October

September

If the ground is friable, prepare vegetable beds for spring planting.  See Vegetable Gardening.

Fertilize asparagus.

Protect frost-tender plants.

General yard clean-up.  Clean-up weeds, compost garden debris,  and remove old organic mulch and apply fresh mulch.

Check houseplants for insects and repot root-bound plants.   Houseplants will enjoy a "shower" to clean off leaves. Place plants into a bathtub or on porch and gently spray with lukewarm water. Clean off leaves of large plants with a damp soft cloth. To clean plants with felty leaves, such as African Violets, use a small brush and brush off leaves - do not clean leaves with water.   For more see Houseplants. 

It's a great time to clean and sharpen garden tools and maintain power equipment.  

If it has been an unseasonably dry winter, water plants.  See Watering Plants.

Install or maintain irrigation systems.  See Irrigation.

Plant bare-root trees, berries, fruit trees, & roses.  See Bare-root Plants.

Plant cool-loving annual such as pansies and snapdragons.

Plant living Christmas trees.  See Planting Standards.

Sow wildflower seeds.

Prune roses, trees, shrubs.  Hold off pruning conifers until April. See Pruning.

Prepare spring planting beds for annuals and vegetables. See Vegetable Gardening.

Spray fruit trees with horticultural oil to kill insects, eggs, and larvae.

Protect frost-tender plants.

General yard clean-up.  Clean-up weeds, compost garden debris, and remove old organic mulch and apply fresh mulch.

If it has been an unseasonably dry winter, water plants.  See Watering Plants.

Install or maintain irrigation systems.  See Irrigation.

Plant bare-root trees, berries, fruit trees, & roses.  See Bare-root Plants.

It's still not too late to scatter wildflower seeds for summer bloom.

Prune roses, fruit, nut, and deciduous ornamental trees and shrubs.  Hold off pruning conifers until April.  See Pruning.

If not done already, spray fruit trees with horticultural oil to kill insects, eggs, and larvae.

Protect frost-tender plants.

General yard clean-up.  Clean-up weeds, compost garden debris, and remove old organic mulch and apply fresh mulch.

Fertilize fruit and nut trees when buds begin to swell. For split application  apply 1/2 of required fertilizer now then remaining half in 6-8 weeks. See Fruit Trees. 

If it has been an unseasonably dry winter, water plants.  See Watering Plants.

Install or maintain irrigation systems. Consider building berms and swales to direct summer and winter rainfall onto the landscape or installing rainbarrel/cistern systems to capture and store rainfall for use during dry periods.   See Irrigation.

Last call for planting bare-root trees, berries, fruit trees, & roses. See Bare-root Plants.

Plant cool season crops in the vegetable garden - protect plants from cold nights that may still occur in March. See Vegetable Gardening.

Finish pruning roses, fruit, nut, and deciduous ornamental trees and shrubs. Hold off pruning conifers until April.  See Pruning.

Protect frost-tender plants.

General yard clean-up.  Clean-up weeds, compost garden debris, and remove old organic mulch and apply fresh mulch.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots. See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Fertilize plants.  Most native plants do not require fertilization. If in doubt please contact us at (520) 458-8278 ext. 141. See Fertilizers.

Thin fruit and nut trees 3 -6 weeks after blossom. Space fruit 6 inch apart on  baring shoots.  

Begin foliar application of zinc on pecans. Apply every 2-3 weeks until August.

Install or maintain irrigation systems before it gets too hot to work outside.  See Irrigation.

This month temperatures will start to rise and severe winds will begin.  Watch plants as their irrigation frequencies may increase. See Watering Plants.

Traditional spring planting begins.  In the high desert the best  planting times are in fall and during summer rains.  If planting trees, shrubs, and perennials, pay attention to the watering schedule.  Rising temperatures, lack of rainfall, and the hot drying winds that occur from April until the July summer rains make successful spring planting tricky.  

Plant cool season crops in the vegetable garden - protect plants from cold nights that may still occur this month.  See Vegetable Gardening.

Prune conifers & junipers.  See Pruning.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots.  See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Keep an eye out for garden pests. See Integrated Pest Management. 

Apply remaining 1/2 of fertilizer of split application to fruit trees.

Watch for iron chlorosis on plant leaves. When present apply foliar iron spray or chelated iron or iron sulfate in soil reservoirs.   

Install or maintain irrigation systems before it gets too hot to work outside.  See Irrigation.

With the rising temperatures and hot dry winds that began in April, be sure to deep water plants in the garden. See Watering Plants.

