Late summer and fall are an exciting time in the garden. Harvest is in full swing, perennials can be divided, lawns can be overseeded and so much more!
It’s a shame to miss this window of opportunity to “upgrade” your landscape. There’s work to be done – that’s for sure – but focusing on the most important tasks first and tackling them in the right order will save work in the long run.
So, what’s first? Harvesting and preserving of fruits and vegetables is going on right now, but do you need tips on the safest methods for preserving your harvest?
Lawn overseeding will begin this week – Aug. 15 – and continue through Sept. 15. If you have questions about the best way to succeed when overseeding, then here’s a great opportunity.
Join the GRO Big Red Team
People are also reading…
Starting Aug. 15, Nebraska Extension offers a three-part webinar series to help you with your late-summer garden tasks. Join our lawn and landscape management experts to ask your questions and get geared up for this exciting time in the lawn, garden and landscape. These programs are free and open to everyone. Register at go.unl.edu/grobigred.
Aug. 15: Lawn Care for Healthy Lawns and Rehabilitating Languishing Lawns. Whether your lawn is healthy or struggling, there are many best practices to ensure it remains a vibrant part of the overall landscape. This program will provide information on when to fertilize, how to water, the importance of aeration, controlling weeds and how to return an ailing lawn to health. Presenter: John Fech, Nebraska Extension Educator.
Aug. 22: Safely Preserve Foods. Whether canning, freezing or dehydrating, preserving foods at home is a great way to use up produce, build food storage and save time. Join Nancy as she provides established and trusted research-based food preservation information, while maintaining nutritional value, texture and flavor. Presenter: Nancy Urbanec, Nebraska Extension Educator.
Aug. 29: Fall Landscape Playbook. Fall is a great time to get many landscape tasks accomplished. Join us for a discussion of four common landscape projects listed in order of attack, including fall weed control, dividing perennials, tree and shrub planting and composting. Presenter: Sarah Browning, Nebraska Extension Educator.
This image shows the contrast of two different watering methods.
Water Dogs – Update Your Lawn Irrigation Skills
Water Dogs is another program offering for those in the Lancaster County area. Did you know that how often and how deeply your lawn is irrigated throughout the summer has a huge impact on lawn health? The best technique is to water very deeply but infrequently, but what does that mean? How deep and what does “infrequently” mean when temperatures may vary from the 60s to 95-plus during any week?
Join us for a Water Dogs program this fall to get answers, including the following.
• How much water does my grass really need?
• How often should a lawn be watered?
• Is soil compaction affecting my lawn's health?
• What’s the best fertilization schedule for my lawn?
• What difference will changing my watering practices really have on my lawn? Plan to join us and I’ll show you!
Water Dogs programs are free and open to the public.
When: Saturday Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. CT.
Thursday, Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m. CT.
Where: Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County conference rooms
444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln
Register: Go.unl.edu/water-dogs
Get your late summer and fall off to a great start by increasing your skills with several important landscape tasks. Your landscape will reward you next spring!
Sustainable gardens have a very positive impact on the environment and local wildlife. So here are three easy ways to make your garden more sustainable.
Top Journal Star photos for August 2023
Kipton Fankhauser loses his shoe as he falls off of "War Dance" during Mutton Bustin' at the Lancaster County Super Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lincoln.
Patrons enjoy the first weekend of the outdoor carnival during the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
Syllas Daniels and Kaneka Taylor (right) hold on tight as they ride the Orbiter at the carnival during the Lancaster County Super Fair at Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
A nun peruses the animals on display at Rabbit Row during the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
Angelina Mojok waves to the camera as she rides the merry-go-round at the carnival during the at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
Cally Sullivan, Hannah Munk, Noah Schmoll and his sister Jocelyn (from left) let their rabbits hop from the starting line as they compete in a rabbit race during the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, in Lincoln.
Offensive lineman Yahia Marzouk and Brady Eickhoff (from left) spring out from under the chute while running a drill during a practice at Lincoln Northwest on Wednesday.
Nebraska middle blocker Andi Jackson blocks assistant coach Jaylen Reyes during practice Tuesday at Devaney Sports Center.
Lincoln Pius X's Hudson Schulz (left) tackles teammate Sebastian Morales during practice on Tuesday at Pius X High School.
A view of the Federal Legislative Summit on Tuesday at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland.
Nebraska's Bryce Benhart (left) and Brock Knutson practice on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, at Hawks Championship Center.
Lincoln Southwest's Zak Stark makes a throw during a football practice on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at Lincoln Southwest.
An excavator tears bricks off Pershing Center on Monday as demolition work begins in earnest on the former civic auditorium. Bringing down the structure is expected to take two to three weeks.
Young dancers spin one another as they perform a traditional dance with Wilber Czech Dancers during the annual Wilber Czech Festival on Saturday. The celebration will continue Sunday with a parade, motorcycle show, eating contest and much more.
Teams shoot around in the common area as they prepare to compete against one another during the 3-on-3 Railyard Rims basketball tournament at The Railyard on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in Lincoln. In collaboration with the Downtown Lincoln Association, the YMCA of Lincoln hosted the seventh annual Railyard Rims August 4-5. This 3-on-3 tournament takes basketball to the streets of the Railyard.
Callum Anderson gets his first haircut from barber Dean Korensky as he sits with his mother, Courtney Anderson, on Thursday at 33 Street Hair Studio. Callum was the fifth generation of the Anderson family to get a haircut from Korensky.
Carter Worrell has a staring contest with a baby chick during the Lancaster County Super Fair at Lancaster Event Center on Aug. 3, 2023.
A Nowear BMX rider jumps from a high ramp while teammates watch during the Lancaster County Super Fair at Lancaster Event Center on Thursday.
Zack Mentzer peeks out from a trailer while he and his family unload their Hampshire cross breed pigs the day before the start of the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Aug. 2, 2023.
Fair kids who show animals will set up in the stalls so they have a place to rest, the day before the start of the Lancaster County Super Fair at the Lancaster Event Center on Aug. 2, 2023.
Jen Witherby (left) and Mary Weixelman, bought 3 Daughters, last month and just recently completed their first week as owners.
Cooper Jordan, 4, runs the spray of a soaker hose during Sprinkler Day at the Eiseley Branch Library on Monday.
Protester Kari Wagner holds up a sign as Nebraska State Board of Education member Kirk Penner walks by in the Capitol on Monday.
Mack Splichal, 2, shows off his cheer moves to Nebraska cheerleaders Sidney Doty, Carly Janssen and Audrey Eckert (from left) during Nebraska Football's annual fan day at Hawks Championship Center on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
Shoes lost by previous skydivers are hung above the exit to the runway at the Lincoln Sport Parachute Club on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Weeping Water.
Carpet Land players watch from the dugout as their team bats in the first inning during the Class A American Legion championship on Saturday at Den Hartog Field.
Nebraska's Darian White (left) talks with teammate Callin Hake during a team practice Thursday at Hendricks Training Complex.
Ten-year-old Connor Horner plays in the sprinkler fountain at Centennial Mall across from the state Capitol on Monday, as temperatures reached the 90s and the heat index reached into triple digits. The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department said it discourages people from playing in the Centennial Mall fountains because the water is not treated.
Sarah Browning is an extension educator with Nebraska Extension. To ask a question or reach her, call 402-441-7180 or write to her at sarah.browning@unl.edu or 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln, NE 68528. Learn more about Nebraska Extension at Extension.unl.edu.
