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What to do in September 👩🌾, it's TEP time! 🌳, what's a 'Bubba'? 🤔 , & more 😎🌵
Published about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi, Desert Gardener,
September's right around the corner but that doesn't mean fall will be arriving soon. Many gardening references state that September is a good time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and winter annuals. But I disagree...
The past few Septembers have been brutally hot. 🥵 Two years ago, Tucson had 16 days of 100+ heat. (October, with 13 days over 100, brought little relief.) That’s two months of heat stress for new plants.
So use September to plan not plant. Wait until mid-October or even November to plant. Your plants will experience less transplant shock and you’ll experience less stress.
🌵 ☀️ 🌵
It's TEP time! If Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is your electricity provider, you can participate in their Trees for You Program. Starting September 7, you can order two 5 gallon trees for $5 each. TEP has distributed more than 175,000 trees since this program began! While you can order starting sooner, I suggest waiting a few weeks so that your trees arrive in October which is a much better month to plant trees. It usually takes about 2 weeks for your trees to be available for pickup after you place your order.
I urge you to do your homework and pick a tree that is right for the spot you have in mind. Too many people impulsively order trees because they are so inexpensive and then wonder where to put them. Some of TEP's offerings grow to be HUGE (40' by 40') and will outgrow the typical urban or suburban lot.
🌵 ☀️ 🌵
In this week's newsletter, we cover:
What to do in the garden in September
Featured plant: Desert willow 'Bubba'
Choosing the right TEP tree
Upcoming classes & events
and more!
Desert Willow ‘Bubba’: A Superior Cultivar
Desert willow ‘Bubba’ is a showy, fast-growing, drought-tolerant ornamental tree with very decorative blooms. Compared to the parent plant, this hybrid offers many advantages. It has thicker, glossier leaves, lusher foliage, and produces fewer seed pods. Learn more →
Fun Fact: What's a 'Bubba'?
If you’re wondering about the unusual cultivar name 'Bubba', here’s the backstory…
Warren Jones was a key figure in the development of the University of Arizona Campus Arboretum. He discovered the first wild desert willow selection, which was named 'Warren Jones' in his honor. The 'Bubba' desert willows were named after his nickname “Bubba” in his honor, too.
TEP’s “Trees for You”: Choosing the Right Tree
If TEP is your electricity provider, you can take advantage of their “Trees for You” program. Here’s a review of the trees available through this program to help you decide which would be a good fit for your yard. Learn more →
Upcoming Tucson Events
There are plenty of garden-related activities happening around Tucson. Upcoming highlights include: * Great Plants for Tucson @ Pima Co. Master Gardeners (9/2, online) * Greywater Harvesting @ Watershed Management Group (9/3, online) * Fruit Growers Meeting @ Four Arrows Garden (9/3)
If you live in Tucson or are visiting this summer, check out $5 Fridays at Tucson Botanical Gardens (now through September). What a great deal! 🤩
Not in Tucson? Look for online classes.Anyone can participate in these.
September Gardening Guide
While September may mean fall is coming elsewhere, it's still summer in the desert Southwest. However, the monsoon is winding down, which brings some changes in weather and gardening tasks. Here’s a look at what you should and shouldn’t do in the garden now, and learn why this is the month to plan, not plant. Get the details here →
Garden Proverb
"Hope is one of the essential tools of a farmer or gardener." — Amy Stewart, nature author
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.
