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:

September "HARVEST" MOON PHASE SCHEDULE:

September 1st to 11th: Waxing Moon

September 12th: Full Moon

September 13th to 26th: Waning Moon

September 27th: New Moon

September 28th till October 10th: Waxing Moon

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

Continue harvesting your fruits and vegetables

Fertilize established trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and warm season grasses

Feed roses one last time for a strong late bloom

Fertilize cymbidiums with a high phosphorus formula 15-30-15

Keep soil cool and protect plants during this hot month by spreading organic mulch up to 4" thick on the beds, making sure to keep mulch away from tree trunks and emerging plants

Prune off or deadhead spent blooms and cane berries

Divide crowded perennials after bloom

Water trees and citrus deeply

Buy farmstand bulbs and plant garlic cloves 6 " apart, pointed ends up & tops 1"deep

Force summer crops by pinching off new blossoms and growing tips on eggplant, melons, squash, and tomatoes

If your soil needs improving, one easy way to do this is by planting a cover crop of crimson clover. It's low, tidy, and easy to till under in early spring

Turn your compost pile and keep it damp.

Plant bulbs, spring wildflowers, bee balm, calendula, candytuft, clarkia, cornflower, columbine, coreopsis, dianthus, dusty miller, lobelia, lupine, nicotiana, petunia, foxglove, larkspur, nigella, painted daisy, pansy, poppy, snapdragon, sweet pea, sweet alyssum, salvia, scabiosa, stock, verbena, chrysanthemum, delphinium, hollyhock, lavender, penstemon, pincushion flower, rudbeckia, statice, and yarrow.

In your vegetable garden plant: lettuce, peas, spinach, chard, turnips, carrots, beets, parsnip, potatoes, radish, bush beans, chives, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chervil, dill, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, caulifower, collards, kale, celery, onions and garlic.

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

September 1st till the 11th: 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:

September 1st till the 3rd: Plant above ground annual flowers and herbs

September 5th: Labor Day-Take a break from the gardenJ

September 11th and 12th: Plant above ground annuals

September 12th, 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 September 13th till the 26th, 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:

September 13th and 14th: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests

September 16th and 17th: Plant for root growth, and divide perennials.

September 18th and 19th: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests

September 20th, 21rst and 22nd: Prune, water, compost, and fertilize

September 23rd and 24th: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests.

September 23rd: Autumn Equinox-The first day of fall

September 25th: Harvest fruit and vegetables

September 27th: New Moon

September 27th and 28th: Plant above ground annuals, especially flowers and herbs

September 29th and 30th: Plant above ground annuals for hardiness

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

I hope this calendar is helpful to you J.

Take care

Priscilla Woolworth