Moon Gardening by Priscilla Woolworth

Please check out my blog about Gardening according to the phases of the Moon, where I explain it in more detail:

August "GRAIN MOON" PHASE SCHEDULE:

August 1st to 12th: Waxing Moon

August 13th: Full Moon

August 14th till August 27th: Waning Moon

August 28th: New Moon

Garden Chores to be done during the month of August are:

The month of August is a great time to plant bearded Irises; they are very tough and drought resistant. Bearded irises provide several bloom cycles a year; chose from 'Feedback', 'Frequent Flyer', or 'Summer Olympics' and plant the rhizomes in late august.

Start germinating broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard, kale and mustard greens. Transplant seedlings into the garden when they're about 4" tall.

If you live in a fire-pron area, remove all dead limbs, cut tall grasses, cut weeds down to a stubble, clean leaves from gutters, clean leaves from trees and shrubs, especially near your home.

According to the Moon calendar, August is the best month to cut trees down.

Feed your cymbidiums.

Check plants for chlorosis and treat with iron chelate.

Harvest continuously for more production.

Pick herbs and lavender mid-morning for drying, cut off spent blossoms to encourage more blooming.

Mulch to suppress weeds and conserve water.

Prepare beds for fall crops by adding organic matter.

Continue to pinch side shoots of tomatoes and give them support.

Prune hydrangeas flowers that have faded to brown or green, cutting back each stalk that has bloomed, leaving only 2 buds for flowers next year.

Plant bee balm, calendula, carnation, coreopsis, cornflower, candytuft, clarkia, columbine, chrysanthemum, delphinium, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, hollyhock, larkspur, lobelia, lupine, lavender, nigella, nicotiana, petunia, penstemon, poppy, rudbeckia, salvia, scabiosa, statice, stock, snapdragon, sweet pea, sweet alyssum, verbena, yarrow.

In your vegetable garden: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, kale, lettuce, spinach, leeks, mustard greens, bunching onions, peas, chard, celery, turnips, carrots, beets, parsnip, radish, bush beans, chives, parsley, cilantro, dill, cauliflower.

Following is a Moon Gardening calendar for August and which days are best for specific chores:

August 1st till August 12th: the Moon is in the Waxing phase, when the lunar gravitational pull brings the water up, which makes it a good time of the month to encourage plant growth and proliferation. Plant seeds, transplant, re-pot, trim and prune for growth. Also, fruits and vegetables that are tender and should be eaten immediately are at their best when gathered at the Waxing Moon, because the water content is higher, salads are crunchier, and fruits are juicier.

Recommended days for these garden chores:

August 1st: Plant flowering vines

August 3rd and 4th: Plant above ground annuals, especially flowers and herbs

August 5th and 6th: Plant above ground annuals

August 14th: Plant for root growth

August 13th, the day of the Full Moon and also 2 days after is the best time to prune, plant seeds (they germinate faster when planted at the full moon because they absorbe more water) and also fertilize plants as close to the Full Moon as possible. Cut bamboo and sow a lawn or put down sod.

The day of the Full Moon is when water is at the highest level in the month and is a really good time for planting and gathering any herbs to be used for their essential oils because oil content is more concentrated at this time.

From August 14th till August 27th, the Moon is Waning, and the energy of the earth is drawn down but the gravitational pull is high, creating more moisture in the soil and this energy goes into the roots making it a good time of the month to sow crops that produce their yield below ground and control plant growth by pruning, weeding, and controling garden pests, as well as dividing perennials. This is the best time for garden maintenance because the growth cycle of plants decreases.  Fruit trees do best planted at this time of the month because the position of the moon encourages development of root growth and tree bark, essential to their success. This is also the best time to cut wood, because it resists parasites and cures better. Farmers pick their apples, cabbages, potatoes and onions at the Waning Moon, when water content is lowest and so the harvest stores better and keeps longer. Best time to dry herbs, flowers and fruit and the herbs are at their most potent.

Recommended days for these garden chores:

August 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests

August 19th and 20th: Plant for root growth, and divide perennials

August 21st: Divide perennials

August 22nd and 23rd: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests

August 24th: Prune, water, compost and fertilize

August 26th and 27th: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests

August 28th: New Moon

August 28th and 29th: Plant flowering vines

August 30th and 31st: Plant above ground annuals, especially perennial flowers and herbs

Mow your lawn to slow growth.  First time Composters, start your composter during this period because the Waning Moon phase helps aid in the decompostions of plant matter.

Get ready for September 2011 Gardening according to the phases of the Moon! Subscribe to my Almanac and get your monthly update from me.

Take care

Priscilla Woolworth