Question
Should I deadhead bee balm?  Is it a perennial?  Is there anyway to get shasta
daisies to give a second blooming. They just don't last long enough.  How
about phlox, will they bloom a second time?   I have mounds of cranesbills.  If
I cut them back will they bloom again as dianthus does?  Thanks for all the
help you have been giving me. I know I have asked more than one question
but they are all sort of related.  I haven't done such a good job of planting so
that I have color spring to fall, but it's getting there.  Thanks again.

Answer
Hi Linda,
Thanx for your questions.  I appreciate your comments about what we do here on Allexperts.  You ask all the questions you want.  That's what we're here for!

You can deadhead bee balm if the bloom is spent.  This will help the plant look tidier.  Bee balm (Mondarda) is a perennial.  Shastas are great but they have a short blooming period.  Sometimes they will bloom again sporadically if all the spent blooms are removed.  Sometimes phlox will bloom again if you deadhead it.  If you cut back your crane's bill, yes, it may rebloom a little bit.  I hope this helps.

If you're looking for more fall color be sure to plant chysanthemums, asters and there is a great lily called Formosa lily (lilium formosanum) that is hardy to zone 5 and blooms big, Easter-lily-type, white trumpets in late August and early September.  Stonecrop is a good fall bloomer too. I hope this helps.
Tom