September is still summer here in the desert, but the severe temperatures are usually done for the year. At least we should not expect to see 115 degrees or more. It’s time to reduce watering times to twice a day at the most and reduce the number of minutes slightly.
It is still too hot to do any trimming of burnt plants. Wait till the end of the month or October to do any trimming.
There is some very good news from the Coachella Valley Water District in case they are your water company. They have significantly increased their rebate program for turf removal. They are now offering $2.00 per square foot and will pay up to $5,000. per residential customer. You still have to apply to the program to get the rebate. Converting your landscape from grass to desert landscape can be pricey so a rebate of $5,000. can make a big difference in your total cost. See below for the information from their website.
Link to the website rebate program:
“Residential Landscape Rebate Program (requires pre-approval) For residential customers, Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) rebates are available at $2 per square foot up to a maximum of 10,000 square feet. Applications for this program should be made through our online portal and will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Conversion projects must be pre-approved to be eligible for a rebate. This program requires pre-approval. Some cities offer landscape rebate programs separate from CVWD’s program. Please contact your city directly for program status and guidelines.”