11 years ago I bought a plant labeled 'Lemon Basil' and planted it in the ground. (I keep all plant labels in a file for future reference, so I know it said 'lemon basil'). When it spread and came back the next two years, I discovered it was not lemon basil, but lemon balm. 10 years later and I am still trying to get it out of my flower beds, vegetable beds, lawn, you name it. Is there an effective way to stop the spread of this plant? I pull the plants as soon as I see them, but this is not effective. Please help!!
How to erradicate lemon balm
Amazing! I did not realize lemon balm was that hardy. Sorry for your aggravation but the living conditions must be just right at your house. I believe this is spreading by seed not roots. That being the case, do not allow it to bloom and go to seed. I would prune it drastically to prevent that and I suspect the next year you will not be bothered by as many plantlets. Mine will have an occasional errant plant pop up but they uproot easily and are not connected by root system to the mother plant. Good luck.
Zinnia, do you use lemon balm to make tea? It's really quite good, especially mixed with chamomile. Like podster said, get the plants before they bloom and then set seed. Also, get into that mat of roots and pull it up. Try to do it in such a way that you follow the roots and get them all. I love lemon balm and have a few varieties, including a lime balm.
Thanks for the advice - I will continue to pull as soon as I see it and hopefully get it under control. Lemon balm is hardy to Zone 4, and let me tell you, it really likes Zone 5b!
Lemon Balm typically spreads by seed rather than by roots. Don't let it go to seed if you don't want it next year.
I see I am not the only one with a Lemon Balm problem. I usually dig and share at round ups.
I'm in zone 6a and have planted (plants) 3 years in a row and none have overwintered for me. Maybe it's my soil, didn't think they were that picky, but I kinda wish I had a little bit of your problem.
Maybe I should just scatter seeds in the fall instead, as the plants I had never flowered either.
For those brave enough, my volunteer seedlings will be large enough to inflict on those who'd like them fairly soon. Or I can take cuttings. Calamint, same thing. Don't say I didn't warn you.