The North American monsoon officially starts in mid-June and lasts through September 30. Of course, we’re not guaranteed to have rain during that entire period. The monsoon is very climatologically complex, and any given year will have different features, rainfall, and, dare I say it, personality.
In 2024 we’ve been fortunate to start early, which means that Tucson’s June weather has been cooler and rainier. This, in turn, has meant that our plants are surviving the hottest month much easier than other years. There’s no guarantee that will continue, but at least our (usually) hottest and driest month has been a lot more bearable.
Given the unpredictability of our monsoon, gardeners may find it difficult to know what they should be doing. Do I turn down my watering? Do I plant new plants? Here are some tips.
Getting a rain gauge will help you decide what to do about your watering. A rain gauge will tell you how much you got in any given rainfall. Generally, you will want to see between one-fourth to half of an inch of rain before you skip an irrigation cycle. Make sure your rain gauge is placed away from large trees or walls to avoid getting false readings. If you have an irrigation system with a rain sensor, that will make your life easier. Just make sure the sensor is uncovered and is functioning and set it to sense half of an inch. You can also upgrade your existing system with a sensor like this one.
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