Moon Gardening: How to Plant and Tend Your Garden by Lunar Phases
Moon gardening, also known as lunar gardening, is a gardening practice that dates back to ancient times and involves planting and tending to your garden in accordance with the phases of the moon.
This practice is based on the belief that the moon's gravitational pull affects the moisture in soil and plant growth. By following lunar phases, you can work with natural rhythms and cycles to enhance your garden's health and vitality.
There are four lunar phases in the moon gardening calendar: new moon, waxing moon, full moon, and waning moon. Each phase corresponds to a different stage in the moon's cycle, and each stage is believed to have a unique influence on plant growth and development.
New Moon: This phase is associated with new beginnings, making it the perfect time to plant seeds and bulbs. As the moon waxes, plants take root and grow stronger.
Waxing Moon: This phase is associated with growth and abundance, making it the ideal time to plant, prune, and fertilise. As the moon waxes, plants absorb more nutrients from the soil, making them stronger and more resilient.
Full Moon: This phase is associated with power and energy, making it the ideal time to harvest and transplant. Plants are thought to be more resistant to disease and pests during the full moon.
Waning Moon: This phase is associated with rest and recovery, making it the perfect time to focus on soil health, weeding, and cleaning up your garden. As the moon wanes, plants focus on building roots and storing energy for the next cycle.
To get started with moon gardening, you can begin by following these steps:
Plan your garden based on lunar phases: Use a lunar calendar to plan when to plant, prune, and harvest different types of plants. This will help you work in sync with the moon's cycles and optimise your garden's growth and health. Some more specific examples of this are:
New Moon plants: Root crops such as carrots, beets, and onions.
Waxing Moon plants: Above-ground crops such as peas, beans, and tomatoes.
Full Moon plants: Harvest herbs and flowers that are used for medicinal purposes.
Waning Moon plants: Prune and transplant shrubs and trees.
Some gardeners also believe that planting certain plants on specific lunar phases can improve their growth and health. For example, planting leafy greens during a waxing moon and root crops during a waning moon is believed to produce healthier plants.
2. Choose plants that align with lunar phases: Some plants are thought to do better when planted during specific lunar phases. For example, root vegetables are best planted during the new moon, while leafy greens and herbs thrive during the waxing moon.
3. Use natural and organic gardening methods: Moon gardening emphasises natural and organic gardening practices. Avoid using chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and instead focus on building soil health with compost and organic matter.
4. Create a moon garden: You can create a moon garden by selecting plants that are known for their night-blooming or silvery foliage. This will help you connect with the moon's energy and create a magical and serene garden space. Some examples include:
Night-blooming plants:
Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)
Night-scented stock (Matthiola longipetala)
Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)
Nicotiana sylvestris
Night-blooming jessamine (Cestrum nocturnum)
Plants with silver foliage:
Silver sage (Salvia argentea)
Silver mound (Artemisia schmidtiana)
Dusty miller (Senecio cineraria)
Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina)
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
By incorporating moon gardening practices into your gardening routine, you can enhance your garden's growth and health while connecting with the natural rhythms of the earth and the moon.