August Garden Checklist

Gardening & Horticulture

There’s still time to plant! In Orleans County, our first frost date is usually around Oct. 12. Through mid-August, you can still get cool season crops like beets, carrots, radish, lettuce, cilantro and dill in the ground. You’ll even have time to start kale, chard, and spinach indoors to transplant out when they have two sets of true leaves. Find some other ideas for cool season vegetables.

In the Garden

Remember to check out the Orleans Community Seed Share, the seed library based at the Orleans County CCE offices in Albion.
Speaking of seeds, now is the time to start saving seeds from your favorite edible and ornamental plants.
- Join us Aug. 16 for Seed Collecting, Part 1 — Dry Processing: Learn practical, hands-on methods for harvesting, processing, cleaning, and storing seeds using the dry processing method. You’ll discover which seeds are best harvested using this method. You’ll also learn the critical role of timing, environmental conditions, and proper preservation strategies. The class is part of our Seeds to Splendor education series. Stay after to explore the Orleans Community Seed Share, a seed library featuring vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The class begins at 10 a.m. in the Education Center at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension offices, 12690 Route 31, Albion. Suggested donation: $5. To register, call 585-798-4265 or email klo54 [at] cornell.edu (klo54[at]cornell[dot]edu).
Start planning for autumn in your garden.
- Join us Aug. 2 for The Fall Garden: Join Master Gardener Julia Bender to learn how to breathe new life into your garden with practical tips and research-based resources for maximizing your garden's health this year and preparing for an even more lush, vibrant and healthy garden next year. Part of our Master Your Garden education series, this class begins at 10 a.m. at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 12690 State Route 31, Albion. Suggested donation: $5. To register, call (585) 798-4265 or email klo54 [at] cornell.edu (klo54[at]cornell[dot]edu).
Now is a great time to order spring-blooming bulbs to plant this fall. Think about the colors that brought you joy this year and where you’d like to see blooms. If you had trouble with rabbits, deer or other creatures this year, consider some more pest-resistant options.
If you put houseplants outside, start getting them ready to come back indoors. Repot them, if necessary. Check them for insect pests and treat them before you bring them back inside.

Around Your Yard

Survey your garden to determine if there are any areas that may need additional planting. Late summer and early fall are great times to plant perennials.
To keep your herbaceous plants in bloom, cut back leggy annuals, and continue to deadhead annuals and perennials like bee balm and scabiosa.
Remember to water your plants deeply in the root zone, and keep an eye on containers especially. Try to water in the mornings and avoid wetting leaves to prevent disease and other issues.
Keep an eye on trees during dry spells. Even more established trees can get stressed. Water them deeply and slowly. Consider taking a soil sample and sending it in for analysis. A soil test can tell you what nutrients are in your soil, the state of its health or even if you have contaminants harmful to humans, plants or the environment. Together with healthy gardening practices, testing can lead to better management as well as safe and productive soils. Learn more about soil samples and testing.
Prepare new beds for fall planting. Sheet mulching with cardboard can be an effective strategy for smothering grass to create a new area for plantings.
Continue to prune dead, diseased, weak or crossing branches in trees and shrubs. For more details on when and how to prune, check out this illustrated guide to pruning.
Keep up the good fight against the weeds. It may feel like a losing battle, but every little bit helps. Check out this handy weed ID tool to identify what’s coming up in your yard.

Lawn Care

Don’t feel like you have to water your lawn. Grasses in New York naturally go through a dormant period, turning brown, during hot, dry weather. Your lawn will bounce back once the cooler, wetter weather returns.
In the high heat of summer, set your mower blades a bit higher. Mowing too low will allow crab grass to take hold. Keep grass at about 3-3.5 inches to ensure a healthy lawn.
If you have bare spots in your lawn, wait until the cooler conditions of fall to re-seed.

Preserve Your Harvest

Harvest your herbs and freeze or dry them to use the rest of the year. Take cuttings to start new plants and enjoy fresh herbs indoors through the winter.
For fruits and vegetables, consider freezing, pickling or canning the best of the summer bounty. The National Center for Home Food Preservation offers safe and simple strategies.
Consider attending a workshop by the Orleans County CCE Master Food Preservers to learn more. The first class is Aug. 6: Pressure Canning, from 6 to 9 p.m. This hands-on class will allow participants to learn all of the steps required to safely preserve low-acid food in a pressure canner. Banish your fears and learn how to use your pressure canner to expand your food preservation skills. This class will be held in the Orleans County CCE Trolley kitchen, 12690 State Rt 31, Albion. Fee is $15. Pre-registration is required. Call 585-798-4265 or email klo54 [at] cornell.edu (klo54[at]cornell[dot]edu).