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 Sagittarius - Plant Seasonal Color
- Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, is a key summer highlight. It has flowers with a brown or green, domed center surrounded by bright yellow or orange rays. These plants are drought-tolerant and resistant to deer, attracting pollinators and serving as food for butterfly larvae. Typically, each plant reaches a height of two to four feet and a width of one to two feet. Marigolds and Zinnias are the perfect comp
Later in the Week
- To prevent raccoon visits, apply Beneficial Nematodes or Bonide Annual Grub Beater to turf and common feeding areas now. Waiting until they arrive is not advised, as raccoons can inflict considerable damage beforehand.
Other Things To-do
- Summer squash can come in different shapes, but it's best to harvest them when they are young. As they grow larger and mature, their skin thickens, seeds form, and the flesh becomes less appealing. Even if you can’t use all the squash, be sure to keep picking the vines. Allowing the fruit to mature and go to seed on the vines will reduce the plant’s energy and overall productivity.
- It's not too hot to plant another crop of radishes and beets, especially to replace those that have gone to seed or bolted. A three-foot by one-foot rectangular planter is ideal for root crops. These planters can also be moved out of the direct sunlight during hot days.
- When removing spent roses, cut the flowers close to a leaf bud. Leaving too much of the stem can cause it to die back naturally, resulting in black tips.