Lemon balm , Melissa officinalis , is one of my favorite aromatic garden herbs because it ’s so simple-minded to grow – and it ’s available almost year round here in Southern California .
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If you ’re think ofadding lemon balm to your garden , it ’s substantive to live that , likemint , this herbaceous plant can distribute rapidly .
Photo by Kat Sanchez.
With a few elementary steps , you’re able to keep it under control and enjoy its delightful fragrance without it taking over your space .
I ’ll divvy up some tips on avoiding a lemon balm takeover and managing it if it get a short too enthusiastic in its development .
What You’ll Learn
Proactive Prevention
By taking preventative measure , you wo n’t have to tackle an overgrowth of lemon balm in the future tense .
This herbaceous plant spreads through come and runners . A moon-curser , in botany , is more officially have a go at it as a stolon .
The stolon is a horizontally crawl stem that extends from the primary plant and develops roots at specific points that can grow into new plants .
These new plants are often call “ daughter plant , ” and they grow from what some call the “ female parent plant life . ”
I treasure the timeserving behavior of this mint relation and will make the most out of its teemingness when met with the opportunity .
There are four mere methods that I ’ve found to be most supportive in controllingM. officinalis . Check them out below .
Container Garden
you’re able to raise your lemon unction in a spacious container to forbid it from spreading through runners .
However , recollect that the works can still self - seed and spread to other planters or au naturel soil .
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The handles make it easy to move them around your patio or garden .
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Mulch
Applying and maintaining a dense layer of mulch is recommended to help prevent lemon balm seeded player from grow in undesirable area .
While this method can effectively keep cum sprouting , it may not entirely quit runner from grow through the mulch .
The optimal clock time to mulch is before the wet time of year , typically in other drop where I inhabit . When applying mulch , lay at least one to two inches down spaced one infantry away from the plant ’s crownwork .
As the mulch snap off down over the season , it nourishes your soil . In a few years , you ’ll desire to work up up your mulch layer again .
determine more about mulch in our guide .
Divide
It ’s unbelievable how loose it is to divide and transplant lemon balm .
I always look forward to late winter or other outflow when I can fraction the herbaceous plant by cautiously eradicate some and embed the divisions in new homes . The abundance of plants is a summation !
I always prioritise the timing of when I separate plants to give them plentiful metre to establish themselves before the hot summertime .
If I ca n’t get to this by late springiness , I check that to develop them in containers so I can move them around , which helps me substantially hold their growing condition through summer . I ’ll transpose them from the container between late fall and other spring .
First , dig up the lemon balm plant , including their root , using a trowel or a professional nurseryman ’s dig out pecker like this one that you’re able to getfrom Garrett Wade .
Professional Digging Tool
Gently lift the plant life out of the background .
Depending on the radical system ’s sizing , employ a knife or garden shears to separate the plant into pocket-sized sections . Each section should have at least one hefty prow and a rich root word organisation .
Be sure to replant each section in a well - run out soil mix and water thoroughly after plant . Citrus limon unction plant prefer moist , well - drained territory and partial specter .
Prune Regularly
trim off the flowers before they begin to turn into ejaculate is crucial to managing lemon balm ’s growth . you may prune the herb all the agency back , and it will produce novel and lush foliage ontogenesis .
I like placing my floweringMelissacuttings in a vase to freshen indoor space with their vibrant lemony scent ! You could also lay aside some bydrying and storing the herbto enjoy later as an infusion .
If you ’re funny about this sight ’s healing dimension and why you should make infusion with the herb , then you ’ll be exalt by reading ourlemon balm tea guide .
Remediation Measures
The longer you grow lemon balm , the greater the potential for know this point where you must start pull off vigorous growth , or else it will take over .
Controlling runners and digging up seedling before they prove themselves will facilitate balance populations . I ’ll share inside information below on how to accomplish this and when to roleplay .
Weed Out
In early springiness , you may notice infant lemon balm that have started from seed . If the soil is moist and they ’re not growing from runner , they ’re easy to uproot with your hand .
I care using a boxing glove that feel like I ’m not wear anything so I can get as close to the home of the plant to pull up all of the roots .
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If the lemon balm has matured and the soil has dry out up , it will be difficult to weed them out with your hands . Timing is decisive here to make this method simple and gentle .
The next step is the concluding metre of removing unwanted plants .
Dig Up
This last step can be viewed as another contour of split up plants , but in this remediation section ,
I ’m refer to big works that have already taken up more quad than what you hoped or plan for .
When it ’s reached this dot , I reach for trusty garden tool .
Using a shovel or a tool like the Gardener ’s Lifetime Perennial Forkfrom Gardener ’s Supply Co.that has a shortsighted , hand - mould , ergonomic T - hold can do the trick .
Gardener ’s Lifetime Perennial Fork
Before I go in at an slant about six inches around the plant to loosen the soil , and to get an idea of where all the rootage are , I ’ll trim down some leaves back so I can see the nerve centre of the flora .
I then lift it up with a shovel or branching .
If the territory is highly compacted , I ’ll employ a sales talk ax to break up the soil around the herb using the chisel side , and then I ’ll lift the plant up using the pick side .
If you desire to make unnecessary some of these pieces of lemon balm by transplanting them , I recommend digging them up softly as describe in the section part above , so you do n’t cause too much hurt to the root organisation .
toss portions can also be shared with other nurseryman , orcomposted .
When Life Gives You Lemon Balm…
Thanks to this herb ’s many benefits , being face with preclude and controlling its belligerent demeanor is an splendid trouble to see in the garden .
Do n’t let its emergence intimidate , but rather , let it inspire you !
And for moreinformation about growing herbs in your garden , have a read of these guides next :
Photos by Kat Sanchez © inquire the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Product photos via Gardener ’s Supply Company and Garrett Wade . Uncredited exposure : Shutterstock .
About
Kat Sanchez
