Crocus bulbs can be planted in higher elevations this month and in the low desert next month.

WHAT TO PLANT
Cool-season vegetables—Sow beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, Chinese cabbage, endive, green onions, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce and other salad greens, leeks, radishes, spinach and turnips. Sow peas after mid-month. Some gardeners prefer to wait to plant until late September or even mid-October to avoid late hot spells that dry out soil and stress seedlings. If you have space, start seeds indoors for all except root crops; transplant outside after heat abates. Root crops should be sown directly into the garden.

GARDEN MAINTENANCE
Develop fertile garden soil—If starting a new garden, loosen and turn (or till) earth to a depth of 12 to 18 inches to promote good drainage and root development. Layer 4 to 6 inches of compost or well-aged manure on top of the soil or on top of existing beds. Add nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers according to package instructions. Turn under.

Organic nitrogen sources include alfalfa meal, blood meal, coffee grounds, cottonseed meal, fish emulsion and guano. Bonemeal and rock phosphate are organic phosphorus sources, although both are highly insoluble in the low desert’s alkaline soils; this means that it takes time for them to break down into a form that plant roots can absorb and move through the soil to the root zone. Thus, it is helpful to incorporate bonemeal or rock phosphate into the root zone or in the bottom of planting holes. Compost and manure also contain organic nitrogen and phosphorus sources, but the concentration is low and varies depending on the source ingredients.

Alternative gardens—If soil is too hard and rocky to dig, construct raised beds at least 12 to 18 inches high. Waist-high raised beds or tall containers are excellent if bending is difficult. Another option is to build organically rich soil over time by sheet composting—spreading thick layers of organic matter on top of the ground and planting directly in it.

Prepare lawns—Stop fertilizing bermudagrass four to six weeks prior to overseeding with winter ryegrass. Optimum time for overseeding is after night temperatures drop below 65 degrees, from mid-October to mid-November. If you choose to skip overseeding this winter, continue fertilizing bermudagrass monthly, and reduce watering frequency as temperatures cool. Bermuda lawns that are not overseeded will remain quite lush through Thanksgiving and perhaps retain some green most of the winter if temperatures are mild.

Trim roses—After mid-month, prune lightly to prepare for the second bloom period. Remove dead or damaged canes. Remove suckers that grow from below the bud union (a raised bump where the variety and rootstock were grafted). Lightly trim weak top growth.

Feed citrus—If you did not do so last month, feed with the third and final application of nitrogen for the year.