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: 2nd Quarter begins on Monday., May 20
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Leo - Plant seasonal color
- Petunias can be a drought tolerant annual if you start them out on the dry side. I’d wait for them to wilt just a bit before watering. Also, pinch them back after each flush of flowers to keep them compact.
Later in the Week
- Tuesday: Moon in the sign of Virgo: - Plant Vines
- Carolina Jasmine and Lady Banksia Rose are two of the many blooming vines available at your favorite garden center.
- Wednesday/Thursday: Moon in the sign of Libra: - Plant seasonal color and herb
- Ageratum, Lobelia, and Alyssum are a few of the spring and summer flower annuals that can be planted with Parsley, Basil Rosemary, and other herbs
Other Things To-do
- Most hedges are showing a new flush of growth. Before the new growth matures, it's a good time to prune them. To keep a hedge tight and compact, they should be trimmed three times a year.
- May is the month to plant watermelons, cantaloupes, and muskmelons. The key to growing good melons is a lot of sun, at least six hours and a regular amount of water. It’s the water intake that increases the size of the fruit. However, an overabundance of moisture will cause the melons to crack and rot.
- When planting a butterfly garden, include several flat rocks. If possible place the rocks so they face east. In the morning, Butterflies will rest on the rock and spread their wings in the morning hours.
- The wings act like a solar panel picking up heat from the sun as well as the heat that radiates from the rock.
- And finally, remove the faded and brown blooms off your Azalea plants. Azaleas are not self-shedding, so the spent flowers will remain all summer long.