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: Sunday, March 20. Spring Equinox: Thursday, March 24, 4th Quarter begins
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Libra/Scorpio - Plant for root growth, transplant perennials, prune.
- Fuchsias are pruned now to keep the plant compact and bushy. It's very common to remove 50% to 60% of last year's growth. They are then fertilized with an organic liquid fertilizer, and old-time gardeners would use Fish Emulsion monthly through July.
Later in the Week
- Tuesday-Thursday: Moon in the sign of Sagittarius - Plant potatoes, fruit trees, prune
- Now that the danger of frost has passed, it's okay to prune the frost damage plants. Scratching the bark of twigs and stems with a fingernail is an excellent way to distinguish between damaged and undamaged tissue. If the area right under the bark is green, the tissue is okay
- Potatoes are one of the easiest edible crops to grow. Seed potatoes are preferred over store potatoes as they aren't treated to retard the growth. You harvest potatoes plant now in June.
Other Things To-do
- The best way to clean herbicide residue from a hose-end or tank sprayer is with Baking Soda. The Baking Soda will neutralize the herbicide residue preventing tissue damage when spraying diseases and pests.
- Dahlias tubers are planted in the open ground or in containers. The tubers are now available at your favorite garden center.
- The mild temperatures are an excellent time to control Mistletoe in deciduous shade trees with Florel Fruit Eliminator. It's reapplied every two-three years. Mistletoe is a parasite plant that birds spread.