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: Waning Half begins on Sunday, September 13
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Gemini - Harvest, cultivate, weed, and mulch
- Refresh your mulch, especially around Camellias, as next year's flower buds are starting to form. We still have six to eight weeks of warm weather before the summer heat ends.
- When harvesting herbs like Thyme, Oregano, and Rosemary, pick more than you need. Gather them all in a vase or pitcher so you can trim what's necessary for cooking or garnishing, and in the meantime, enjoy their fragrance.
Later in the Week
- Monday -Tuesday: Moon in the sign of Cancer - Compost, fertilize, and water
- Prune and feed your roses for their last flowering cycle of the year. Pruned now, the bushes should produce cut flowers for the holidays
- Wednesday - Thursday: Moon in the sign of Leo - Cut back cane berries.
- All Raspberry and Blackberry bushes that have been harvested need to be cut back to the ground. These fruiting canes will not produce fruit again. You should then select any new canes at the base of each plant and tie them to your trellises.
Other Things To-do
- Now is the time to remove all spent Lily of the Nile blossoms. The stalks should be cut back at the ground.
- September is a perfect time to plant new perennials, whether from seed or transplant, as they will blossom the following spring. Seedlings planted in spring will require a full year before they bloom.
- Remember to bait for snails and slugs, as they are just as problematic in the fall as in the spring. Be generous with your snail bait when planting seasonal color and edibles.