I've actually had lemon balm in my garden for a couple of years now. It's definitely less aggressive than mint, but don't underestimate it—it still spreads if you let it. I planted mine directly in the ground thinking it'd behave, and now it's popping up in random spots around the patio stones. Not as bad as mint, but still sneaky. On the plus side, it smells amazing when you brush past it, and I've noticed fewer mosquitoes hanging around that area...so maybe there's something to it?
Totally agree about lemon balm being sneaky. I had mine in a raised bed thinking it'd stay put, but nope...found it creeping into the gravel path nearby. Still, can't complain too much—makes evening hangouts way nicer without mosquitoes buzzing around. Plus, fresh lemon balm tea is pretty great.
Lemon balm definitely has a mind of its own, lol. If you really wanna keep it contained, try sinking a large pot right into your raised bed—it's worked wonders for my mint situation. Patio stays neat, and I still get my evening tea fix without chasing plants down the driveway...
I've gotta admit, sinking pots into beds is a clever idea. Wish I'd thought of that before my mint went full jungle mode last year—took me hours to pull out all those runners. Lemon balm hasn't invaded yet, but now you've got me thinking...would this trick work with strawberries too? They're already popping up everywhere except where I planted them, typical garden rebellion I guess, lol.
I've tried the pot trick with strawberries before...mixed results tbh. They stayed put better than mint (seriously, mint is unstoppable), but runners still managed to hop out occasionally. I swear strawberries have a mind of their own—mine always pop up in the cracks between patio stones or halfway across the yard. Typical garden logic, right?
If you really want them contained, maybe try raised beds or hanging baskets instead. Easier to manage and less chasing rogue plants around your yard. Either way, good luck with your strawberry rebellion...you're gonna need it.
