Understanding effects, and timing your gardening chores accordingly, is a basis of moon gardening. The moon moves in a complete cycle every 29 days. In moon gardening, this cycle is divided in four quarters or phases. Phase refers to the moon’s shape viewed from earth during the month. To plant by moon phases you need an almanac or calendar. It lists exact time and date of the moon phases. 
A lunar month starts with a new moon, also called “dark of the moon”. From the new moon to first quarter and from first quarter to full moon, the moon grows to a crescent and then a full circle, mid-month. The increasing or waxing phases.
Increasing Light — New moon to full moon
Examples of garden chores to do by the light of the moon:
(NOTE: General guidelines.
Decreasing or waning phases are when the moon “shrinks” from full moon down to new moon (darkness). As moon wanes during 3rd and 4th quarters, it’s a good time to prune plants, as water table is diminishing and less sap will flows of cut ends. Plants are said to orient themselves to their roots, making this a good time to plant, transplant or harvest root crops. The 4th quarter is most dormant and good for weeding.
- Sow seeds of plants that grow above ground
- Fertilize
- Graft fruit trees
- Plant evergreen and deciduous trees
Decreasing Light — Full moon to dark of the moon
Examples of garden chores to do by the dark of the moon:
(NOTE: These are general guidelines. - Plant bulbs
- Plant crops that grow below the ground, such as potatoes, carrots
- Cultivate weeds
- Plant biennials and perennials because they need strong roots
- Eliminate slugs
- Prune shrubs
How is sowing, transplanting and harvesting linked to phases of the moon? One theory is during the light (waxing) of the Moon, sap is thought to flow more freely, filling plants with vitality and energy, favoring planting and harvesting of crops that mature on top ground. Test validity of gardening by the moon in your garden. Plant crops by the correct moon and others by the wrong moon. Experiment with above ground & below ground crops.
