I Was Given A Lemon Balm Plant How Do I Overwinter It. Does It Need Pruning?

Question

I have also just ordered a daphne plant but no instructions. Can it be planted out now or kept in greenhouse til later?

Answer 1

Lemon balm can be pruned to harvest or to invigorate its growth. It can be invasive if left to reseed. Trimming off the flowers right away can prevent a lot of the reseeding. It will die back with a hard freeze, but should return in spring, in multiples if it reseeded. I looked up your average weather, and it doesn't traditionally freeze, so you could go ahead and plant it outside. It can be grown indoors as well. Since you have a greenhouse, you could keep it there for the winter.

Here is information on lemon balm and daphne. Daphne is hardy in your area, but since it's wintertime, I would leave it in the greenhouse, too, for the winter.

https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/article/lemon-balm-melissa-officinalis/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/lemon-balm/growing-lemon-balm.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/winter-daphne/daphne-plant-types.htm