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: New Moon, Sunday, September 21: Fall Equinox, Monday, September 22
- Saturday-Monday: Moon in the sign of Virgo/Libra - Cultivate, weed, mulch, plant seasonal color.
- Make your tulip bulb choice early, as the bulbs need to be refrigerated for four to six weeks before planting. It's not too late to plant in November or December, and over-planting with Pansies, Violas, or other seasonal colors adds instant color.
- Sweet peas planted now could be in bloom for the holidays. Sweet peas have a hard seed coat, so be sure to soak them overnight in water before planting. Although you find Sweet Pea plants, the seeds offer a more extensive and broader selection, especially if you are looking for particular colors.
Later in the Week
- Wednesday- Thursday: Moon in the sign of Scorpio - Best planting days of the month.
- To prevent a neighbor dispute, avoid planting trees along the fence line. Also, consider the future size of the tree in five to ten years and ensure there will be enough space.
Other Things To-do
- Vegetable transplants for fall and winter are now available at your favorite garden center. In addition to cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, you'll find various kinds of lettuces, spinach, and both green and red chard.
- Now is the perfect time to trim or remove all the brown leaves on Bearded Iris. It's also a great time to plant new varieties since they've just arrived at your favorite garden center.