This is a good time to relax in the shade with a cold drink and enjoy your garden. Here are some August San Diego gardening tips to help your garden thrive.
Fight Ants Responsibly
This time of year, we are all battling ant invasions in our gardens and homes. One way to beat the ants is to use insecticide sprays. But insecticides only kill the foraging ants, not the ants in the nest. They also kill many other insects, and they contaminate surface waters which kills aquatic organisms. Insecticide use is one of the reasons insect populations are declining rapidly. Studies show that in the past 50 years, insect populations have plummeted by up to 75%.
If these insect populations collapse, they will take entire ecosystems with them. This is because insects are critical to those ecosystems for multiple reasons. They are an essential part of the food chain. They pollinate approximately 80% of all plant species, disperse seeds, decompose animal and plant material and are important biological pest controllers.
There are safer ways to control ants that won’t be as harmful to other insects and aquatic environments. Take a look at the University of California Pest Management Program for less toxic ways to keep ants out of your home and manage them in your garden.
Native Plant Care in San Diego Gardens
Many native plants are adapted to our wet winters and dry summers. This time of year, established native plants will be happiest with deep watering just once a month. Avoid overhead watering and frequent watering for short durations. This can cause the plants to rot or get fungal diseases. Newly planted natives will need water more often, but once they are established will do better with less summer water.
Grow Edible Flowers
Grow some colorful, edible flowers to add to salads or use as garnishes. Try squash blossoms. They can be eaten raw in salads, sauteed or stuffed and fried. Make sure to remove the stamens and pistils first. Nasturtiums add spiciness to salads, butters, cheeses, oils and vinegars. Chamomile petals can be added to hot or iced tea and will give it a pineapple flavor.
When the weather cools, you can grow Johnny-Jump-Ups, Pansies and Violets to add color to salads. You can also candy them to use as decoration on desserts. Not all flowers are edible and some are poisonous or can be a problem if you have asthma or allergies, so start small and stick with those that are known to be safe.
San Diego Gardening Tips Source
A lot of information for San Diego Gardening Tips comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.