What To Do With Bee Balm In August – 5 Tips To Keep This Easy-To-Care-For, Pollinator Favorite Looking It's Best

It's hard to miss glorious bee balm in August. Now in full bloom with it's striking crownlike petals sitting on upright stems, these perennials are an arresting sight. Instantly recognised by their distinctive whorls of tubular petals in shades of vibrant scarlet, white, lilac to deepest carmine, they make a dazzling spectacle whether blooming centerstage in a mixed border, filling raised beds or showcased in a patio planter.

Knowing how to grow bee balm, or monarda didyma or bergamot (it's a plant of many names), is hugely rewarding, not least because it makes a fantastic cut flower and the nectar-rich blooms draws all types of bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds into the yard.

To keep this sun loving plant thriving through the demands of late summer and well into fall, it is important to know exactly what care bee balm needs now. We'll walk you through what you need to know, and if you want to expand your monarda collection head to Amazon for a wealth of options.

Avoid Powdery Mildew By Watering Regularly

Despite it's rigid stems and slightly bristly leaves, bee balm can be prone to powdery mildew in late summer. While not fatal, these can weaken the plant, slowing photosynthesis, flower production and distorting new growth, ruining current and future displays. Our instinct maybe to ease off the watering and let the plant 'dry' out, but experts advise otherwise.

'By August, Monarda's biggest enemy is powdery mildew, and it isn't about wet leaves, it's humidity and drought stress,' explains plant expert Laura Coggan. 'Plants that dry out are more vulnerable, not less, so keep soil consistently moist with a deep soak once or twice a week and give plants room to breathe. Poor air circulation and a stressed, thirsty plant are the two conditions mildew loves most.'

Master gardener Tabar Gifford advises that, 'Bee balm evolved along stream banks and in moist meadows. Relatively shallow rooted, it benefits from deep watering that thoroughly wets the root zone rather than frequent light irrigation. A deep soak at the base of the plant once or twice a week is far more useful than daily light watering.'

Direct water to the area around the base of the plant with a long spout watering can - such as this Vigoro Can or extendable watering wand, both Home Depot.

Ease Off Feeding Bee Balm

By late summer plant watering and feeding routines have become second nature, but it's worth noting that as growth slows and daylight hours shorten, our usual fertilizer may no longer be exactly what our plants need.

'Resist the urge to fertilize monarda late in the growing season.' says Renee’s Garden's Trial Garden Manager, Lindsay Del Carlo. 'While it may seem like a boost would encourage more flowers, feeding plants in late summer often has the opposite effect. Fertilizer stimulates tender new growth that is unlikely to harden off before winter, leaving the plant more vulnerable to cold damage.'

Laura also agrees and adds, 'If you're cutting plants back for a second flush, a light, low-nitrogen feed afterward is enough to support new growth without overdoing it.'

Getting to know plant fertilizer numbers is easy and hugely helpful when it comes to nurturing all crops and flowers. For a low nitrogen feed look on the packaging for the three NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) figures and ensure the first figure is low in value. Consider Organic Natural Bone Meal or water soluble Miracle Gro Bloom Booster both from Lowes.

Stake Tall And Tidy Up Straggling Stems

With bee balm plants nearing their full height, some varieties can become straggly and untidy. While now is not the time for dividing plants, there are ways you can tidy up.

'Once the main flush of bloom has passed, cutting the plant back by about one-third removes tired, often mildew-touched growth and encourages a flush of fresh, compact foliage from the base,' says Tabar. 'That new growth looks considerably healthier and tends to be more self-supporting; which often solves the flopping problem more effectively than a stake.'

Of course, some stems have already been buffeted by summer storms and these welcome support. 'A grow-through stake or peony ring put in by August holds the clump together without looking obviously staked,' says Laura.

Try these spiral grow through flower hoops from Walmart or their individual single stem supports.

Laura Coggan

Environmental horticulture specialist for Park Seed, with formal training in plant performance, garden design, and seasonal crop selection.

Lindsay Del Carlo

Lindsay is Trial Garden Manager at Renee's Garden, where she has grown and evaluated thousands of vegetable, flower, and herb varieties for quality and flavor each season since 2006.

Deadhead Wisely

It may be a routine garden task, but by August deadheading or removing spent flowerheads is, actually, at your discretion.

Deciding factors can be your local climate, the health of your plant and whether you prioritise more bee balm blooms or leaving seedheads for fall and winter interest, plus feeding wildlife.

'Removing spent flower heads (cutting back to the next leaf or lateral bud below) can encourage a modest late flush of rebloom and keeps the plant looking considerably tidier,' explains Tabar. 'That said, I always leave some of the later seed heads in place. Goldfinches and other seed-eating birds will continue using those seedheads well into winter.'

Snip Out Mildewed Stems And Dispose Of Carefully

Lush growth, still air and humid conditions are all common factors of the August yard, and perfect for the spread of harmful powdery mildew. Knowing the best action to take when spotting the first signs on your bee balm is crucial to stop the spread.

'The good news is, on otherwise healthy, established plants powdery mildew is largely cosmetic,' remarks Tabar. 'Unless the infection is severe enough to affect the majority of the foliage and visibly reduce the plant's ability to photosynthesize, Monarda almost always returns vigorously the following spring.'

A common issue with bee balm, the best approach to take in August is prevention, as Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy at the National Wildlife Federation explains. 'Provide adequate spacing, and avoid overhead watering. If mildew does appear, remove severely affected leaves or stems, but avoid aggressive cleanup that unnecessarily eliminates habitat.'

Disposing of cuttings also needs careful thought. 'Remove heavily affected leaves and put them in the trash rather than the compost. Hot compost is fine, but not everyone's pile gets hot enough to neutralize fungal spores,' says Tabar.

Mildew resistant bee balm varieties include the crimson 'Jacob Cline', available at American Meadows.

Tabar Gifford

As the Partnership Cultivator at American Meadows and High Country Gardens, Tabar; a Master Gardener, and dedicated “plant geek,” passionately fosters connections. With a lifelong love for gardening and nature, she combines horticultural expertise with education. She gardens in Vermont zone 4.  

Mary Phillips

Mary is Head of Native Plant Habitat & Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation, is an ambassador for native plants. Her work ensures all habitat programs and resources are rooted in sustainable practices and the latest science.

What to Shop

By nurturing bee balm plants you are not only supporting beneficial insects and pollinators, but filling your yard with easy, long-lasting color. Bring more pollinators into your yard by learning how to plant a drought tolerant pollinator garden and as part of a wildlife garden.

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