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: New Moon, Monday April 8
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Pisces - Water and fertilize
- April is the month to switch from winter fertilizer on all shade-loving plants and Blueberries to Azalea, Camellia, and Rhododendron Food. Also, apply Citrus Food to lemons, oranges, limes, etc.
- Plants in containers should be watered frequently during afternoon temperatures above 75 degrees. Roses, Japanese Maples, Citrus and others will suffer from water stress if they're allowed to go dry between waterings.
Later in the Week
- Tuesday and Wednesday: Moon in the sign of Taurus - Plant root crops
-
- The Dahlias, Begonias, and Glads from previous years can be planted now. I wash off all the old soil and add a tablespoon of Bulb Food under each one.
- Thursday and Friday: Moon in the sign of Gemini - Plant beans and start melon seeds
-
- Sow your melon seeds directly into 4" peat pots filled with potting soil. They planted the pots and the whole thing into the open ground in late May.
Other Things To-do
- Beneficial Nematodes are applied to the soil around apple and pear trees to prevent wormy apples and pears this summer. The worm is the larva stage of the Coddling Moth that overwinters in the soil. In May, Coddling Moth traps are hung in the trees to monitor the activity of those that fly in.