Fall Pruning Guide: What NOT to Cut Before Winter
Forsythia Those brilliant yellow flowers that announce the arrival of spring are another classic example of blooms produced on old wood. By fall, next year’s flower buds have already formed. A neat-looking October pruning could result in a much less impressive display the following spring. Best time to prune: Soon after flowering. The same basic rule applies to many spring-flowering shrubs: enjoy the flowers first, prune afterward.
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When Should You Rake Your Final Leaves of the Year? A State-by-State Guide
Are you really finished raking for the year—or will the trees cover your lawn again next week? Here’s when to expect your final major leaf cleanup in every state, plus why you shouldn’t rake too early.
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The Autumn Equinox Is Almost Here—But Day and Night Aren’t Actually Equal
The autumn equinox arrives on September 22, 2026, at 8:05 p.m. EDT—but day and night won’t actually be exactly equal. Here’s why atmospheric refraction, the size of the Sun, and your location make the equinox a little more complicated than its name suggests.
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Long Range Weather Forecast
Get ready for your next adventure. Check our Long Range Weather Forecast and plan accordingly.
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Thursday 17th September 2026
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Today is Day 260 of 2026
5 days until autumn begins
Gardening
Clear fencerows, wood lots, and fields, but do no planting.
Moon phase
Waxing Crescent (39% of Full)
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Farmers’ Almanac Gardening, Weather & Seasonal Living Guide
For over two hundred years, the Farmers’ Almanac has been a trusted companion through every season of American life. First published in 1818, it has arrived faithfully, year after year, offering time-tested wisdom on weather, gardening, and living well with nature. Few publications in history can claim that kind of unbroken dedication to their readers — and fewer still have remained as relevant, as loved, and as useful with every passing generation. Check frost dates, gardening calendars, weather forecasts, moon phases, and seasonal advice.
Summer’s Calling Your Garden
Find the best planting days on the Gardening Calendar.
Gardening CalendarComing Up in the Sky and Garden
The dates worth putting on the calendar between now and Halloween, with the full guide behind each one.
- Wednesday, August 12 to Thursday, August 13: Perseid meteor shower peaks under a new moon, the darkest conditions in years.
- Friday, August 28: the Sturgeon Moon rises into a deep partial lunar eclipse.
- Through August and September: what to plant now for a fall harvest, region by region.
- Monday, September 7: Labor Day weekend, and the unofficial end of summer.
- Tuesday, September 22: the fall equinox, the first day of fall.
- Saturday, September 26: the Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the equinox.
- Saturday, October 24: Mercury turns retrograde until November 13.
- Saturday, October 31: Halloween, and the folklore behind it.
Gardening
Fall Pruning Guide: What NOT to Cut Before Winter
Forsythia Those brilliant yellow flowers that announce the arrival of spring are another classic example of blooms produced on old wood. By fall, next year’s flower buds have already formed. A neat-looking October pruning could result in a much less impressive display the following spring. Best time to prune: Soon after flowering. The same basic rule applies to many spring-flowering shrubs: enjoy the flowers first, prune afterward.
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When Should You Stop Mowing Your Lawn for the Year? A State-by-State Guide
When is it finally time to put the mower away? The answer depends on your grass, temperatures, and location. See when mowing typically ends in every state—and the simple sign that tells you your lawn is done growing.
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2026 Maple Helicopter Season: Why So Many This Year? (Plus 7 Other Trees With Helicopter Seeds)
Maple seeds have been swirling everywhere this spring. Find out what it means and the science behind their flight!
Dig inAstronomy
When Is the Next Full Moon? September’s Harvest Moon 2026
The next full Moon is September’s Harvest Moon on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Find the exact time, why it’s called the Harvest Moon, and the best time to see it.
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Why September Stars Suddenly Look Brighter—And Why You’re Not Imagining It
Does the night sky suddenly look brighter? September’s earlier darkness, changing weather, Moon phase, and improving atmospheric transparency can reveal stars that were hiding in plain sight all summer.
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September Epsilon Perseid Meteor Shower 2026: When To Look
The famous August Perseids may be over, but Perseus isn’t quite finished producing shooting stars. A little-known meteor shower arrives…
ExploreFishing
Fishing Calendar 2026 – Best Days & Times to Fish
Your next fishing trip shouldn’t be based on luck. Check our fishing conditions calendar and plan your fishing trip accordingly.
Check Fishing Conditions CalendarFarmers’ Almanac
First Snowfall Where I Live: When Will the First Snow Arrive in 2026?
When will the first snowfall happen where you live? See our U.S. first snow map and typical first snowfall timing from September through winter.
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Why September Stars Suddenly Look Brighter—And Why You’re Not Imagining It
Does the night sky suddenly look brighter? September’s earlier darkness, changing weather, Moon phase, and improving atmospheric transparency can reveal stars that were hiding in plain sight all summer.
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Monarch Butterfly Migration 2026: When and Where to See One of Nature’s Greatest Journeys
When does the monarch butterfly migration happen? Discover when monarchs migrate in 2026, how far they fly, where they go, and how to see and help them.
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2026 Fall Foliage Outlook: Where Autumn Color Should Shine — And Where It May Struggle
Where will fall color be best in 2026? Our Farmers’ Almanac Fall Foliage Outlook points to the central Appalachians for the strongest display, with generally good prospects across much of the East and Southeast, and more mixed or spotty conditions in parts of the West, Upper Midwest, and southern tier.
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