Gardening by
the Moon Cycles
Southern
Hemisphere
January 2012
Gardening Jobs in January
With the summer months usually generating much heat and strong winds, caring for your garden in the most practical manner is very important. Spreading garden mulch and mixed compost around your plants and trees on the appropriate coloured days will certainly assist you with combating weed growth and keep your garden moist during this usually dry season. When cutting lawns, lift the mower height and cut higher to enable your lawns to still retain moisture and not burn out. When fertilising on the appropriate days, fill your watering can with a mixture of liquid fertiliser-conditioner and water then apply to your plants. Avoid spreading heavy nitrogen partials on lawns and plants unless there is a good rainfall-taking place, otherwise plants and shrubs will burn or die with the shock. This month will have you working vigorously in your garden, so make a weekly plan of what you intend to do and follow the moon cycles to have the best garden in the street.
Adequate watering is essential whilst abiding your local water restrictions. Deep watering and early in the morning is more beneficial but don’t waste precious water. A light organic feeding of all plants and shrubs is recommended on the appropriate days with an all-purpose garden fertiliser, whilst watering on appropriate days. Mulching your garden is an excellent way to retain moisture, make good use of compost, leaves, straw, seaweed, aged sawdust, lawn clippings or shredded newspaper mixed. Regular cultivation of soil around your plants is helpful to retaining moister. Don’t forget to cover hydrangea blooms to prevent burning, tip prune fuchsias to promote growth for late summer. Give roses a light prune and watch your roses bloom in autumn. Mow lawns higher to prevent root burning and drying out. Divide iris or other types of plants that require thinning. Dig up early potatoes, garlic and shallots, cut and pull other vegetables as they mature. Remove laterals from staked tomatoes and tie plants higher up the stakes. Hill potatoes and lift sweet potatoes to prevent rooting. Watch for caterpillars on cabbage, tomatoes and sweet corn. Spray aphids and white fly on roses, beans, cucumbers, marrow, peppers, pumpkins and tomatoes. Prune dead twigs and damaged branches on fruit trees.
Planting Flowers and Shrubs
(depending on your climate)    
Polyanthus primrose, gladiolus corms and dahlia bulbs, give a light feed with liquid seaweed when planting. Balsam, zinnia, petunia, celosia, cockscomb, aster, hochia, marigold, bed down begonias and dahlias. This is also a good time to plant hollyhock, pansy, viola, polyanthus, stock, Iceland poppy, wallflower, snapdragon and foxglove for late winter, early spring flowers. Cutting should also be taken now, strike them on the appropriate Moon days in a mixture of moist sand and peatmoss.
Planting Trees  
All Australian and New Zealand natives can now be planted, also Conifers, magnolia, pines, maple, elm and palms. Transplanting can also be done on the same days as below ground crops, to help root growth if you miss the transplanting days.
Planting seeds and all above ground vegetables and shrubs  
Best days: 3rd, 4th 5th, 8th, 26th 27th. Brussel sprouts, broad beans, runner beans, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, celery, silverbeet, spinach, Chinese cabbage, peas, herbs, endive, asparagus crowns, artichoke, capsicum, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, marrow, chicory, Rhubarb and strawberries. Plant all vegetables that grow their crop above the ground including grains and cereals.
Planting seeds and all below ground crops     
Best days: 10th, 15th. Plant Beetroot, onion, swede, turnip, parsnip, carrots, radish, sweet potato, yam, seed potato and leek. Plant all vegetables that grow their crops below the ground.
Transplanting seedlings, trees & shrubs
Best days: 14th, 15th, 28th, 29th.
Garden maintenance     
Best days: Water, Weed and Feed on the 16th through to the 23rd, are best days for all types of spraying, destroying pests, killing weeds, pruning, preparing or cutting lawns, turning soil and preparing garden beds for planting, fertilising, spreading compost, making new compost, conservation, watering and irrigation, sharpening your garden tools and taking all rubbish to the tip. Then you can play some golf, bowls, tennis or do your own thing.
Happy Gardening!
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