August Blog 2025

Making Room for Pollinators

It is now the peak of summer heat, and we aren’t the only ones struggling. Even pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds struggle to make it through the high temperatures. Droughts, dry flowers, and a lack of safe water can all reduce their numbers, which directly affects your garden's ability to fruit and bloom. Helping them isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for your garden too.

How to Provide Safe Water Sources

Bee Bath: Use a shallow dish or saucer filled with water. Add small stones, marbles, or twigs so insects can perch safely while drinking.

Butterfly Puddler: Butterflies prefer muddy or mineral-rich water. Mix water with sand, soil, or a pinch of sea salt and place it in a shallow bowl in a shaded area.

Bird Baths: Clean often, place in partial shade, and refresh the water every 1–2 days to prevent mosquitoes and algae.

*We sell glass birdbaths

*Tip: Put these water sources near flowering plants but out of full afternoon sun to prevent overheating.

Heat-Tolerant Nectar Plants for Late Summer

In late summer, many spring-blooming plants have faded, so it’s important to offer fresh nectar sources by planting heat tolerant plants that bloom through summer.

The following plants thrive in California heat and support local pollinators:

Echinacea-low water needs, pollinators-bees/butterflies

Gaillardia-low water needs, pollinators-bees/butterflies

Salvia/Sage-low water needs, pollinators-hummingbirds/bees

Milkweed-low water needs, pollinators-Monarchs

RoyalBumbleSalvia 

                              Mixed Echinacea

Pollinator Habitat: Beyond the Blooms

Providing water and nectar aren’t the only ways to help pollinators beat the heat.

Provide Shelter Zones-bunch grasses and shrubs with a high density of foliage(avoid over trimming in summer)

PinkCloudDeerGrass

Pesticide Responsibility-avoid spraying during pollinators active hours, even “natural” pesticides. The best time to spray is late at night or very early in the morning.

Habitat Enhancement-try adding bug hotels, bird feeders, bundled hollow bamboo sticks for solitary bees, bird baths(change water every 2 days), plant tubular flowers such as penstemon, columbine, and salvia/sage.                

*We sell pre-made bug hotels and bird feeders

Debunking Common Gardening Myths

Myth:

“It’s too hot to start a fall garden — you have to wait until it cools down.”

Debunked:

August is a prime time to start seeds indoors or in trays for your fall garden. It’s also a good time to direct-sow fast crops like beans, radishes, or heat-tolerant greens. Starting now gives your plants roots time to establish so the plant can thrive when cooler weather hits.

Fall Prep Starts Now for a Great Autumn Garden

August is the ideal time to start seeds for cool-season crops and prep garden beds for autumn planting. Getting a head start now can extend your harvest season through fall and well into early winter.

*Leave space for Onions and Garlic (planted in late fall)

Cool-Season Crops to Start Now (Seed or Transplant), start from seed in trays or pots (indoors or in shade):

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Cabbage

Kale

Lettuce

Chard

*Keep seed trays cool and moist. Use a shade cloth or place them under filtered light to prevent heat stress.

Direct sow in garden beds:

Carrots

Beets

Radishes

Turnips

Arugula

*Be sure to water daily until germination during hot days — seeds dry out quickly in August!

Transplanting Tips for Fall Crops

Transplant in the late afternoon or on overcast days

Water well before and after planting

Use mulch to cool soil and retain moisture

Cover with shade cloth for the first few days to prevent shock

*There are many options for mulching

Ornamental Gardening: here are blooms to start now for fall color

Flower                                        Planting Method                           

Calendula                                  Direct sow

Snapdragon                               Start indoors or buy starts

Pansies & Violas                      Start indoors or buy starts       

Sweet Alyssum                         Direct sow      

Chrysanthemum                      Buy starts

Rejuvenate Tired Summer Beds

Before planting fall crops, revive soil and prep beds:

1.      Clear out spent plants and weeds (compost healthy ones!)

2.      Top-dress with compost, aged manure, or worm castings to add microbial life.

3.      Add humic acid and kelp meal to support and feed microbial life

4.      Add winter vegetable fertilizer to replenish plant nutrients

5.      Loosen soil gently with a pitchfork or stake to improve drainage

6.      Water every few days for two weeks or until planting/transplanting

*Let beds rest for 2 weeks after adding compost before planting, this helps rebalance microbial activity.

Pest & Disease Reset

Fall brings fewer pests, but summer can leave issues behind. Now’s the time to:

-Remove diseased plants entirely (don’t compost them!)

-Solarize beds if needed (cover with clear plastic for 2–4 weeks to kill pathogens)

-Apply worm casting, manure, or compost to restore soil health