Using bee balm plants to repel soil pests in your vegetable garden Here is a great gardening tip for those of you who want to give growing your own vegetables a try.Bee Balm is a native American plant that belongs in the mint family, but isn't a true mint. It is grown either from seeds or clumps of plants and is a very useful companion plant for your garden. Why? 1. Bee balm attracts helpful pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds and butterflies that are beneficial for pollinating your garden plants 2. The essential oils in bee balm repel soil pests that can be harmful to your gardens Using bee balm as a border around your garden makes sense due to the double effect it has on pests and attracting helpful pollinators. Tomatoes do very well buddying up with bee balm. This plant grows best in acidic, moist soil and prefers full sun, even though it can grow well in partial shade. Bee balm grows to a height of 2 to 4 feet, although if the growing conditions are excellent, they can grow to 6 feet. Bee balm has other interesting uses as well. The leaves can be crushed and rubbed on bee stings. They can be used as an antiseptic mouthwash for abscesses and gum disease, and even used as a seasoning for cooking wild game. American Indians used the bee balm extensively as a medicinal plant and even modern mouthwash contains Thymol, which comes from the essential oils of the bee balm! Expert Page: Freelance native English writing services, proofreading and editing | 
