Lunar Gardening

Japanese maples, beautiful blooming roses, and large amounts of tropicals & annuals are here!

As the air and soil temps rise, you will notice all forms of life waking up in your garden. Pollinators are not limited to just bees: beetles, ants, flies, mosquitos, and even bats pollinate flowers. Let this serve as a gentle reminder to avoid application of insecticides while flowers are blooming to preserve all of our pollinators. Remember — no pollinators, no harvest!  We’ve received scant little rain, so please remember to protect your investments with plenty of water. If you need soaker hoses, sprinklers, timers, or drip bags, we have you covered. 

Are you familiar with lunar gardening? Since time immemorial, humans have used the Moon to track the passage of time through the seasons. We’re all familiar with the Moon’s effect on tides, but were you aware you can use that to your advantage in the garden? Practitioners of lunar gardening ascribe that the waxing and waning periods of the Moon correlate with rising and lowering barometric pressure.

The time between the Full Moon and New Moon, also called the Waning Moon, is recommended for planting root vegetables, perennials, and bulbs. As the water is drawn down, this time is perfect for transplanting seedlings and new plantings. The time between the New Moon and Full Moon, the Waxing Moon, is an advantageous time to plant above ground crops, leafy greens, and flowering annuals. My favorite reference document this year has been the UT Ag Extension Gardener’s Calendar. You will find moon phases as well as helpful information and seasonal task reminders.

If you are craving a creative endeavor, I suggest trying your hand at a phenology wheel! Marley Peifer gives a great tutorial on how to get started. Phenology is the study of the cyclical nature phenomena, and is well worth a deep dive!

That’s it for this week, friends. You can catch the Gardening Inside Out crew every Saturday morning at 8 am. Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes hilarity and information on the Know Down. Queue up the podcast when you’re pulling weeds or running errands. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Happy Gardening,

Sara Bates