We grow monarda in our garden without problems

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A bit of history. The plant is very picky, looks great in single plantings, and in compositions with other species.
A little history of

The first description of the plant was made by the Spanish doctor Nicholas Monardes, by whose name the odorous grass was named. The plant begins its history from North America, this is where the monard can be found from Canada to Mexico. On this territory, she was long called a soul mate.

In Europe, the plant was grown more as an essential oil, but since the 19th century the monard has become very popular. She is best known as bergamot, lemon mint and American lemon balm.

Description

can be either an annual or a perennial. All its species are quite tall, upright stems can reach 1-1.2 m. The bush has the following characteristics:
1. The leaves are oblong, with teeth along the edge, have a green color, differ by a strongly pronounced specific smell, which makes it difficult to confuse the monard.
2. Flowers are small, two-lipped, can be white, purple, lilac, yellowish color. Inflorescences are dense, collected in tassels or heads with a diameter of up to 8 cm.
3. The seed is hidden in the nut, it can germinate even after three years.
Regularly transplant the monarda, in one place an aromatic shrub is grown no more than 7 years, then it is necessary to change the location.

Planting methods

Planting in open ground and the subsequent care of the monard can be done both in spring and in winter, and propagated in three ways:
1. Sowing seeds. This method does not guarantee the preservation of all characteristics, the color of the colors can be very diverse. Through the seedlings grow more Monarda for experimental purposes. Crops grow slowly, growth acceleration occurs only after the appearance of the third pair of leaves.
2. By dividing an adult bush, shrub blossoms can be achieved the very next year after planting. An adult healthy plant perfectly tolerates the division process and takes root in properly selected soils almost immediately.
3. Cutting is not very common among gardeners, perhaps due to the need to tinker a bit. But the seedlings are perfectly acclimatized and develop quite quickly.
Read also: Why does not geranium bloom and what to do about it?

Everyone chooses for themselves the most suitable, but further care will always be the same.

Boarding time

The landing and caring for the monard in open field will not cause much trouble. When to plant better? It all depends on the way.
Read also:
Cultivate bulbous irises: features of planting and careReproduction by dividing an adult bush is produced both in the spring and in the winter. Seedlings also planted mainly in early summer.
The preparatory process is carried out for all types of reproduction, it consists of the following stages:
1. Digging the place before planting.
2. Application of mineral and organic fertilizers there.
3. Abundant watering.
If you plan to land in the spring, such manipulations should be done in the fall. This will remove weeds from the plot and slightly loosen the ground.

Planted Monarda in the open ground in the spring through the division of the bush. To do this, they dig it out, wash the rhizomes and carefully cut them into several pieces of approximately the same size. Sections are treated with ash and charcoal, placed in previously prepared pits and sprinkled with earth. After that, the bushes must be carefully watered.

Monarda prefers neutral or alkaline soil, on an acidic plant will grow and develop poorly.

Planting and maintenance in the open field for the winter monarda is carried out without any particular difficulties. During this period, reproduction is carried out by rooted cuttings or division of an adult bush.

Planted the plant in the previously prepared soil in early autumn, when it is still far from frost.

Monarda planted at a distance of at least 60 cm from each other, the plant will grow very quickly and take up all the free space.

Care

In order for the monarda to grow well and develop, it is necessary to ensure her proper care, which consists of:
- in regular watering of the plant, especially during the hot summer season, otherwise there is a threat of powdery mildew on the leaves and shoots;
- loosening soil around shrubs, removing weeds;
- mineral and organic fertilizers;
- disease prevention every spring with the help of foundationol or copper sulfate.
See also: What kind of care does a radish need?

With a very hot summer, the ground around the Monarda bush should be mulched with peat or leaf humus.

Sawdust for mulching can not be used, they can lead to the death of the plant.

Pests and Diseases

Fragrant bush is resistant to various diseases, powdery mildew can be an exception, but it can occur only when there is a lack of moisture during a particularly dry time.

No one is afraid of the pests of the monardo, the smell of its flowers and leaves scares off any insects. Having planted such a bush near a bench in the garden, you can sit there for long summer evenings and not be afraid of mosquitoes.

Planting and caring for many years of monarda in the open field is simple, as evidenced by the numerous photos of the plant.

Video about landing