It’s In The Stars!

Whether you believe them or just read them for fun, the newspapers this month are full of our horoscope predictions for the coming year. What will be our destiny?  What are the predictions for our wealth, health, career, romance… or how about gardening?

Now it might surprise you that there are schools of thought that suggest the astrological movements in the heavens can actually affect plant growth and help with gardening.

It is said, that as the moon moves through the signs of the zodiac every couple of days, it can govern as to what chores are best carried out in the garden at the best time in order to achieve the optimum result.

As we know the moon has a gravitational effect on the earth and causes the oceans’ tides to rise and fall as well as having a gravitational effect on the fluids in plants. Therefore plants that bear fruit above ground and need the fluid drawn upwards are best planted at New Moon and plants that bear fruits below ground that need the fluids to flow down to the root system should be planted in Full Moon.

Astrological gardening is another step on from planting by the phases of the moon. As the moon orbits around the earth and passes through the twelve signs of the Zodiac, it is said that as each sign belongs to one of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire or Water, each sign will have its own characteristic influence on gardening.

When the moon is in the earth signs such as Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, these signs are said to be very ‘fertile’ and therefore good for planting.

When the moon is in water signs such as Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio, these too are fruitful and productive signs. Scorpio is also a good sign during which to carry out pruning.

The moon in air signs such as Aquarius and Gemini means that the time is barren, very dry and will only work for some plants. Libra is an exception to the rule as it is semi-fertile.

Fire signs too are dry and barren; these are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. When the moon is in these signs it is a good time for weeding and to harvest.     Apparently, when the moon is void it’s time to take a break and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

So, taking into account as to which zodiac signs promote growth and which are barren, together with the actual phases of the Moon, it becomes apparent that there are ideal times to carry out certain gardening tasks.

So, whether you’re hoping to meet that tall dark stranger or hoping for a bumper crop in your garden, the fate of your garden may be in the stars!

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