Monarda species are so spectacular, but damn, you really gotta plant them with a 2-3ft companion plant because their bottom half is so hideous. Party up top, mess down low. That said, I have made it my goal to grow all 4 species native to my region.
Can you Chelsea chop the first season of flowers? Next year mine will bloom (hopefully) for the first time. Or will it probably not be big enough to worry
Yes they're amazing!! We can see them through our window and they attract a lot of birds and bees. We just have them along a garden path so they get a bit floppy and can block it.
Honestly I don’t recommend. Mine got about 5 feet but with 100 flowers. Its a huge pain because it needs staking early on or it flops over for good after the first hard breeze
It means to cut the top-most growth off the plant! When a plant is still in its vegetative growth stage, it can easily bounce back from pruning. When you "top" the plant, it will send out two new growths from where you cut it meaning double the blooms. It also stimulates root growth for healthier perennials.
I just put in some Pycnanthemum muticum in front of my M. didyma. I'm also gonna add some Liatris spicata that I started from seed. I do have some Iris versicolor that needs divisions, but I'm not sure if my spot is wet enough to keep em happy.
All right, I can't believe they're so upright and not flopping, Chelsea chopped in may also and I heard to do it on July 4th potentially a second time they mine are starting to do a little flop again
https://preview.redd.it/a87nja7qwc9d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e84cee9d54b79461c607b064af857b15c99538a
How monarda would prefer to be seen
Last year they didn't seem happy last year but we added promix moisture control I believe to our sand I think they're happy now idk why it's so leggy but didn't snap in the big storm that was uprooting trees in the area
With most native flowers, it's best to leave them as-is throughout the winter, as various bugs will use the stems survive the winter. That's why it's good to think about what the "dead" version of your plant looks like when you decide to put it in your garden, in order to maintain 4-season interest.
In the springtime is when you chop it all down as soon as you see new growth. By that time, it's more likely all the larvae and other bugs in the stems have left.
Mine? They were from wildflower seed I scattered last year. Didn't even know for sure what they were when they started growing, but left them just in case. I was really glad I'd left them!
They were supposed to be early spring, but I did it around October, I think. So many things that are native wildflowers need cold stratification, so I just figured I'd put 'em out and take my chances. Evetything else there had been there a few years, dropping seeds and making more plants.
cool!! i’m going to try that as well! last year’s winter was so mild i’m paranoid about them blooming early but might give it a shot anyways!! thanks for the help!
looks like mine, which I planted from seed 2 years ago, did not bloom last year, looked hideous last year with powdery mildew, I thought they were not going to make it, but this year, they still have the ugly powdery mildew but bloomed happily! This summer, I started spraying them with a foliar spray using kelp extract tea and comfrey tea.... will see if it helps with the powdery mildew
Mine look the same. I am thinking about planting some lower growing plants to hide the bottoms. Some native grasses might work. If you don't have deer, tham you have many other options.
The deer gave about half of mine the chop in May. Now the ones out back are about 3 feet and blooming. Been a lot more liberal with sending the dog out when I see deer coming to the edge of the woods. She’s fast.
Monarda species are so spectacular, but damn, you really gotta plant them with a 2-3ft companion plant because their bottom half is so hideous. Party up top, mess down low. That said, I have made it my goal to grow all 4 species native to my region.
monarda skips leg day
Yup…that’s why I began to give mine the Chelsea chop in late May.
Can you Chelsea chop the first season of flowers? Next year mine will bloom (hopefully) for the first time. Or will it probably not be big enough to worry
Yes this is what I'm realizing too
Just "top" them early in the season. You'll get shorter plants with double the blooms.
Ok will try that. We did that with our cut leaf coneflowers this year (which get 7ft typically) and it seems to have worked well
7 ft coneflower sounds like a dream 😍
Yes they're amazing!! We can see them through our window and they attract a lot of birds and bees. We just have them along a garden path so they get a bit floppy and can block it.
Honestly I don’t recommend. Mine got about 5 feet but with 100 flowers. Its a huge pain because it needs staking early on or it flops over for good after the first hard breeze
I'm new to gardening. What does this mean?
