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: Waxing Half begins on Wednesday, October: Halloween, Friday, October 31
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Sagittarius - Plant onions
- Garlic, Shallots, and red, yellow, white, or brown onion sets are now available for planting at your favorite garden center.
Later in the Week
- Monday -Tuesday; Moon in the sign of Capricorn - Plant seasonal color
- When planting fall bulbs, enhance color coverage by layering different varieties. A great yellow and blue combination is yellow Daffodils paired with blue Wedgewood Iris. Plant the bulbs in a diamond pattern, with Daffodils six inches deep and irises planted shallower at three inches. Then, add blue or yellow Pansies or Violas in between for instant color.
- Orange and purple violas are available for Halloween. They can be planted inside a pumpkin as well as in any other container
Other Things To-do
- Don't be surprised to find Aphids on the new growth of Camellias. They are easy to control with one or two applications of Insecticidal Soap.
- After carving a pumpkin, coat the inside of the cavity with Vaseline to prevent it from collapsing early.
- With the rainy season about to start, protect slopes and hillsides from erosion by planting Erosion Control Seed Mix. These fast-germinating seed varieties will help stabilize the soil.