Lemon balm is a mint family herb. It’s a leafy herb that has a mild lemon aroma. However, scientists and manufacturers use it to make medicine. Also, people use it as a food flavor as well.
However, Lemon balms can overgrow, yet they are becoming popular day by day because of their versatile uses. Therefore, people love to grow lemon balms in their gardens. Here comes the challenging part.
Lemon balms have some issues regarding their growth and spreading. They can take up all the surrounding space if they remain unchecked for only a week or month. Also, they hinder the other plants from growing naturally.
Today, we will explain them. Keep on reading to find the solution to lemon balm invasiveness and spreading. We come up with some proven ways. Follow them to find the right solution.
Is lemon balm invasive?
Lemon balm is invasive, but you can stop lemon balm spreading. Lemon balm spreads throughout the garden if it remains unchecked. It sets the seeds that ultimately undertake the entire garden. To stop lemon balm from spreading, you have to prune the flowering stalks before developing seeds.
Lemon balm is an invasive plant. It will take up all the surrounding places with the help of its underground roots. If you have empty spaces or fields, plant some, and it will do the rest.
You can stop the invasion and the spreading as well. Some ways include cutting half, pruning flowers, and others. We will talk about them later.
Lemon beebalm is another type of mint that can spread throughout the garden if you fail to stop it. Let’s see how to stop the invasion of lemon bee balm.
Lemon bee balm:
Lemon bee balm is the medicinal tree used for coughs and colds. However, the lemon bee balm can spread quickly with the underground rhizomes.
As a result, it will be invasive in the season. You can plant a large tree around the balm to stop the spreading.
It would be best to cover the entire garden with some other trees. Make sure those trees have extensive root systems. So, it will prevent the underground rhizomes; as a result, the lemon bee balm won’t spread.
Is lemon balm invasive like mint?
Lemon balm is invasive like mint, as it belongs to the mint family. It has underground rhizomes that spread through the empty spaces easily. As a result, it can spread throughout the garden if you don’t stop it.
In that case, you should prune the flowers before they set the seeds. Lemon balm can produce flowers very quickly. Therefore, they set the seeds soon; thus, they spread out.
Mint grows fast, and they take up all the empty spaces. The same goes for the lemon balm. So, you must take proper care of them and make sure they are not spreading.
In some cases, lemon balm is more invasive than mint. Since lemon balm grows flowers and sets the seeds regularly, it occupies more space quickly. But mint does the work a bit slowly.
Does lemon balm spread fast?
Lemon balm spreads fast but not like the mint. Mint is the underground spreader, whereas lemon bees grow its leaf and produce flowers. Here, the flowers make the tree’s seeds and set them into space.
When the seeds find space and soil, they grow as lemon balm. The new one will again raise the flowers, producing the seeds. This is a continuous process. It helps the lemon balm spread very fast.
Primarily, the lemon balm spreads fast in early spring to early summer. They produce lots of leaves that also grow fast. And the flower plays a crucial role here by making seeds.
However, to stop the growth and the spreading, you need to prune the flowers and prevent them from setting the seeds into the soil. Also, you can plant more trees around the balms to stop their fast-growing and spreading.
Does lemon balm spread by runners?
Lemon balm doesn’t spread by runners. Instead, it spreads through the growing leaves and flowers. The flowers produce seeds and set them. That ultimately helps it to grow fast.
Typically, the mint grows through the underground runner. It also spreads through the runners. Runners play the essential rule here. However, the lemon bee doesn’t follow this rule of thumb.
The spreading process is entirely different. But the intention remains the same for both the lemon balm and mint. They both want to occupy the empty spaces very soon and do it fast.
How to stop lemon balm spreading?
There are some specific and proven ways to stop lemon balm spreading. Among them, pruning flowers, planting large trees, and cutting half of the lemon balms are proven ways to prevent spreading lemon balms. Make sure you follow these ways perfectly. If you make any mistake, they will spread again.
We have already described them in short. But it’s time to explain them to make things easier for you. If you follow these ways, you will end up stopping your lemon balm from spreading.
Pruning flowers:
Lemon balm grows the flowers. Those flowers come with lots of seeds, and they spread the seeds all around the garden or the empty spaces. After that, the new lemon balm grows there.
To stop the lemon balm from spreading, you must prune the flowers. It’s the best way to stop the lemon balm spreading. Thus, you can stop growing it in a day.
Planting Large trees:
You will not plant the lemon balm on the entire field. But you want to, right? In that case, you should plant the large trees around the balms. It will help to prevent the spreading of your lemon balm.
Large trees will occupy most of the space. Therefore, the lemon balm will not get the chance to spread fast. These trees will also enhance the overall beauty of your garden.
Cutting-Half:
Cutting the lemon balm’s half is another great way to stop spreading. Besides, it will make a new way to grow fresh lemon balm. But you need to cut them carefully.
Be sure to cut the first half from the top. If you make a mistake and cut the bottom half, your lemon balm will not grow anymore. It will lose its fertility and be a dried one.
Using a flowerpot:
You should use the flowerpot or a container if you are about to start planting lemon balm. It will resist the spreading of the roots.
These are the three popular ways to stop the spreading of lemon balms. But if you do regular gardening, you can easily find other ways. And then, it will become easier for you to apply for the right way.
Does lemon balm spread by roots?
Lemon balm spreads by underground roots. Mainly, lemon balms spread through the flower seeds. But the root extends through the underground and lets it produce the flowers.
A common way to spread the balm trees is the root. It can easily enlarge the roots and occupy the open space. Then it starts to grow flowers that ultimately set the seeds again to produce new lemon balm.
This is a continuous process of spreading the lemon balm. If you want to stop the spreading, cut the top half. It will prevent the fast-growing of the flowers. Also, there will be a chance to grow the new flowers.
Moreover, you can stop the spreading of the roots by harvesting the lemon balm in a container. It will not give the roots any extra room to spread. It’s an excellent way to stop the underground roots from spreading quickly.
Where does lemon balm grow?
Lemon balm grows best in the rich and well-drained soil, where the ground gets the full sunlight. Typically, lemon balm grows fast when it gets enough sun, as the sunlight helps produce the flowers.
Moreover, the sunlight provides all the required nutrients and other essential things that lemon balm needs to produce flowers.
Lemon balms cannot grow in muddy places. It would be best if you avoided such soils and damp areas. Moreover, the mud and too much water damage the lemon balm’s roots. That’s why they cannot grow fast.
If you want to grow your lemon balms in a short time, plant them under full sun. It will help to grow them fast by providing all the required nutrients. Also, make a sound drainage system to let the water go away soon.
Final Thoughts
Lemon balm is invasive. If you fail to stop the growth, it will take over all the surrounding spaces. In Particular, the flowers of the lemon balm set the seeds that ultimately grow soon. However, you have to prune the flowers before they set the seeds to stop such growth.