Sunday to Wednesday 14-17 August
Waning Pisces Moon. Sun in Leo
PROPAGATION : Sow and plant for abundance of blooms and strong root growth. Sow and plant vegetable and herb seeds and seedlings. Lift and divide herbaceous plants. Sow and plant climbing annuals. Divide and replant crowded perennials, herbs and chives. Plant roses, summer flowering bulbs and gladioli. Repot container plants. Plant drought-tolerant lawn grass. Propagate ornamental grasses.
PLANT CARE : Water. Fertilise. Mulch and compost. Consolidate garden plans for the next month. Feed blooms and foliage. Tend roses. Feed and mulch climbers, shrubs, fruit trees, flower beds, summer-flowering annuals and seedlings, and flowering bulbs. Save seeds from annuals. Harvest flowers. Tend last of winter vegetables. Cut back or lift and divide crowded herbs.
Wednesday to Friday 17-19 August
Waning Aries Moon. Sun in Leo
PLANT CARE : Prune and cut back. Remove faded flowers. Spray roses. Control scale, leaf curl, mealy bugs, aphid, cabbage white butterfly, slugs and snails, psylla. Trim lower branches of evergreens to let light to the plants below. Sweep up leaves. Pull up stumps of old vegetables. Harvest root and fruit crops.
MAINTENANCE : Dig. Hoe. Weed. Control weeds and pests. Cultivate the soil. Aerate lawns, and rake to remove old grass. Mow. Top dress lawn. Protect and encourage wasps. Clean out ponds and water features. Prepare beds for sowing annuals and summer vegetables.
Friday to Monday 19-22 August
Third Quarter Moon in Taurus on Sunday. Sun in Leo
PROPAGATION : Plant roses. Sow and plant for robustness. Sow and plant leafy vegetables, summer-flowering annuals and bulbs, and herbs. Thin and transplant seedlings. Lift, divide and replant crowded perennials and herbs. Plant and pot flower corms for December blooms. Plant potatoes and beans. Plant and transplant evergreen trees. Plant clivia. Sow and plant species that crop underground.
PLANT CARE : Water. Weed. Mulch. Feed. Tend lawns. Keep soil moist to support flowers. Feed bulbs, vines and fruit trees. Feed, spray and control growth of roses. Protect shoots of deciduous perennials from snails. Repot water feature plants. Begin to thin deciduous fruit-bearing trees. Pinch out new leaves to encourage bushy growth.
SUNDAY’S QUARTER MOON : No gardening today. Enjoy the beauty of autumn sunshine, and the beauty of you.
Monday to Wednesday 22-24 August
Waning Gemini Moon. Sun in Virgo on Tuesday.
PLANT CARE : Pinch back growing tips of perennials. Remove faded flowers. Prune when flowering is finished. Cut back ivy. Lift spring bulbs when leaves turn yellow. Harvest vegetables, flowers; herbs; cherries; peaches and strawberries.
MAINTENANCE : Cultivate soil. Mow. Mulch. Fertilise lawns. Cut lawns slightly longer and repair bare patches. Pull out weeds before they seed. Turn compost. Tidy rock gardens. Watch out for and control lawn fungus and crickets, whitefly, cutworm, red spider mite, mealy bugs, fruit beetles, thrips, looper caterpillars, snails and slugs, mildew, rust, and codling moth.