What to Plant This Month in the Bay Area

What to Plant in August

August is one of the warmer and drier months across much of the San Francisco Bay Area.

You can still plant many trees, shrubs, privacy plants, succulents, Mediterranean plants, and heat-tolerant edibles, but newly planted material needs closer attention to watering and heat stress.

Conditions vary greatly between coastal San Francisco and warmer inland areas such as Walnut Creek, Livermore, San Jose, and other inland communities.

Choose plants based on your local conditions, available sunlight, irrigation, and the needs of the individual plant.

Shop August Seasonal Picks

Good Plants to Consider in August

Mediterranean & Drought-Tolerant Plants

August can be a good time to shop for plants that perform well in warm, dry California landscapes.

Consider:

Olive trees
Lavender
Rosemary
Westringia
Agave
Yucca
Selected succulents
Other Mediterranean and drought-tolerant plants

Newly planted drought-tolerant plants still need regular attention while their root systems establish.

Privacy Trees & Evergreen Screening

Privacy projects can continue through summer when irrigation is available.

Popular options may include:

Podocarpus
Italian Cypress
Pittosporum
Privet
Carolina Cherry Laurel
Other evergreen screening plants

Larger starting sizes can provide faster visual coverage.

Explore Instant Privacy Trees

Heat-Tolerant Fruit Trees

Some warm-season fruit trees can be planted during summer when appropriate care is available.

Depending on local conditions and current availability, options may include:

Fig
Jujube
Pomegranate
Mulberry
Olive
Selected citrus
Other warm-climate fruiting plants

Avoid assuming that every fruit tree is equally well suited to midsummer planting.

Succulents & Architectural Plants

Warm, dry weather can suit many drought-tolerant architectural plants.

Consider:

Agave
Aloe
Yucca
Selected cacti
Other succulents

Make sure the planting area provides appropriate drainage.

Mature & Larger Trees

Larger trees can still be installed during summer when site conditions, irrigation, delivery, and planting are properly planned.

Because larger root balls can be difficult to move and establish, prepare the planting site and watering plan before delivery.

Explore Mature & Large Trees

August Planting Tips

Check the Weather Before Planting

Avoid unnecessary planting during periods of extreme heat when possible.

If a heat wave is approaching, consider whether installation can be scheduled during more moderate conditions.

Water the Root Ball

Newly planted trees and shrubs still depend heavily on the original nursery root ball.

Make sure irrigation reaches the root ball rather than only wetting the surrounding soil.

See Watering & Irrigation Guide

Plant Early in the Day

When practical, planting during the cooler part of the day can reduce immediate heat stress.

Add Mulch

A 2–3 inch layer of mulch can help reduce moisture loss and moderate soil temperature.

Keep mulch away from direct contact with the trunk.

Watch Newly Planted Material Closely

For the first several weeks, check:

Soil moisture
Wilting
Leaf scorch
Irrigation
Stakes and ties
Overall plant condition

Do not respond to every wilted leaf by automatically adding more water. Check the soil first.

Coastal vs. Inland Bay Area

August conditions can be dramatically different across the region.

San Francisco & Coastal Communities

Cooler temperatures, wind, and fog can reduce water demand.

Plants that struggle in extreme inland heat may perform well in these milder conditions.

Peninsula & Near-Bay Areas

Conditions vary by neighborhood and exposure.

Check sun, wind, and irrigation rather than relying only on the city name.

South Bay

Warm summer weather supports many Mediterranean, fruiting, and landscape plants, but newly installed plants still need establishment care.

East Bay & Inland Areas

Higher temperatures can increase water demand and transplant stress.

Avoid treating a Walnut Creek or Livermore garden the same way as coastal San Francisco.

Should I Wait Until Fall?

Sometimes.

Fall is an excellent planting season for many Bay Area trees and shrubs because temperatures become cooler and seasonal rainfall approaches.

