Monarda magic: Plant bee balm to repel ticks and enhance your garden

The garden bee balm is a plant that catches the eye and repels ticks. For this reason, it is worth planting it in the garden to enjoy its appearance and considerable help from July until the end of September.

Nasturtiums, marigolds, calendulas, and matthiolas are plants that often decorate our gardens. This year, it is worth adding another one—the garden bee balm, also known as monarda or bergamot. It is exceptional in terms of colour and helpful in repelling insects.

Burgundy, cream, pink, purple, and yellow. The garden bee balm has flowers in many colours, which is why it beautifully decorates every garden. It is no secret that it's hard to pass by it indifferently, not only because of its appearance but also its scent.

Bee balm is one of the few plants that can smell like lemon, strawberry, or even lavender. This is due to the essential oils it contains, which help attract beneficial insects to the garden, such as butterflies and bees, as well as those we call "enemies." These include, most notably, ticks, which are repelled by the sweet smell of bee balm and will not appear in its vicinity.

Bee balm loves warmth and the sun, which is why it blooms from July to September. If we decide to plant it, it is worth choosing a sunny or possibly semi-shaded spot. It will bloom if we grow it in full shade, but its flowers will be relatively small. Additionally, it is worth selecting fertile and slightly moist soil for it.

Caring for bee balm primarily involves watering and pruning. If the days are hot during the season, this plant requires more frequent watering, but not excessively. Its soil should be slightly moist, not wet.

Pruning should be done only after blooming, which stimulates the bee balm to bloom again. It can also be fertilised with organic fertilisers. As it is a frost-resistant plant, it does not need covering for the winter.