Even in regions with mild winters, there are September gardening tasks to prepare you for the next full growing season. The southwest region includes Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, although some have expanded the classification to include Nevada. Either way, these areas are hot and dry, but they do get a little cooler in the fall and winter. A regional task list can prepare gardeners in this range to complete fall tasks.
Southwest Gardening in September
September is a beautiful time of year in the Southwest. Daytime temperatures are no longer in the triple digits and the evenings are pleasant and cool. Most gardens are still in full swing, and it’s time to plant cruciferous crops like broccoli, cabbage, and kale.
Many vegetables are being harvested in full swing and crops such as dates and lemons are beginning to ripen. This is also a good time to do some maintenance so that the plants are not damaged in the upcoming freezing temperatures.
With the cooler temperatures just around the corner, it’s time to hang around delicate plants. The mulch will protect the roots from freezing. Keep the mulch 8 cm away from the stem to avoid mold and rot problems.
You can also prune summer-blooming shrubs that are hardy, but don’t prune the tender plants just yet. Light pruning of trees is also permitted but avoid heavy pruning until February. Roses should be pruned and fertilized a little.
Because of the mild temperatures, this is also a good time to plant many plants. There are a lot of things you can do with perennials, too. Cut it into thirds and split what ends up in the middle.
Regional To-Do List
- Plant cool season crops.
- Harvest the onions and garlic once the skins are dead. Dry it and store it in a cool, dry place for up to three weeks.
- Harvest the potatoes after the vegetables are dead.
- Harvest the pears as soon as they can easily topple off the tree.
- Aerate the foam as needed and apply the first month’s slow-release dose.
- Fertilize lemon trees.
- Fertilize herbs and vegetables.
- Remove spent flowering annuals and save the seeds for next year.
- Cut and divide perennials.
- Prune most winter-hardy trees and shrubs, but not fruit trees.
- Pull out root vegetables like carrots.
- Divide ornamental grasses and perennials in spring and early summer.
- Cover your tomatoes and other delicate plants with a blanket of frost at night.
- Start by moving indoor plants that have been outside to enjoy the summer.
Tips on Southwest Gardening
Southwest September is a fantastic month to consider the future. You can start amending the soil with compost or compost that will decompose over the winter and leave your soil juicy.
You should check your lawn, shrubs, and trees for insect damage. Before the leaves fall, use the recommended sprays to control pests such as mulberry crown borer, boxer moth, and rust mite.
It is also important to continue watering but adjust the schedule as the weather cools. Reset watering regimes to reflect cooler, shorter days.
Since the weather is mild, September is less gardening work and more fun.