Timely Tips

What to Do in August 2026
Weekly Gardening Timely Tips from
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

August 2 - August 8

Perennials and Flowers: A hose that’s been baking in the sun will deliver scalding water to garden plants if you don’t let the water run for a few minutes. Remember to check the water temperature before watering anything. Drought, heat stress and scorch are common plant problems this time of year. If this occurs even though you water regularly, consider making plans to move a plant to a shadier location where it may be happier.

Fruits and Vegetables: Keep up with the harvest. Some vegetables, such as beans, okra and summer squash will stop producing when their seeds begin to mature. If you plan to be away, arrange for someone to water the plants as needed and bring in the harvest for their own use or to donate to a food pantry. Continue to harvest blackberries, blueberries, and other ripening fruit. Once apples have reached full size but have not yet begun to color, monitor for apple maggot by hanging one red sphere trap with a sticky coating per each 100 fruit. This may catch enough flies to reduce damage to a tolerable level if you have only a few trees. Keep the traps clean for best results. Contact your local Cooperative Extension for advice.

Trees and Shrubs: As long as you have protection from the heat and adequate water available, you can still take softwood cuttings now of deciduous azalea, shrubby dogwood, hydrangea, lilac, rose-of-Sharon, rugosa rose, viburnum, weigela and other shrubs to propagate plants cheaply. Spotted lanternfly nymphs and early adults may be found now prefer tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus), and may also be found on many trees, grape vines, and other woody plants. SeeSpotted Lanternfly | CALS (cornell.edu) for more information.

Lawns: There’s no reason to mow (or other lawn care tasks) if the grass is not growing. Enjoy a cool drink in the shade and do something fun instead.

Houseplants: Indoors or out, houseplants may need more water this time of year than at any other time. This might mean watering once (or even twice a day outdoors) if the soil feels dry. An exception could be plants in darkened rooms that are continuously air conditioned or are naturally darker and cooler. Watch the soil moisture conditions and adjust the watering schedule as needed so the mix is never too wet or too dry.

Last updated August 3, 2026