As summer starts to wind down with the last few weeks of Bay Area heat, here are a few tips to help our gardens stay healthy and safe for the Fall. Giving careful care to gardens is always important, prior planning before the season starts helps to prevent plants from withering and dying.

1. Late summer is one of the hottest times of the year making water usage a priority while trying to be conscious of water usage. Watering plants early in the morning and after the sun sets helps to make the most of the water used for gardens. Watering during the daytime often gets dried off quickly, preventing plants from fully absorbing all of the water.

2. Early September is the perfect time to get fall crops in before it’s too late for them to sprout. Gardeners interested in planting vegetables, such as celery, carrots, broccoli, snap peas, onions, and winter squash, will have fresh produce and vegetables to bring some flavor for your Thanksgiving dinners.

3. After a long summer, garden tools have gotten worn down and dirty. Take some time to clean them off and do some maintenance. Dirty tools are nothing to be worried about, but now is a good time to freshen them up a bit. A little bit of water and rubbing alcohol can go a long way to cleaning up and preventing the spread of disease that may be lingering on dirty tools.

4. Feed those hungry flowers that have been working through this hot summer. By the end of summer, most flowers have used a lot of their nutrients and can use a little bit of fertilizer to keep them healthy for next spring. By adding a little fertilizer, or compost for more adventurous folks, you can be sure your flowers are going to be happy and healthy.

5. While most flowers bloom and wither by the end of the summer, now it is not too late to add a little more color to spruce up your garden for the fall. Some plants that are happy to be planted at the end of the summer are Chrysanthemums, Gaura, and Russian sage. Late bloomers are always a great surprise to help keep your garden beautiful in the fall.

More Helpful Articles

New Year Just Around the Corner

New Year Just Around the Corner

With New Year's Eve right around the corner, we are wishing you our best for the upcoming year. Gone in the blink of an eye, holidays never seem to last long enough, but this new year gives everyone a fresh start. Movie marathons on wrapping-littered floors are so...

read more
Give Back This Holiday Season

Give Back This Holiday Season

As we gather with friends, family and loved ones during these holidays it's important to remember that not everyone is as lucky as us. All it takes is a few hours and some smiles to make a difference to so many people. Consider working at a food bank, donating...

read more
Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

With everyone bundled up binge-watching their holiday favorites in that embarrassing onesie you love or unwrapping the presents and watching your friends or family smile, we hope that you enjoy your holidays with your favorite traditions. Stocking stuffers or a Dim...

read more