A great native flower is Bee Balm. They come in an array of colors, though I like the purple ones the best. They can take the cold winters in New Jersey as well as the hot summers. With the right care, they will grow to 18inches high and spread about 2ft. They are also fairly low maintenance except make sure they avoid powdery mildew issues.
You can get them to bloom multiple times during a season. Deer don’t typically eat them in warm months. However, as the nights get cooler, they are on the menu.
They like full sun, but can tolerate shade. They are excellent for the edges of rain gardens. Bee Balm attracts butterfly, bees or hummingbird. Couple them with Blazing Stars, and you could have a symphony of beautiful animals to watch.
Mosquitoes are a common problem in my area, and clients always want to know how to get rid of them. Bee Balm is one part of the solution because they repel mosquitos. I love designing yards that use different types of mosquito-repelling plants (like lavender and basil) with Bee Balm. It adds ton of color to the yard. Plus, when the basil is good for the picking, you can make fresh pesto from it. Then you can enjoy it on your deck or patio without being eaten alive.
Mosquitoes thrive in soggy lawns that are treated with artificial fertilizers. The Yard Detox Challenge is another part of eliminating mosquitoes. Organic compost doesn’t have the same mosquito-inducing characteristics as toxic fertilizers. Healthy soils and native plants lead to complex ecosystems that make mosquitoes compete for space. So, plant some Bee Balm this year and get on the road to zero mosquitoes! Start managing your soggy lawn with a rain gardens too. Before you know it, the only things that will be flying around your yard will be butterflies, honeybees and hummingbirds!
They like full sun, but can tolerate shade. They are excellent for the edges of rain gardens. Bee Balm attracts butterfly, bees or hummingbird. Couple them with Blazing Stars, and you could have a symphony of beautiful animals to watch.
Mosquitoes are a common problem in my area, and clients always want to know how to get rid of them. Bee Balm is one part of the solution because they repel mosquitos. I love designing yards that use different types of mosquito-repelling plants (like lavender and basil) with Bee Balm. It adds ton of color to the yard. Plus, when the basil is good for the picking, you can make fresh pesto from it. Then you can enjoy it on your deck or patio without being eaten alive.
Mosquitoes thrive in soggy lawns that are treated with artificial fertilizers. The Yard Detox Challenge is another part of eliminating mosquitoes. Organic compost doesn’t have the same mosquito-inducing characteristics as toxic fertilizers. Healthy soils and native plants lead to complex ecosystems that make mosquitoes compete for space. So, plant some Bee Balm this year and get on the road to zero mosquitoes! Start managing your soggy lawn with a rain gardens too. Before you know it, the only things that will be flying around your yard will be butterflies, honeybees and hummingbirds!
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