Bee Balm Plants - Ask Extension
Hello. This past year, the bee balm flowers in my garden took off. They were everywhere in my garden (which is shaped like a semi-circle). In past ...
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Bee Balm Plants #947344
Asked October 19, 2026, 4:45 PM EDT
Hello. This past year, the bee balm flowers in my garden took off. They were everywhere in my garden (which is shaped like a semi-circle). In past years, I have planted Liatris spicata, coneflowers, solidago, phlox, prairie dropseed, and little blue stems in the same garden - hoping to provide food for birds, bees, and butterflies from Spring through Autumn. At this time, I want to remove some of the bee balms. Is it better to remove them now, or should I wait until next Spring? If it is better to remove them now, I will leave the spent blooms and stalks in the backyard for the pollinators. Thank you.
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi,
It doesn't really matter if you remove some now or in the spring for the plant's sake. If you want to relocate the existing bee balm, at this point in the season, it would be better to wait until spring so the roots don't get pushed up by any freeze-thaw cycles over the winter. In that case, leave the stalks and seed heads!
Emily
