Here are a few
suggestions for September gardening:
Will it or
won't it? You'll have to watch the local weather predictions and judge whether
September will be a normal one with gradual cooling all month or one of
those September's that doesn't want to let go of the summer heat.
Will you plant everything you can get your hands on, or will you
hold back till October where cooler temperatures
prevail?
The avid vegetable
gardener still has warm season crops in the garden including a new crop of
beans, lingering eggplants, winter and summer squash, and hope for another tomato
crop.
Cool
weather crops like broccoli, leaf lettuce, Swiss chard, onions, garlic,
radishes, and peas need to be planted whether from seed or transplants from the
nursery.
Cool
temperature loving herbs like dill, cilantro, parsley and chives
can
be planted in containers or the herb or vegetable garden.
Trees and
shrubs, including citrus, can be planted providing adequate moisture is
supplied to help get the plants' roots thoroughly established before
winter sets in and slows down growth.
You'll like the
weather, so will another wave of insects that'll take the opportunity to
feast on new growth. Leaf cutting ants will continue to strip the foliage
from plants as they harvest vegetation during the night and into early
morning.
Start watching
the local newspapers for announcements of fall plant sales at Desert
Survivors Nursery, Tohono Chul Park, and the Tucson Botanical Gardens for
late September or early October.
Why wait? If
you know you're going to do some major container planting or soil amending
start stocking up on potting soil, composted steer
manure, and other soil amendments. A bag or two at a time is a lot easier
to handle.
Stock up gradually so you have what you need when you need it.
Prepare
flower and vegetable beds by adding plenty of compost or steer manure and
get it well worked into the soil before it's time to plant.
Remember last
July and August? Were the monsoons stingy or generous with moisture?
Will drought conditions continue until communities require mandatory
water conservation? It's never too late to start
transforming a thirsty water consuming oasis into a more water conserving
environment. Think native plants with an eye catching collection of cactus
and succulents.
Drip, drip,
drip. Don't waste water in your garden now and in the future.
Install and
properly use an efficient drip irrigation system.
Find collections of southwest wildflower
seed to plant in your desert garden in late September and October so you'll have a spring show of penstemon, blue bells, desert marigold, brittlebush, and California
poppies.
