September can fool a gardener into watering the garden exactly as they did in July. The calendar says summer has nearly packed its bags, but the soil may still dry quickly on warm afternoons, especially around thirsty vegetables, newly planted perennials, and containers.
As temperatures gradually cool and daylight shortens, plants generally lose water more slowly through transpiration, and evaporation from the soil also tends to decrease. Rainfall can start doing more of the work, too, although September weather rarely follows a perfectly tidy schedule. Instead of watering according to the calendar, check the soil, watch the plants, and adjust the amount and frequency as conditions change.
