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: The Waxing Half begins on Wednesday, July 2: Friday, July 4, Independence Day
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Leo/Virgo - Control pests, plant flowering vines.
- Mandevillea is a summer-flowering vine that thrives in containers on a deck, patio, or balcony. Its large blossoms give any space a tropical appearance.
- Trumpet vines need a sunny spot with six hours of direct sunlight from March to October; however, they favor shade in the late afternoon during extremely hot days.
Later in the Week
- This is an ideal time to pinch back leggy annuals, such as petunias and impatiens. I recommend removing 50% of the new growth, as this will encourage the development of side shoots, making the plants more compact.
Other Things To-do
- The Yellow Jacket season has begun. Rinse out Yellow Jacket traps from previous years with warm water and equip them with fresh attractant. Set them out around the eating area two to three hours before serving food and beverages.
- It is not too late to start growing string beans from seed. Late-planted beans are less susceptible to weather fluctuations than early-season plantings. Once the seedlings emerge, be sure to bait for snails, slugs, and earwigs with Sluggo Plus.