Fall in Arizona brings consistently lower temperatures and a more moderate planting climate. However, temperatures can still hit the 80s and 90s, even in late November. If you want to keep your plants healthy and happy throughout the fall in Arizona, you should pay attention to the weather and temperature each day. You may need to make adjustments to your irrigation system or watering schedule, overseed and fertilize, prune and trim your plants carefully, and protect them from sun, heat, and pests. Here is a quick guide to caring for your plants in the fall.
Update Your Automatic Irrigation System or Watering Schedule
It will get cooler in the evenings and overnight in the fall, which means you may need to adjust your automatic irrigation system or watering schedule. You should be watering after sundown year-round so that your landscaping or garden has the best chance of absorbing as much water as possible without losing moisture to evaporation. In the fall, the ground won’t be as hot, and you won’t lose as much water to evaporation, so you should adjust how much water you are using.
For most garden plants, you can water every other day or every third day. For mature, established trees, bushes, and your lawn, you can water every other week when temperatures are still 80 degrees and above, and monthly when temperatures consistently drop below 80 degrees. Established succulents and cacti should be watered every two weeks if the temperatures are still hitting 90 degrees or more, and every three to four weeks when daytime temperatures stay below 80 degrees.
Fertilize Trees, Shrubs, and Plants
Fall is the ideal season to fertilize your trees, shrubs, and other plants.
- Fertilize fruit trees, evergreens, perennials, and bulbs in September.
- Fertilize lawns in October.
- Fertilize desert trees in late fall.
- Choose high-quality organic fertilizer that is specially formulated for Southwest plants.
Overseed Your Lawn
You should prepare your lawn for winter in late September or early October, before the weather gets too cool. A small patch of lawn can be maintained over the winter, especially if you use winter grass like annual and perennial rye grass. You should overseed your Bermuda lawn with winter rye grass.
Trim or Prune Your Trees and Shrubs
The summer heat and monsoon storms may stress your trees and shrubs. You should trim off dead branches, taking care not to remove more than one third of the shrub or tree. You should also remove any broken limbs from trees.
Protect Your Plants from Pests
Caterpillars are the biggest threat to your plants in the fall. If you treat your plants and trees in early fall, you can protect them from damage. You should also protect your trees, shrubs, plants, succulents, and cacti from wildlife, fungi, crickets, and beetles.
Horticulture Limited offers expert landscape maintenance in Arizona, and our team can protect your plants from pests, trim, and prune trees and shrubs, fertilize, and make sure your irrigation system is properly adjusted for fall weather. Call us today at (520) 321-4678 or contact us online to create a landscape maintenance schedule.