Moon Gardening for Success

How does moon gardening work?

Just as the gravitational forces of the moon pull the tides of the ocean, it also pulls upon the more subtle bodies of water, causing the moisture in the soil to rise and fall. As the moon travels through the zodiac it spends about 2 ½ days in every sign. Each sign relates to one of the four elements as does each part of the plant. The root system relates to earth, leaves relate to water, flowers relate to air and fruits relate to fire.

The Moon Phases

New Moon Gardening

The moon and the sun are conjunct at this time and the earth begins to exhale. This is considered to be a resting period in the garden Sick trees can recover when cut back on these days.

14 days of waxing moon

First quarter moon

The lunar gravity pulls the water up and causes the seed to swell and burst. Planting and sowing at this time helps to promote balanced root and leaf growth.

Second quarter moon

As the moon gets bigger, the intensity of the moonlight encourages strong leaf growth and fruit production. This is a good time for planting. Mowing lawns now will encourage strong and healthy growth (especially important for farmers growing feed and mulch).

Full Moon Gardening

The sun and moon are opposite each other. The full moon marks the change of the moons impulse from waxing to waning and generates a strong energy. Herbs collected on this day retain more of this energy, enhancing their potency. Trees cut back at this time might die.

14 days of waning moon

The earth is inhaling, receiving information.

Third quarter moon

As the moon wanes the gravitational forces pull moisture down into the earth. Irrigation and fertilising is now most effective in a water or earth sign. This week promotes healthy and active root growth.

Fourth quarter Moon

The gravitational forces and the moonlight are decreasing. This is a good time for cultivating and harvesting. It also is favourable for pruning and cutting back trees if you want to retard growth. You can apply this to lawns as well.
On your Moon Phase Chart look at what astrological sign the Moon is in on a particular day. For appropriate gardening this is what the different signs relate to:

Aries

As a fire sign it relates to the fruit of the plant. It is a favourable time to look after and care for fruiting plants, especially fast growing ones. A good time for weed and pest management (organic, non-toxic!) Graft fruit trees when the moon is waxing.

Taurus

As an earth sign it relates to the root of the plant. It is a favourable time to look after and care for your root vegetables. Leaf vegetables do well too, because Taurus is a fertile sign. A good time to water and fertilise.

Gemini

As an air sign it relates to the flowers of the plant and also to creepers. A good time for harvesting. Melons planted in Gemini moon in spring grow best!

Cancer

As a water sign it relates to the leaves of the plant It is a very fertile sign “ the best time for planting, (especially leaf vegies) transplanting grafting, watering and fertilising. Mow your lawn now if you want strong regrowth.

Leo

As a fire sign it relates to the fruit of the plant. It is a favourable time to look after and care for fruiting trees as well as planting and harvesting fruiting vegetables.

Virgo

Is an earth sign, favourable for rot vegies and general garden maintenance like fertilising (organic!), mulching and starting a compost.

Libra

An air sign, the best time for planting beautiful and fragrant flowers and vines.

Scorpio

A water sign, very fertile “ a great time for planting and transplanting any seedlings, especially leaf vegetables. Good days to water and fertilise.

Sagittarius

A fire sign, good for harvesting and storing fruit crops and for planting onions. Not a favourable time for weeding plants that spread via the root system – strong regrowth is encouraged.

Capricorn

An earth sign, great for planting root crops and transplanting any seedlings “ encourages strong and healthy growth. Also good for grafting and pruning to promote healing, for applying organic fertiliser and for starting a compost.

Aquarius

An air sign, not very productive in the garden. A good time for weed and pest management.Mow your lawn if you want to retard growth.

Pisces

A water sign, very fertile “ great for planting leaf vegetables and transplanting any seedlings. Best time for irrigation and fertilising. Mow your lawn if you want to strengthen regrowth.

During the waxing moon phase the earth is exhaling, the lunar gravity pulls the water up and causes seeds to swell and burst. Planting and sowing at this time helps to promote a balanced root and leaf growth. As the moon gets bigger the intensity of the reflected light encourages strong leaf growth and fruit production.

The full moon marks the change of the moon’s impulse from waxing to waning and generates a strong energy. Herbs collected at this time retain more of this energy, enhancing their potency.

When the moon wanes the gravitational forces pull moisture down into the earth, the earth is inhaling. Irrigating and fertilising are especially effective when the moon is travelling through a water or earth sign. This is also a good time to cultivate your soil and to harvest.
The new moon again marks the change of impulse, this time from waning to waxing. The earth is in a resting mood. Cut sick trees back now to help them recover quickly.

Moon gardening is easy to apply to all gardening activities. For example when is the best time to mow the lawn? It depends on your incentive:
If you want to encourage strong and healthy regrowth mow in the waxing moon phase.
If you want to retard the growth of your lawn, because you don’t want to mow so often then mow in the waning moon phase, especially when the moon is in the sign of Aquarius.

As the moon travels through the zodiac it spends about 2.5 days in every sign. Every sign relates to one of the elements. Each part of a plant also relates to one of these elements. The roots relate to earth, leaves to water, flowers to air and fruits to fire. It is easy to see now why it would be an excellent day for transplanting your lettuce when the moon is waxing in a water sign.

Moon Gardening with regard to harvesting seed is important. It is better to collect in the waning phase of the moon on a fine sunny fire or air sign day as collecting on a water sign day could result in mouldy seeds.

Let the insights of the moon planting phases turn into a magnifying glass, that bundles your intentions together and enlarges your outcome effortlessly.