This Month in Your SW Yard – October
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October Garden Tasks for Southwest Yards
Fall is the perfect time to plant new native and drought-tolerant plants, when soils are still warm but air temperatures have cooled down. Your established plants will need less water as nights get cooler and longer, so remember to adjust your irrigation timers to water less often.
Take advantage of fall planting season to develop strong, summer-ready plants
~ Continue to plant native and drought-tolerant perennial plants and trees. Fall plantings develop deep roots while soils are still warm but the air is cool, which stimulates root growth. This early root establishment reduces water needs during your new plant’s two- to three-year establishment.
~ Adjust irrigation timers as nights get longer and cooler. Simply making monthly changes to your irrigation schedule can save more water and money than any other thing you can do
~ Fall opportunity to transplant Joshua trees and yuccas from late September to October.
~ Reduce water to cactus and succulents to prepare them for winter rest and protect against frost damage.
~ Fall annuals abound in nurseries, but are mostly high water-use. Consider using them only near entries, on patios, and in containers. Plant perennials and bulbs for less maintenance and lower water use.
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