Labor Day weekend typically marks the end of summer, but the heat is still here! With the heat sticking around our desert, Sara Snyder offers these September gardening tips…
No changes to your watering schedule are needed yet, so stick to soaking your plants before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. – just use your water wisely! Consider installing a “rain harvesting” system before the winter rainy season. This “free” water is a boost for desert gardening and can cost as little as a few dollars on up, depending on how elaborate you want it. To learn more, visit https://www.ruralsprout.com/rainwater-collection/
Late September to mid-November starts the most important planting season of the year. Plant native and drought-tolerant plants; warm soil helps new plants develop deep roots before summer, reducing water needs during new plants’ entire two-to-three-year establishment period. Fall season is a great opportunity to transplant yuccas from late September to October.
Reduce water to cacti and succulents to prepare them for winter rest and protect against frost damage. Protect against wildfire as Santa Ana winds start; prune dead limbs, clean away brush, and clean leaves from roof gutters.
