08/13/2026
August Garden To-Do-List
Here’s your August Garden-To-Do-List, according to Penn State Extension’s new AI-powered assistant, Tilva™:
August is a busy time in the Pennsylvania garden, requiring careful attention to moisture management and preparation for the upcoming fall season. According to my knowledge base, your primary focus should be on maintaining plant health through consistent care while also supporting the diverse pollinators and beneficial insects that are highly active during this peak summer period.
• Moisture Management: Continue to w**d and water your garden as necessary. The heat and dry conditions typical of August can stress plants, so consistent hydration is essential.
• Fall Crop Preparation: You can begin starting seeds or setting out transplants for fall crops. Because of the intense summer heat, consider building a portable shade frame using shade cloth, lath strips, or bamboo to protect young plants until they are established.
• Perennial Maintenance: Keep up with deadheading spent flowers to encourage continued growth and tidiness in your perennial beds.
• Support Beneficial Wildlife: August is a prime time for pollinators and beneficial insects like spiders, bees, and butterflies. You can support these populations by reducing the use of pesticides and leaving some leaf litter and soil undisturbed, which provides critical habitat for overwintering species.
• Observation and Citizen Science: Take time to observe the garden visitors, such as hummingbird moths (Sphingidae family) and various butterfly species. If you enjoy documenting nature, consider contributing your observations to citizen science projects like Butterflies and Moths of North America.
Some additional resources:
https://extension.psu.edu/summer-garden-visitors
https://extension.psu.edu/care-and-maintenance-of-perennials
This article describes a number of creatures that can be observed in the garden in summer, including fireflies, moths, butterflies, spiders, hummingbirds, and cicadas.
