War with the lemon balm
While we were renovating, I began to plant herbs in the back garden so they would grow and establish themselves before we moved in. The plan was that when we did, they would be bigger, and established. We didn't pay much attention to them, just let them grow.
It worked, somewhat.
I did take the precaution of not planting mint until we moved in, because if you don't watch it, mint will take over. I did plant two lemon balms two years ago.
But I know less of lemon balm than of mint. Little did I realize that lemon balm is a relatively close relative of mint. In fact, it's just as invasive. This spring, we realized we had about a 5 by 12 garden of lemon balm, with a few spaces where other herbs held out valiantly.
K made the first foray earlier this year, so we had space for tomatoes.
Today, I cleared another two square feet. Itsy bitsy invasive plant by plant. I know that even the parts that look clear aren't. I didn't get the full root system. But boy, am I free of stress. Maybe it was the effort, maybe it was the fragance released as I worked. Don't know.
It's amazing what battling a small plant can do.
It worked, somewhat.
I did take the precaution of not planting mint until we moved in, because if you don't watch it, mint will take over. I did plant two lemon balms two years ago.
But I know less of lemon balm than of mint. Little did I realize that lemon balm is a relatively close relative of mint. In fact, it's just as invasive. This spring, we realized we had about a 5 by 12 garden of lemon balm, with a few spaces where other herbs held out valiantly.
K made the first foray earlier this year, so we had space for tomatoes.
Today, I cleared another two square feet. Itsy bitsy invasive plant by plant. I know that even the parts that look clear aren't. I didn't get the full root system. But boy, am I free of stress. Maybe it was the effort, maybe it was the fragance released as I worked. Don't know.
It's amazing what battling a small plant can do.