Terry L. Ettinger Horticulture Consulting Services
Meeting The Needs Of Today With A Vision For The Future
August Weather
Average High Temperature: 79.6°F
Record High Temperature: 101°F (the 14th, 2002)
Average Low Temperature: 58.8°F
Record Low Temperature: 40°F (the 31st, 1965)
Average Precipitation: 3.56" inches
Maximum Precipitation: 8.41" (1956)
Minimum Precipitation: 1.02" (1999)
Absolutely starved for nice weather only
90 days ago, at least a few Central New York gardeners wilt during the dog
days of August. I certainly do, and usually starting hoping for snow
about the middle of the month!
As in July, August can certainly be dry. However, on average, we again receive the better part of four inches of rain over the course of the month (close to the one inch per week ideal). Unfortunately, it's not unusual for at least some of the rain to accompany damaging summer thunderstorms (at right, above).
One very important benefit of all the heat this
month is that the soil in our lawns, gardens and landscape plantings
really heats up, too. While this can be
stressful on existing plants
if they're not mulched and watered correctly, it also sets us up for
an outstanding late summer/fall gardening season that, from a physiological
standpoint, can be the very best time of year to start or renovate lawns,
and establish new landscape plantings!
In fact, sod farms try to seed their new fields during the last week in August across upstate New York (at left, above).