August Planting by the Signs Overview

 Phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac

For those of you gardening according to the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac, here’s the information for the month of August. And, as always, don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have questions. All times are Eastern Daylight; adjust for your time zone.

The moon

August begins and ends with the moon in the dark phase.

The full moon rules until 10:53 a.m. Aug. 14 and returns to force again at 2:35 p.m. Aug. 29, continuing until the new moon at 2:41 a.m. Sept. 13.

Between those dates, specifically, the last half of Aug. 14 through the first half of Aug. 29, the light moon is in force.

 “General Tips” for dark- and light-moon activities are below and if you are planting in flats, seedbeds, the garden — anywhere — it’s above-ground producers in the light moon and below-ground producers when the dark phase is in.

The signs

Remember: Again, check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting, or other activities, indoors or out.

In a change from the past two months, August begins with the fertile sign Pisces (the feet) in force. So, we’ll have a look at dates for the four fertile signs first.

Fertile signs: The most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days: Pisces (the feet), Aug. 1-2, 29-30; Taurus (the neck), Aug. 5-7; Cancer (the breast), Aug. 10-11; and Scorpio (the secrets), Aug. 20-21. There are 11 days this month ruled by the fertile signs — Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Sagittarius (the thighs), Aug. 22-24; Capricorn (the knees), Aug. 25-26; Aquarius (the legs), Aug 27-28. This month we have seven days ruled by the three so-so signs: Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fencerows — anything but planting: Aries (the head), Aug. 3-4 and 31; and Leo (the heart), Aug. 12-14. We have six days this month ruled by the killing signs Aries or Leo, up from four in July.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers. Virgo (the bowels), Aug. 15-16 and Libra (the reins), Aug. 17-19. There are five flowering days this month.

Gemini days: Gemini rules the arms and is in force Aug. 8-9. Unfortunately, like June and July, the dark moon rules all of these days. At least half of the ideal equation is in force with the sign in Gemini, the bean sign, although the moon is in the dark phase and beans produce above the ground.

General tips

Again, here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules. The same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink.

>If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.

>If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends.

>If you have changes to make, we have three full days this month, Aug. 1-2 and 30 and a few hours Aug. 29, the day the moon moves to the dark phase at 2:35 p.m.

During this time the moon will be in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body past anything that functions. All the days are ruled by Pisces (the feet).

These days are good for weaning babies or small animals, scheduling elective surgery – not emergency surgery since that usually can’t be “scheduled,” stopping smoking or using other tobacco products, starting a diet or exercise program. Consider what it is you want to do and if it involves making a change — like starting or stopping something — then this is the best stretch for it according to the phases and signs.