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Ozarks Gardening

monarda

18 years ago

My red bee balm (monarda) was very showy in early June. Now it is flopping over and has powdery mildew. Do you leave perennials after they bloom or cut them back. If I cut it back how much?

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Comments (2)

gldno1
18 years ago
helen, mine got 5 feet tall and then died back. I cut it to the ground.

I just cut down to within 10 inches of the ground some phlox back maybe three weeks ago that looked so bad. They are now back about 18 inches tall. don't know if they will bloom or not.

My rule is if it offends me, I cut it to within 6-8 inches of the ground. I haven't killed anything yet and if it gets so bad with disease each year, I don't really care!

Can you tell I am getting the hot summer doldrums and the garden isn't interesting me nearly as much!
helenh
Original Author
18 years ago
Me too. It is too hot outside and it hasn't rained in a while. I have snakes in the evening and weeds everywhere. My phlox and crepe myrtles are the bright spot. I also have a fragrant shrub (summersweet) blooming which is a good thing.
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