Moon Phase Gardening

Gardening by Moon Phases is one of the oldest activities of humankind, and it is still one of the most rewarding and least complicated. But even though this universal pastime is pleasant and simple once you know what you're doing, a helping hand or bit of advice at the start can save disappointment.

If you've never turned a spadeful of earth (or even if you've gardened for years by rule of thumb), it is important for you to understand the soil underfoot: what it's composed of, how to improve it, how to water it and add nutrients for good plant growth.

Once you've dealt, literally, with the groundwork, you can delve into special techniques such as sowing seeds, growing cuttings, and soil amendments. You can learn how to be a wise nursery shopper, and how to get your plant off to a good start after you bring it home.

Learn such specialties as outdoor gardening in containers, indoor plants, vegetable gardening, flowering plants, and basic trees and shrubs. Purchase a special gardening glossary which interprets some of the special gardening jargon that old hands like to toss around in conversation.

Learn your garden fundamentals. You'll find it comes in handy from the day you choose your first spade to the time later on when you may decide to try your hand at something more challenging.

How to Cultivate Your Green Thumb

Approach gardening as an exhilarating adventure! You are going to create beauty with living plants that grow and change from day to day, and month to month, as you watch and aid. This is exciting, fascinating and satisfying.

There are no hard and fast rules to make things difficult, just some general, helpful ones. Let the following be your guide to optimizing your moon phase gardening. Study basic gardening techniques, plants you should know and understand the basic how and why of growing them.

Tips for Beginners

The following conclusions and advice are based on the observations of many gardeners who like you were once novices in the garden.

Don't get into emotional knots about gardening. Enjoy it!

Don't be too ambitious the first year or so, while you develop your skill. Take on just a little at a time.

Beware of impulse buying. Make a plan, and know why you need a plant and where you're going to put it before you start shopping.

Get the basic plants in first, working on a long-term plan. The first to go in should be your major shade trees.

Remember that plants develop rapidly. Shrubs and trees will grow large sooner than you think.

Don't plant bulbs and other flowers in a long single-file row. They'll look better in groups.

Keep a notebook of suggestions to yourself about what you want to plant where, dates to do things, and dates you have done them.

You must thin annuals. Otherwise they will stretch up and become lanky.

Get ideas by visiting other gardens. Drive about to see what is in bloom each week.

Learn identification of plants by sending for illustrated seed and nursery catalogues.