Spotted Lanternflies: Where They Came From & How to Stop Them
Spotted lanternflies have spread rapidly across the United States—but where did they come from, how did they get here, and can we stop them? Here’s what you need to know about their spread, their eggs, and what homeowners can do to help.
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How to Prepare Your Vegetable Garden for Winter: 5 Things to Do Before the Ground Freezes
Before the ground freezes, give your vegetable garden a little attention. These five simple fall chores can help protect your soil, reduce next year’s weeds and pests, and give your garden a healthier start next spring.
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8 Superstitions People Still Believe—And Where They Came From
You may not call yourself superstitious—but do you knock on wood, cross your fingers or avoid walking under ladders? Here’s where 8 familiar beliefs really came from.
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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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Friday 18th September 2026
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Best day to
Today is Day 261 of 2026
4 days until autumn begins
Gardening
Clear fencerows, wood lots, and fields, but do no planting.
Moon phase
First Quarter Moon (50% 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
How to Prepare Your Vegetable Garden for Winter: 5 Things to Do Before the Ground Freezes
Before the ground freezes, give your vegetable garden a little attention. These five simple fall chores can help protect your soil, reduce next year’s weeds and pests, and give your garden a healthier start next spring.
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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.
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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