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: 4th Quarter begins Thursday, February 4
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Virgo- Harvest and cultivate
- The little weeds grow quickly now, so stay on top of them. Cultivating takes very little time when they are small. You might have to let the soil dry out a bit from the recent rains.
Later in the Week
- Monday-Thursday: Moon in the sign of Libra/Scorpio - Plant for root growth, especially potatoes, divide and transplant perennials, and prune.
- After pruning rose bushes, be sure to loosen the metal nametag. All too often, gardeners overlook this point. If left untouched, the nametag wire will girdle the expanding rose cane causing it to die.
Other Things To-do
- Blueberries are available now and make an excellent companion plant to Azaleas, Camellias, Hosta, and others in shady areas. 6 to 12 Blueberry plants should yield 3 to 6 quarts of berries per year.
- This is an excellent weekend to visit your favorite garden center and browse the seed rack. January is a perfect month to sow vegetable and flower seeds into flats for planting later in the spring.
- After pruning rose bushes, be sure to loosen the metal nametag. All to often, gardeners overlook this point. If left untouched, the nametag wire will girdle the expanding rose cane causing it to die.
- Wine and table grape vines provide excellent cover for arbors and other structures and are now available. Besides, grapevines are fabulous for fall color.