Back to the Garden at SaddleBrooke Ranch / SaddleBrooke: Rain & Shine
This summer has been a marvelous time for gardening in the SaddleBrooke Ranch and SaddleBrooke communities. Tomatoes, squash, potatoes, lettuces, herbs, and flowers are abundant —and cooler temperatures have allowed us to enjoy the home-grown delights for many days following the recent monsoon moisture.
July 2021 was the wettest calendar month on record for Tucson, ever. More than eight inches of rain fell, according to the National Weather Service. SaddleBrooke received 6.46 inches (maps.cocorahs.org) and SaddleBrooke Ranch logged 7.67 inches, according to resident Tony Pietrzykoski’s weather station—all welcome relief for our gardens and landscapes. As we slouch toward September, there is much to be done to prepare for the cooler growing season.
As Texas rangers lose their purple majesty and bougainvillea blossoms fade, September is the perfect time to choose your annuals for the next bloom, so your yard will once again shine with color. Bulbs should be available by the end of the month, so start designing your flower beds ahead of time. You can begin to switch out your summer annuals for cool-season annuals as the temperatures cool down. Sow seeds for golden Dyssodia, Mexican gold poppy, lupine, desert bluebell, and cherry red sage for a range of colors.
Summer to Fall Transition
We now begin that transition from summer into fall, allowing us time to maintain and prepare our landscapes for cool weather, planting, and grooming our trees. Local growers and nurseries should have trees by the end of the month. As you amend your soil, consider planting native and/or drought-tolerant trees and shrubs. Ironwood, mesquite, Texas ebony, and acacia trees adapt well to our desert climate. Planting them in September will allow ample time to develop a solid root system before any danger of frost.
Therefore, now is a good time to consider adding shrubs to your landscape, as well. Look for plants that are not cold-sensitive and plant early in the fall so they can establish a root system. Adding a generous layer of mulch to new shrubs will protect and encourage new growth. Some lovely desert shrubs include turpentine bush, San Marcus hibiscus, chuparosa, and desert lavender. As for pruning established shrubs, dead-head summer flowers, and prune conservatively to discourage new growth.
Becoming a Master Gardener
Would you like to become a master gardener? If you’re reading this, you likely have an interest in your landscape and gardens and you’ve probably discovered that gardening in our communities offers different challenges and rewards than gardening anywhere else.
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension trains gardening enthusiasts of Pinal County as master gardener volunteers who help their fellow citizens grow better gardens and more sustainable landscapes. Certification as a master gardener requires successful completion of the training program, which requires 50 hours of volunteer service within one year. In short, a wide variety of volunteer opportunities are made available, as well as mentorships and training to assist you in reaching your goals.
SaddleBrooke/SaddleBrooke Ranch Master Gardeners are volunteers trained under the auspices of the University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension, Pinal County. We offer educational programs and classes to residents of our communities. Please visit www.extension.arizona.edu/saddlebrooke-master-gardeners for more information.
Written by: Sheilah Britton, Pinal County Master Gardener
Did you know that SaddleBrooke Ranch features a Community Garden with individual boxes available for homeowners to rent? Learn more about this amenity here and discover luxury 55+ living north of Tucson.
