Gardening by the Moon Weekend To-Do
An idea as old as agriculture, based both folklore and superstition but there are scientific ideas to back it up.
- Lunar Phase: Full Moon Saturday, February 27: 4th Quarter begins on Friday, March 5
- Saturday-Monday: Moon in the sign of Virgo - Plant for root growth, seasonal color -
- Lobelia, Petunias, Marigolds, and Alyssum are a few of the many summer flower annuals now available for planting. Planted now, they should be absolutely beautiful for Easter which is April 4.
Later in the Week
- Tuesday-Friday: Moon in the sign of Scorpio/Sagittarius - Plant potatoes, fruit trees, prune, transplant perennials and tomatoes ( not in the open ground),
- Flowering trees like plums and pears are pruned after they finish flowering for the year. You need to remove the dead wood, rubbing and crossing branches along with thinning out the inside of the canopy.
Other Things To-do
- The seasonal color planted in the fall should be groomed at this time. I'd remove any and all of the yellow or brown leaves and pinch back any of the leggy plants or shoots. Next, fertilize with organic all-purpose plant food to provide nutrients for the next flush of flowers. The attention you give these plants now will extend the blooming season well into June.
- And finally, here is an easy way to check if seed left from previous years is still viable. You pour the seed into a glass, jar or whatever of water. The seed that sinks to the bottom should be saved and planted. You dry the seed out by spreading it over a paper towel and covering it with a second sheet.