It may appear that August is almost over and you can just turn your garden on autopilot, watering, weeding and picking without much thought. There are many things you can do (and should) this month to ensure your garden is ready for fall. Helen Greiner, CEO of Tertill, a robot that manages garden-weeding, has five things gardeners can add to their August.Advertisement1. Take out plants that have finished their seasonEach plant has a life cycle. If you have plants that are not producing fruit or have been damaged by heat, rain, disease or other critters, it is time to get rid of them. Greiner explained in a statement sent to Lifehacker that it is okay to be a bit ruthless, especially if it leaves enough room for a second crop.2. 2. Fill in the gapsYou may notice that some areas of your garden are starting to look a little sparse after you have removed many plants. Greiner recommends planting fast-growing crops to make up the difference and maximize your garden's potential. She suggests that you can still plant radishes and lettuce in the late summer, as well as spinach and arugula.G/O Media could get a big discount Sunday Scaries Side Piece Bundle 1 bottle of Sunday Scaries CBD GummiesCBD + Calm ($29 Value). 1 Bottle of Sunday Scaries TictureCBD + Sleep ($49 Value). Buy Sunday Scaries for $383. SOS (save outstanding seed)Take a look at your harvest for the year. Did you find any vegetables or fruits that were more delicious than the norm? Save their seeds if you find any new or improved fruits and vegetables. Next year, plant them. Greiner says that most seeds last between 2 and 5 years depending on how they are stored.AdvertisementShe suggests that you place the seeds in glass containers with a desiccant to get the best results. You can also store the seeds in glass containers in your refrigerator, but you won't have enough space.4. Get new flowers from fruits and vegetablesGreiner suggests that you remove any new flower buds from tomatoes, melons, or pumpkins as the season ends. She says this will help the plant focus on the fruit it already has set. This will result in them being bigger and more delicious. As an added bonus, some vegetable blossoms, such as those that grow on squash, are edible.Advertisement5. Pay attention to potential diseasesGreiner suggests that you be aware of possible disease signs if you live in a hot or humid area. Because fungal diseases such as powdery mildew thrive in hot and humid weather.AdvertisementShe suggests that you cut the diseased leaves off and don't put them in your compost pile if you have one. To prevent disease spreading, wash your pruning shears. It is also best to avoid planting the same vegetable next year.
