garden by the moon

The moon moves through a complete cycle every 29 days. For moon gardening purposes, this cycle is divided into four quarters or phases. The term phase refers to the moon's apparent shape as viewed from earth during the month. To plant by the moon phases you will need an almanac or calendar,  that lists the exact time and date of the moon phases.

The lunar month starts with the new moon, also called "the dark of the moon. From the new moon to the first quarter and from the first quarter to the full moon, the moon appears to grow from nothing to a crescent and then to a full circle at mid-month. These are the increasing or waxing phases. 

Increasing Light ~ New moon to full moon
Examples of garden chores to do by the light of the moon:
(NOTE: These are general guidelines.)

• Re-pot and groom houseplants
• Sow seeds of plants that grow above ground 
• Fertilize
• Graft fruit trees
• Plant evergreen and deciduous trees

The decreasing or waning phases are when the moon "shrinks" from the full moon down to the new moon (darkness). As the moon wanes during the 3rd and 4th quarters, this is a good time to prune plants, as the water table is diminishing and so less sap will flow out of the cut ends. The plants are said to orient themselves toward their roots, making this a favorable time for planting, transplanting and harvesting root crops in general. The 4th quarter is the most dormant period and is good for chores like weeding.  

Decreasing Light ~ Full moon to dark of the moon
Examples of garden chores to do by the dark of the moon:
(NOTE: These are general guidelines.)

• Plant bulbs
• Plant crops that grow below the ground, such as potatoes, carrots
• Cultivate weeds
• Plant biennials and perennials because they need strong roots
• Eliminate slugs
• Prune shrubs

How is sowing, transplanting and harvesting linked to phases of the moon? One theory is that during the light (waxing) of the Moon, sap is thought to flow more strongly, filling plants with vitality and energy, favoring the planting and harvesting of crops that mature above ground.