As the days grow shorter and the sun less intense, here are some tasks to keep in mind.

*Have you been harvesting your culinary herbs? If so, then keep up the good work.

*Keep up with your dead-heading as this benefits your display by allowing the plant to devote more energy to emerging blooms

*Now is a good time to take semi-ripe cuttings for propagation. Maybe your neighbor has some interesting cultivar coleus you would like to try? Pelargonium (Common geranium) comes to mind as an easy way to experiment with propagation.

*With autumn just around the corner, you may want to consider purchasing some bulbs from your favorite bulb company.

*The heat can be stressful enough for your plants so they may be extra vulnerable at this time. Keep your eye out for pests and signs of disease.

This is also a great time to rid your beds of those pesky weeds one last time.