If you are planning a large landscape project and do not need immediate results, fall may provide easier establishment conditions for many plants.

But summer planting is not automatically a problem.

The decision depends on:

Plant species
Local weather
Irrigation
Site conditions
Plant size
Project timing

What to Plant Throughout the Year

January

Good time to consider many deciduous fruit trees, dormant trees, cool-season landscape plants, and winter planting projects.

February

Fruit trees, roses, evergreen shrubs, hedges, and many landscape trees can be considered as spring approaches.

March

Spring growth begins to accelerate. Trees, shrubs, flowering plants, fruit trees, and privacy plants become increasingly active.

April

A broad range of landscape plants can be planted as temperatures become warmer.

May

Flowering shrubs, Mediterranean plants, privacy trees, fruiting plants, and warm-season garden material become prominent.

June

Summer conditions begin. Focus on plants suited to warmth and make sure irrigation is ready.

July

Heat-tolerant trees, drought-tolerant plants, Mediterranean plants, succulents, and selected fruit trees can perform well when establishment watering is available.

August

Continue with heat-tolerant and drought-adapted plants while paying close attention to newly planted material.

September

Late summer begins transitioning toward one of the most useful Bay Area planting periods.

This can be a good time to begin larger fall landscape projects.

October

Fall is an excellent time to plant many trees, shrubs, privacy plants, California natives, perennials, and landscape plants.

November

Cooler temperatures and seasonal rain can support establishment of many woody landscape plants.

December

Dormant-season planting begins for appropriate deciduous trees and fruit trees, while many evergreen landscape plants can also be planted depending on conditions.

What About California Native Plants?

Fall and winter are especially useful planting periods for many California native plants because seasonal rain can help them establish before the following dry season.

Summer planting may still be possible for some species, but irrigation and species-specific needs become especially important.

Shop California Native Plants

What About Fruit Trees?

Fruit-tree planting depends on the species.

Deciduous fruit trees, citrus, avocado, figs, pomegranates, persimmons, and other fruit trees do not all follow the same planting calendar.

When choosing a fruit tree, consider:

Species
Local climate
Dormancy
Frost sensitivity
Heat sensitivity
Pollination
Available sunlight
Irrigation

Shop Fruit Trees

What About Privacy Trees?

Privacy trees can be planted through much of the year in the Bay Area when conditions are appropriate.

The bigger questions are:

How quickly do you need privacy?
How tall should the screen become?
How much width is available?
How much maintenance do you want?
What size should you start with?

Explore Instant Privacy Trees

See Plant Spacing Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month to plant trees in the Bay Area?

There is no single best month for every tree.

Fall is an excellent planting period for many trees and shrubs, while spring also works well for many species.

The best timing depends on the plant and local conditions.

Can I plant trees in summer?

Yes, many trees can be planted during summer when irrigation, weather, and establishment care are appropriate.

Avoid unnecessary planting during extreme heat when possible.

What can I plant in August in the Bay Area?

Mediterranean plants, drought-tolerant plants, privacy trees, succulents, and selected fruit trees are among the options worth considering.

Plant suitability depends on your specific microclimate.

Is fall the best time to plant?

Fall is one of the best planting periods for many Bay Area trees and shrubs because temperatures are cooler and winter rainfall is approaching.

It is not automatically the best season for every plant.

Can I plant fruit trees year-round?

Some container-grown fruit trees can be planted through much of the year, but species-specific climate and seasonal requirements still matter.

Deciduous fruit trees and subtropical fruit trees should not be treated the same way.

What should I plant for privacy right now?

Evergreen screening plants such as Podocarpus, Italian Cypress, Pittosporum, Privet, and other privacy plants may be appropriate depending on space, desired height, and local conditions.

Shop Plants for This Month

Looking for plants that fit the current Bay Area season?

Explore Victory Nursery's current seasonal recommendations.

Shop Seasonal Picks

Shop Trees