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-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Taurus - Fertilize and prune to shape plants.
  • Shaping and sharing plants shouldn't be done with temperatures over 90 degrees. The exposed tissue will burn before the plants adjust from shade to full sun.

Later in the Week

• Tuesday and Wednesday: Moon in the sign of Gemini  — Cultivate, weed,  mulch, and control pests
  • Mulching can protect camellias, Blueberries, and other shade-loving plants and roses. A two—to three-inch layer of mulch will keep the roots cool on even the hottest days.
  • Shredded newspaper is an excellent mulch and a perfect way to extend the coverage of bark and other mulches. A half-inch layer of shredded paper can double the coverage of traditional mulches. In addition, there shouldn't be any concern about the ink..

Other Things To-do

• Lantana is in bloom all summer and fall, available in various colors, and attracts hummingbirds.
• When removing spent rose flowers, be sure to cut them off close to a leaf. If you leave too much stem tissue, the excess stem will die back naturally, leaving black tips.