Garden field note
The late-summer herb bed asks for scissors
A small round of cutting now gives basil, thyme, and mint a more useful second act.
Basil gets theatrical at the end of August, throwing flower spikes above leaves that have begun to thin.
Cut each stem just above a pair of leaves, taking no more than a third of the plant at once; the new shoots will be tender enough for the kitchen and sturdy enough for cooler nights.
Thyme wants a lighter hand, while mint can take a firmer trim and a deep watering. Gather the cuttings before the afternoon heat, then dry what dinner will not use on a clean towel away from direct sun.