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.
- Saturday-Monday: Moon in the sign of Sagittarius - Plant peppers (especially hot peppers). In addition, plant trees, tubers, and transplant
- Hot or Chili peppers require warm days and nights to produce. Those planted early tend to underperform in cool, wet springs. So, planting later is advisable.
- The window for transplanting is closing soon. Take advantage of the mild temperatures before the really warm weather arrives. Later In the Week
Later in the Week
- Thursday-Friday; Moon in the sign of Capricorn - Plant root crops, prune, and transplant
- Spring-flowering trees and shrubs, such as lilacs, snowball, cherries, redbuds, plums, and pears, are pruned after they finish flowering. You remove the crossing branches, open up the center, and cut back the outer branches.
- Evergreens such as Camellias, Loropetalums, and Azaleas are also pruned now to keep their shape
Other Things To-do
- Tomato plants should be staked or caged early in the growing cycle. While tomato cages are widely used, I’d also thin out the side shoots to reduce plant density throughout the growing season.
- With warm weather, it is time to reestablish the watering basins around trees and shrubs, especially those on a slope. I would build the basin higher on the downhill side to prevent the water from rolling away.
- You prevent Ants from climbing into plants by applying a two-inch-wide band of Pest Barrier/Tanglefoot to the trunk, two feet off the ground. If the ants return, they will be trapped in the sticky, gum-like resin, preventing their forward movement.