Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
To summarize, lemon balm can survive winter if proper precautions are taken. Consider the hardiness zone of your region, and if necessary, grow lemon balm in containers that can be moved indoors. Prune the plant before winter sets in and apply a thick layer of mulch to insulate the soil and protect the roots.
Lemon balm is a hardy, lemon-scented herb perfect for winter gardens, especially in USDA Zones 4–9. It grows best in well-draining soil with regular watering and prefers full sun to partial shade. In colder climates, it can be potted and brought indoors.
With a few simple steps, you can keep it under control and enjoy its delightful fragrance without it taking over your space. I’ll share some tips on avoiding a lemon balm takeover and managing it if it gets a little too enthusiastic in its growth.
Over-winter lemon balm in a protected area such as an unheated garage or patio. Winter growing: Cut back lemon balm in fall leaving just 2 inches of stem. The plant may freeze back to the ground in winter but will re-grow from underground roots and renew itself in spring.
Recognize that while Lemon Balm is cold-hardy, it still requires care to survive winter at its best. Understand that frost can cause damage such as discolored leaves and stunted growth, signaling the need for protection.
The lemon balm is sufficiently hardy, even without special winter protection. If you grow lemon balm in the tub, you should cover it up a little in winter. Floor insulation with styrofoam panels is also beneficial.
This herbaceous perennial can survive in lower growing zones with winters that reach -20°F to -10°F (-28.9°C to -23.3°C). It’s also drought and deer resistant as these four-legged foragers do not enjoy the fragrance.
Lemon balm is a hardy perennial in USDA zones 4-9, meaning it will survive the winter and come back year after year. However, in colder climates, it may die back to the ground in the winter months. To protect your lemon balm from extreme cold, mulch around the base of the plant in late fall to insulate the roots.
It may be grown as an annual in areas where it does not survive the winter. This plant has few insect or disease problems (occasionally it will get powdery mildew) and is rarely, if ever, eaten by deer or rabbits.
Mulch new plants heavily to improve winter survival. Planting and Spacing. Lemon balm grows from 2 to 3 feet high and should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. Lemon balm prefers full sunlight but will tolerate light shade. Plants grown with some shade tend to produce larger and more succulent leaves. Water.