Plant cactus, agaves, yuccas, ocotillo, and other succulents.  Warm soil  temperatures stimulate root growth and will enable plants to absorb the coming summer rains.

Plant warm season crops in the vegetable garden. See Vegetable Gardening.

Trim back ornamental grasses and frost damaged plants.

Place shade cloth structures over cool season crops if attempting  to pull them through the summer.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots.  See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Keep an eye out for garden pests.  See Integrated Pest Management. 

Fertilize roses.

Prepare soil for planting melons, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers the first week in July.

Deadhead annual flowers and roses to keep them blooming. 

Watch for iron chlorosis on plant leaves. When present apply foliar iron spray or chelated iron or iron sulfate in soil reservoirs.   

Water!  See Watering Plants. 

Plant cactus, agaves, yuccas, ocotillo, and other succulents.  Warm soil temperatures stimulate root growth and will enable plants to absorb the coming summer rains.

Plant warm season crops in the vegetable garden. See Vegetable Gardening.

Place shade cloth structures over cool season crops if attempting to pull them through the summer.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots.  See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Keep an eye out for garden pests.  See Integrated Pest Management. 

Fertilize houseplants.

Deadhead annual flowers and roses to keep them blooming.

Watch for iron chlorosis on plant leaves. When present apply foliar iron spray or chelated iron or iron sulfate in soil reservoirs.   

Weed, weed, weed!

Summer rains begin.  Adjust watering schedule accordingly. See Watering Plants. 

Plant melons, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers the first week in July.  See Vegetable Gardening.

Take advantage of the summer rains and plant trees, shrubs, perennials and herbs.  See Planting Standards.

Plant heat loving annuals such as sunflowers, zinna and cosmos.

Place shade cloth structures over cool season crops if attempting to pull them through the summer.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots.  See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Keep an eye out for garden pests.  See Integrated Pest Management. 

Fertilize roses.

Deadhead annual flowers and roses to keep them blooming.

Watch for iron chlorosis on plant leaves. When present apply foliar iron spray or chelated iron or iron sulfate in soil reservoirs.   

Weed, weed, weed! 

Summer rains may continue.  Adjust watering schedule accordingly. See Watering Plants. 

Plant warm season crops in the vegetable garden. See Vegetable Gardening.

This is an excellent month to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials.  See Planting Standards.

Plant heat loving annuals such as zinna and cosmos.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots.  See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Keep an eye out for garden pests.  See Integrated Pest Management. 

Fertilize roses.

Fertilize houseplants.

Deadhead annual flowers and roses to keep them blooming.

Summer rains begin to taper off this month.  Adjust watering schedule accordingly.  See Watering Plants. 

Plant cool-season vegetables for fall crop. 

This is an excellent month to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials except for frost sensitive plants such as verbena and lantana.  See Planting Standards.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots.  See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Roses and houseplants are entering winter dormancy - stop fertilization.

Begin fall clean-up of garden.  In the vegetable garden compost spent crops.

Sow wildflower seeds.

Fall is here.  With the cooler weather decrease irrigation schedules. See Watering Plants. 

Decrease indoor houseplant watering.   

This is an excellent month to plant cold hardy trees, shrubs, and perennials.  See Planting Standards.

Plant cool-season vegetables for fall crop. See Vegetable Gardening.

Plant spring blooming bulbs and cool season annuals.

Hard freezes are possible this month.  Protect tender plants.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots.  See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Begin or continue fall clean-up of garden.  In the vegetable garden compost spent crops. 

Live Christmas trees are in the nurseries late November.  For care see Christmas Trees.

Sow wildflower seeds.

Decreased indoor light may make houseplants "leggy."  Move to windows or supplement with artificial lighting.

 If sufficient rainfall is received irrigation may be reduced or skipped.  See Watering Plants.

Plant cool season annuals. 

Plant cold hardy trees, shrubs, and perennials.  See Planting Standards.

Hard freezes are possible this month.  Protect tender plants.

Mulch plants.  The benefits of using mulch: prevents evaporation which extends irrigation frequencies; inhibits weed growth; and modifies extreme soil temperatures by insulating plant roots.  See What, Why, How to use Mulches.

Live and cut Christmas trees are in the nurseries.  For care see Christmas Trees.

If sufficient rainfall is received irrigation may be reduced or skipped.  See Watering Plants.

Prepare living Christmas trees for planting.  See Christmas Trees and  Planting Standards.