Prune or cut back, by the Moon
Of 29 lunar days, the tradition favours 17 for this and discourages 11. The lunar day turns at moonrise, so a calendar date usually spans two of them — which is why a date can be good for part of the day and not the rest.
Favourable lunar days for prune or cut back
- Lunar day 1
- The tradition holds this a good day for clearing away dry branches and unwanted growth, which includes cutting back.
- Lunar day 5
- Pruning is recommended on this day, though the tradition makes an exception for fruit trees and shrubs.
- Lunar day 6
- Pruning is generally favoured on this day, except on fruit trees, which the tradition says should be left alone.
- Lunar day 8
- The tradition favours cutting away haulm and foliage on this day, a loose match for cutting back.
- Lunar day 9
- Pruning is recommended on this day, but the tradition strongly warns against pruning fruit trees.
- Lunar day 11
- Pruning is favoured on this day, with the exception of fruit trees.
- Lunar day 12
- Pruning is recommended on this day, though the tradition forbids pruning fruit trees, which may bleed sap.
- Lunar day 18
- Pruning trees is recommended on this day.
- Lunar day 19
- The tradition favours pruning now to hold back young shoots.
- Lunar day 20
- This is held to be a good day for pruning and cutting back.
- Lunar day 21
- Pruning trees is favoured, though the tradition says to leave young plants unpruned today.
- Lunar day 22
- Cutting back vines and shoots is recommended, while pruning young plants is to be avoided.
- Lunar day 23
- The tradition marks this a good day for pruning trees and vines.
- Lunar day 24
- Pruning trees is recommended on this day.
- Lunar day 26
- This day is held to be excellent for pruning bushes and trees.
- Lunar day 27
- Pruning is recommended, though the passage also cautions about work with garden tools and roots.
- Lunar day 29
- This day is traditionally favoured for pruning out damaged and withered branches.
Lunar days to avoid
- Lunar day 2
- This day is traditionally seen as a poor time to cut tree and shrub shoots.
- Lunar day 4
- The tradition advises leaving pruning for another day.
- Lunar day 7
- The tradition discourages pruning on this day.
- Lunar day 10
- The tradition holds that pruning trees now harms their health.
- Lunar day 13
- The tradition says pruning should be avoided on this day.
- Lunar day 14
- Pruning is traditionally postponed on this day.
- Lunar day 15
- The tradition considers this a poor day for pruning.
- Lunar day 16
- Pruning is among the tasks the tradition says to avoid today.
- Lunar day 17
- The tradition advises against pruning on this day.
- Lunar day 25
- The tradition says pruning, at least of young plants, should be avoided today.
- Lunar day 28
- The tradition warns against sawing trees and similar cutting work on this day.
What this is, and is not
Inherited material, quoted as received. Checked against the tradition's own named authorities, these readings contradict each other on all 29 lunar days — so treat the guidance as a custom worth knowing, not a finding. The astronomy underneath it is exact: MoonIQ computes which lunar day you are in, and the minute it turns, for your own location.