Water Lawns Efficiently
Set timers to water lawns between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. to reduce water loss to evaporation from sun and wind and so grass blades will dry quickly as the sun rises. Watering late at night is less desirable because prolonged wet, cooler conditions promote fungal diseases. Where temperatures are above 90 degrees F, water every 2 to 3 days; if temperatures are below 90, water every 3 to 5 days. With each irrigation, water should penetrate through the Bermuda roots to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. If water runs off into the street before soaking the appropriate depth, you likely need to aerate and/or dethatch your lawn to improve water and air penetration. Also, program the timer to start and stop with several cycles to complete one irrigation, thus allowing water time to soak in.
Sow Pumpkin Seeds
Improve garden soil with a 4- to 6-inch layer of compost. Add nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer according to package instructions and dig it in to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. If your soil is heavy clay, adding gypsum or soil sulfur can improve drainage somewhat, but it is not a cure-all. Pumpkins are heavy water users, so mulch soil with several inches of organic mulch to retain moisture. Small and mini pumpkins perform better in the low desert than the large Jack-o'-lantern types.
Plant Palm Trees
Palms are one of the few landscape plants that actually thrive when planted in the heat of summer. Avoid queen palms, which suffer from iron chlorosis in the desert. Although iron is available in the soil, their root systems have difficulty absorbing it, and the fronds always look yellow without regular fertilizer or supplements.
Most common houseplants actively grow in summer, so it's a good time to take cuttings to propagate new plants. The parent plant will quickly recover, and the cuttings will quickly root. Pothos, philodendron, arrowhead, spider plant, wandering Jew, and Swedish ivy (also called creeping Charlie) root easily in water or potting mix.
Monitor Rainwater Flow
During summer storms, watch where rainwater naturally flows off the eaves onto the ground. Document this with a sketch or photos. When weather cools (or if you don't mind the heat), create gentle paths and depressions (called swales) to make use of the rain. Swales allow water to collect and soak into the root zone. Keep swales 8 to 10 feet away from the home's foundation.