenate the plant and control its spread. Lift the clump with a fork, tease or cut it into sections with healthy roots and shoots, and replant the vigorous outer portions, discarding the woody centre. This also gives you new plants to expand your display or share. Regular division keeps bee balm flowering well and reduces disease pressure.