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, Wednesday, July 13
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Scorpio - Plant seasonal color
- Vinca Rosea is one of the best water-wise seasonal color plant you can add to your garden. The lush green foliage and large impatien-like flowers bloom until the first frost.
Later in the Week
- Tuesday-Thursday: Moon in the sign of Capricorn/Aquarius - Prune, fertilize, harvest, and weed.
- The summer months are crucial for Camellias, so don't ignore them. Irregular watering from July through September will affect the flowering next year. Camellias require regular watering, and they should be mulched.
Other Things To-do
- Cosmos produces large single petal, daisy-like flowers with light green, feathery foliage. They require little water and grow twenty-four inches tall in full sun.
- To keep Poinsettia plants compact, they need to be pruned often. First, I'd trim back the leggy branches at least 50%. Then, the rest of the plant is pruned to keep it shapely. Also, feed them monthly through September with any liquid fertilizer to encourage the new growth and the side shoots.
- If your blackberries or raspberries never matured or were only half ripe, you probably have Berry Mite. Unfortunately, by the time you see the Berry Mite damage, it's to late to do anything about it. This insect is controlled during the winter months with a dormant season spray.