Things to do in August: A Guide to Seasonal Homemaking

After a slow and rather soggy start to 2024, the south of the UK has been full swing in summer for a few weeks now. The day to day rhythm of homemaking does not change much through the year – there is always laundry to be done and meals to be made – but there are certainly many seasonal homemaking tasks that can be carried out best at certain times a year. Here is my list of the top homemaking tasks to do in August.

In the UK, and other similar climes in the northern hemisphere, August marks the final month of summer before autumn sweeps in. Although the weather here is notoriously unpredictable, it’s likely that the still-long days and warmer temperatures afford us the opportunity to carry out certain jobs that are more difficult, or impossible, once the nights draw in. Read on for my Seasonal Homemaking guide for late summer.

August Seasonal Homemaking Guide

August in the Home

• Last chance for heavy laundry: Although September and October can be warm and sunny, the days shorten very quickly and autumn can also be extremely wet and chilly. For this reason, I recommend that you finish all your ‘heavy laundry’ by the end of the month. By heavy laundry I mean items that don’t need frequent washing but that take up a lot of space in the washing machine and need plenty of sun and warmth to dry effectively. This might include duvets and pillows (airing them in the sun to kill bacteria and smells is another option if not suitable for machine washing), heavy throws or blankets for winter and thick woollen clothes if they have not been washed and stored away in spring/early summer. For more general laundry tips click here.

• One eye on winter: In a similar vein, if your seasons merge into one another as ours often do, you may not have got around to putting your winter coats and footwear away much before June this year. Before you start reaching for them again, August is a great time to take any out of season items to the dry cleaner, tailor or shoe mender so that your autumn and winter wardrobe is ready as soon as the first of the cooler days arrives. You may also find wait times for these items is shorter as you’ll be ahead of the game when others are still looking at last minute summer purchases.

• Late summer clearance: No, I’m not just talking about sales, but about using the end of summer to purge items from your home and wardrobe that weren’t used. Are there any summer clothes you never reached for? Think about whether that was because they have limited use or because they no longer suit your style or fit your shape. You don’t necessarily need to rush to replace said items, but ridding your wardrobe of them means less storage required if you rotate your clothes seasonally, and feeling next year as though you have a lot of summer clothes and nothing to wear! The end of the month also represents a good time to review garden equipment and outdoor toys. Did anything stay in the garage because you’re children have outgrown them? Or perhaps something was so well used it needs replacing. In this case, using end-of-summer sales to buy replacements such as furniture and play items can be very cost effective.

August in the Garden

• Last chance to sow: If you grow your own vegetables either at home or in an allotment, August represents the last month for sowing many of the autumn, winter and early spring crops that can keep you in a supply of fresh, homegrown vegetables. Many things already maturing will produce well into autumn such as tomatoes, squashes and salads, but for starting new crops, the warmth and relatively long days of late summer still provide a great growing opportunity.
• Harvest time: August, and particularly late August, marks the beginning of abundant harvests of crops. Apples for example, are usually picked between August and the end of October, but depending on the variety, storage and preservation can keep you in apples almost year round when fresh apples are being brought in from abroad. August in my garden also sees the end of summer fruiting raspberries and the beginning of the autumn fruiting raspberries. If the correct varieties are chosen, you can harvest raspberries from your garden from June through to November. Blackberries may be starting to crop and foraging wild blackberries makes a great activity for the whole family. If you’re growing blackberries, thornless varieties can be selected, but if foraging wild blackberries, beware the prickles! There is nothing more thrilling as a child (or indeed as an adult!) then gorging on juicy blackberries and going home with purple-stained fingers and a batch of blackberry jam in the larder feels extremely welcoming come the winter months.
• Cut flowers: Flowers brought in from the garden are cheaper, more environmentally friendly and offer far greater variety than those purchased from a shop or most florists. In August, gladioli are producing their dramatic and bold stems, perfect in tall narrow vases or paired with bright and cheerful sunflowers for a really summery display. Grasses and seed heads may be starting to form, which add interest to floral arrangements or can be dried and used on their own as long-lasting displays. Small posies of herbs, particularly those that have been cut back after flowering, can scent a room delicately and, can also be used for cooking and baking.

August in the Kitchen

• Savoury treats: If you have an outdoor space, August is a great time for barbecuing, particularly this year when June and July yielded little in the way of al fresco dining weather. The classics are always welcome, barbecue ribs, burgers and chicken wings to name a few, but thickly sliced aubergine or courgette, griddled halloumi and whole fish help ring the changes. A myriad of options for salads, new potato season and soft mild cheeses such as mozzarella and feta mean barbecues can be as varied, healthy or indulgent as your tastes and imagination allow!
• Summer puddings: Chilled sweet treats are often the main stay of summer puddings and it’s easy to see why. Although I haven’t found it possible, or necessarily desirable to avoid shop bought or processed treats entirely, homemade ice lollies and ice creams may be indulgent (and sugary) but need not contain any of the unwelcome ingredients often found in commercial versions. Simple squeezed juices, pureed fruits and Greek yoghurt make excellent and delicious homemade versions. If you really like ice cream, and ice cream maker could be a real winner and if you have children they’ll love help choosing flavours and getting the machine going. The only trouble then is waiting for it to be frozen!
• Here’s cheers: Summer drinks need not be limited to fizzy drinks or alcohol. While I love nothing more than a chilled glass of wine or a cocktail, having been pregnant twice through summers, I’ve come to appreciate the wide variety of mocktails, cordials and fresh juices on offer. Many of your favourite alcoholic drinks can be made alcohol-free, which means if you’re hanging out with the family, adults and children can all enjoy the same things (which means less time in the kitchen making multiple options too!) Check out this watermelon lemonade for a summery treat for the whole family.

Want more seasonal homemaking guides?

This guide to seasonal homemaking in August marks the launch of my Modern Homemaking Method (the MHM method!), which takes a holistic approach to homemaking and living, centred around the changes of the season and cycles of the year. Subscribe to Modern Woman Old Soul to receive more seasonal updates and notifications on all the new content on the blog.