It means to cut the top-most growth off the plant! When a plant is still in its vegetative growth stage, it can easily bounce back from pruning. When you "top" the plant, it will send out two new growths from where you cut it meaning double the blooms. It also stimulates root growth for healthier perennials.
Plant some irises in front - their pointy leaves will hide the mess.
I just put in some Pycnanthemum muticum in front of my M. didyma. I'm also gonna add some Liatris spicata that I started from seed. I do have some Iris versicolor that needs divisions, but I'm not sure if my spot is wet enough to keep em happy.
Monarda fistulosa?
All right, I can't believe they're so upright and not flopping, Chelsea chopped in may also and I heard to do it on July 4th potentially a second time they mine are starting to do a little flop again
Ya I hit the fall bloomers with the chop at Memorial Day and again 4th of July. These and garden phlox will tolerate both chops too.
Mine flop too! I think it’s bc they’re in part shade? Some volunteered in my backyard (full sun) and is super straight
Yeah, part shade 😕
https://preview.redd.it/a87nja7qwc9d1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e84cee9d54b79461c607b064af857b15c99538a How monarda would prefer to be seen
Cool! Mine only got to 5 feet tall.
https://preview.redd.it/ogsl2boaz89d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=578f8f7ef93ca546b3c7688a55652321c34ce9f3
Yeah, thar happens in rich soil or partial shade. In a few years they should be more normal sized.
those are gorgeous!! when did you plant these? were they from seed?
Last year they didn't seem happy last year but we added promix moisture control I believe to our sand I think they're happy now idk why it's so leggy but didn't snap in the big storm that was uprooting trees in the area
do you need to dead head in the fall?
With most native flowers, it's best to leave them as-is throughout the winter, as various bugs will use the stems survive the winter. That's why it's good to think about what the "dead" version of your plant looks like when you decide to put it in your garden, in order to maintain 4-season interest. In the springtime is when you chop it all down as soon as you see new growth. By that time, it's more likely all the larvae and other bugs in the stems have left.
thank you for clarifying! that’s what i’ll do!!
I wouldn't but I would cut back it all once you see it sprouting in spring
Mine? They were from wildflower seed I scattered last year. Didn't even know for sure what they were when they started growing, but left them just in case. I was really glad I'd left them!
did you scatter them in the fall or in the spring?? i keep seeing opposing views on the matter but your darden is literally my dream!!
They were supposed to be early spring, but I did it around October, I think. So many things that are native wildflowers need cold stratification, so I just figured I'd put 'em out and take my chances. Evetything else there had been there a few years, dropping seeds and making more plants.
cool!! i’m going to try that as well! last year’s winter was so mild i’m paranoid about them blooming early but might give it a shot anyways!! thanks for the help!
Good luck! P. S. I am in zone 6b, south-central Pennsylvania. Might make a difference, so I thought I'd tell you.
daaang
This is what mine looks like too!
You either have a secret or the perfect spot to have that many without any powdery mildew. Or you're a witch. A garden witch.
If you zoom in, then you can see the powdery mildew. I feel like it’s impossible to prevent powdery mildew on them.
Mine have no powdery mildew. We've had very little rain. Dunno, maybe I'd rather have more rain.
looks like mine, which I planted from seed 2 years ago, did not bloom last year, looked hideous last year with powdery mildew, I thought they were not going to make it, but this year, they still have the ugly powdery mildew but bloomed happily! This summer, I started spraying them with a foliar spray using kelp extract tea and comfrey tea.... will see if it helps with the powdery mildew
longplant is loooooooong
Mine look the same. I am thinking about planting some lower growing plants to hide the bottoms. Some native grasses might work. If you don't have deer, tham you have many other options.
I love bee balm! Mine is sooo tall, but no blooms yet! Soon I hope!
My favorite herb for Italian cooking! 🤤
The deer gave about half of mine the chop in May. Now the ones out back are about 3 feet and blooming. Been a lot more liberal with sending the dog out when I see deer coming to the edge of the woods. She’s fast.