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Rose Roots Newsletter September 2026: Home Stretch

Writer: Rose Roots Garden Leader
Rose Roots Garden Leader
1 day ago
4 min read

There's rain in the forecast and a chill in the air! Fall is just around the corner in Colorado.


In this Issue:

  • WATER USAGE - Must Read

  • Big Volunteer Event! 

  • Sharing Smiles with Gardens on Quail

  • Coming Up

  • This & That (Important Deadline)


Water Usage

Our water usage is currently OVER the allowed amount. Garden leadership reached out with critical details about this issue by email, so while this newsletter provides a brief recap of the steps all members must take, it is important that you read the message sent on Sunday. If you didn't receive it, reach out to leadership@roserootsgarden.com.


REQUIRED WATERING PRACTICES — EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

For the remainder of the 2026 season:

1. Only water when your soil is dry. Rain is in the forecast and current temperatures are in the 70s and 80s. Most gardens should need water twice per week or less.

2. Use the moisture meters. No exceptions.  Moisture meters are available in the barn and shed. Please check different areas/beds within your garden to determine whether each part of your garden actually needs water before turning on the hose.  You can purchase your own if that's more convenient - digital versions are less than $30 and simple non-digital meters are less than $10!

3. Water at the BASE of your plants. Direct water toward the soil at the base of the plant where the roots can use it.


We still have approximately a month and a half of gardening remaining, with garden closing scheduled for October 24. If we cannot demonstrate a significant reduction in water usage, the City of Arvada may turn off our garden water before the end of our season. We need to reduce our water usage now to protect our remaining gardening season.


Big Volunteer Event This Saturday

This Saturday September 19th is a huge day for Rose Roots: Just Serve with the LDS Church. Volunteers from Church will be joining us in a massive volunteer day and lunch afterwards. Look out for signs to RSVP if you haven't already! On the to-do list: piling compost in the East bins; work on the mighty-mites anti-bind-weed bed; weeding EVERYWHERE; harvesting the veggie van plots; painting the shed; installing special pea gravel to improve soil drainage in the flower beds, and so much more.


A very special thanks to volunteers who came out this past Saturday September 12th to prep all the areas of the garden for this weekend's work day.



Sharing Smiles with Gardens on Quail Residents

One task for this Saturday's volunteers will be putting up new scarecrows put together by residents of Gardens on Quail. You may remember that this year, Rose Roots has an new relationship with with the Gardens on Quail Residential Senior Center, located at 6447 Quail St.; we call this partnership Growing with a Purpose!

  • Purpose #1: the residents of Gardens on Quail are engaged growing, harvesting, and weeding their garden plots.

  • Purpose #2: excess harvest will go to the Veggie Van.


Last week, residents of Gardens on Quail visited Rose Roots to put together new scarecrows, and they had a blast doing it, just check out these photos! They also visited the garden's zinnia plot and created their own flower vases to bring home. It was a day that brought smiles to the faces of these members of our local community and brightened up the garden at the same time.



Coming Up

  • Sunday September 20th will be the last music event of the season. Check your email for the Evite and plan your potluck dish!

  • Join DUG at Rose Roots on September 26th from 9:00am-11:00am for a fall nature journaling workshop focused on seeds and seed pods. Explore how plants disperse seeds, tying into the natural fall life cycle of plants. Nature journaling builds mindfulness, observation skills, and a personal connection to nature!

  • October 24th is Closing Day!


This & That:

  • Don't forget to log your service hours here. This season the garden will strictly enforce the deadline for logging service hours. Gardeners who do not complete their required number of service hours by October 31 will be charged $8 per outstanding service hour, up to $96 per plot. Gardeners who do not complete their service hours and who fail to pay the associated fees will not be eligible for renewal of their plot the following year. 

  • The time to plant cover crops is now! DUG has a lot of helpful information about the benefits of cover crops on their website, along with tips on care and management. Cover crops help with soil structure and weed control.

  • Thanks to the King Soopers Fight Hunger bag program the garden has received a donation of $377! The program is designed to help organizations who are making an effort to combat local food insecurity, as you all have done with your donations to the Veggie Van.


And finally!

Instead of a joke, here are a few of my favorite ways of using and saving the bounty from my garden! If you have a favorite recipe, send it my way here!


Happy Gardening,

Rose Roots Leadership Team

Laura Bennett, Erin Newton, Tom Glum, Patty Sacks, Aaron Amaya, Gary Williams, Dan Graumiller, Jim Richards, Jack Nix, Osiris Mancera, Beth Green


Please contact Michelle, Newsletter Editor, HERE with newsletter additions, corrections, comments, compliments, gardening tips or humor.





 
 
 

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