September gardening tips

September:
The weather is cooling down, but the monsoon is finished, water needs are still high. Planting is not as hard on the plants if you wait until the night temperature falls in the 70's to do your plantings.

Rainfall:
Average: 0.86 inches
Record: 5.5inches (1939)

Temperature (degrees F):
Average High: 98.3 degrees
Lowest High: 66 degrees (1895)
Record High: 116 degrees (1950)
Average Low: 72.8 degrees
Highest Low: 90 degrees (1982, 1983)
Record Low: 47 degrees (1895, 1965)

Annuals and perennials to sow:
African Daisies, Alyssum, Aster, Bachelor Button, Bells of Ireland, Calendula, California Poppy, Candytuft, Carnation, Clarkia, Columbine, Delphinium, Forget-Me-Not, Gaillardia, Godetia, Gypsophila, Hollyhocks, Larkspur, Lupines, Nasturnium, Nicotiana, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, Poppy, Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Stocks, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultan, Sweet William, Verbena, Viola

In the vegetable garden:
- Solarize garden soil: Prepare bed for fall planting, irrigate and then cover with clear plastic for six weeks. This will kill or drive out many of the soil pathogens.
- Prepare bed for fall planting
Plant Seeds: Snap Beans, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce (Head & Leaf), Leeks, Mustard, Green Onions, Peas, Radishes, Spinach, Turnips
Plant Transplants: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Lettuce (Head & Leaf)

Grass:
It is time to decide if you are going to over seed your lawn with winter grass. If you are not, high nitrogen fertilizer will keep it green longer.
- Fertilize Bermuda-grass lawns with Nitrogen each month beginning late April or early May according to the directions on the package.
- Apply Iron each month according to the directions on the package.
- Apply one inch of water per week to Bermuda lawns

To remove a Bermuda lawn:
- Water and fertilize the grass to ensure that it is actively growing 
- Apply a herbicide with glyphosate according to the directions on the package 
- The grass will take in the herbicide throughout the entire root system, thus killing the plant rather than just knocking it back 
- After a few days water again 
- Reapply the herbicide to any of the turf that regrows 
- Continue this cycle (may take three or more times) of fostering growth and applying herbicide until the grass is completely killed

Roses:
- Resume full fertilizing of established roses as the weather cools
- Toward the end of August and into September add an iron supplement if roses show yellowing from iron deficiency

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