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Lemon balm and bachelors button advice please

InnewhamboInnewhambo Posts: 35
in Plants

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I'm trying to grow anything that will tolerate my infestation of ground elder!  But due to the recent rain, both of the above plant have gone nutty bonkers, the lemon balm is 3ft tall!  Can I just divide them as they are or is it better to cut them back and then split? Sorry if it's a stupid question...

 

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  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,053

    lemon balm is one of those " marmite" plants. It can become an invasive weed if you let it. Divide it by all means, but don't let it set seed.

    Devon.
  • InnewhamboInnewhambo Posts: 35

    Thanks Hostafan1,  but is it better to cut them back before splitting?  My garden is overwhelmed by ground elder, so I'm not worried about invasive weeds!

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,286

    If you are splitting the plant then you may very well lose some of the roots so it will pay to cut it back, and that way the diminished roots won't have to support something tall that they aren't designed for.

  • Beanyjeany2Beanyjeany2 Posts: 33

    In our previous garden, we had a lemon balm plant. And it seeded, and we ended up with a garden full of it!! So, like Hostafan1 says, don't let it seed!! Good luck image

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,932

    We had lemon balm in the garden on the farm when I was a child - after it had flowered and before it set seed Ma would cut it hard back to just a very few inches tall.  That would prevent it seeding everywhere.  Instead it would soon grow more foliage and look lush and attractive again.

    Don't forget, a handful of lemon balm leaves steeped in boiling water makes a lovely relaxing drink, especially before bedtime.  Sweeten with honey if liked. image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • InnewhamboInnewhambo Posts: 35

    I've just cut back a ton of it, so i'm going to try the drink tonight!  Thanks, Maggie

     

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,932

    OH likes it with a spoon of honey image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • davids10davids10 Posts: 894

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     get rid of the green one and plant aurea. i cut mine back 3 or 4 times in the course of the summer so always have great foliage. the seedlings are easy to pull but older plants require some effort. yours is so overgrown i'd cut it back to about 6 in. the new growth will be nice-well, nicer.

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