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 on Sunday, July 9
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Aris - Weed and control pests
- If your blackberries or raspberries never matured or were only half ripe, you have Berry Mite. When you see the Berry Mite damage, it's too late to do anything about it. This insect is controlled during the winter with a dormant season spray of Copper Fungicide.
Later in the Week
- Tuesday and Wednesday: Moon in the sign of Taurus - Fertilize and prune
- Hedges are pruned often during the growing season to keep them compact and prevent bare spots from developing. Star Jasmine, Photinia, Privets, boxwood, and more could be due for a haircut.
- July is the month to switch fertilizer on Fuchsias and Tuberous Begonias to 0-10-10. This fertilizer is for bigger and better blooms.
Other Things To-do
- Keep Camellias mulched and moist during hot, dry weather. A one to two-inch layer of mulch will insulate the roots. This is a very crucial time as the plants are setting the next season's flower buds. Irregular watering from July through September will produce few or no flowers next year.
- 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. I'd trim back the leggy branches at least 50%. The rest of the plant is pruned to keep it ...