If it is a difficult place to water, I'd wait. September can be hot, October can be dry. November is a good month for that.

i agree, and shrubs planted in november should still have plenty of time to get established before it gets hot again.

I usually wait until the soil temperature decreases to around 60°F, before planting shrubs in the Fall. Same for Spring blooming bulbs. There will be less moisture evaporation from the soil then (assuming there is any to evaporate!)and less demand for supplemental watering.
Rb

thank you for the replies. I'll hold off, no sense in killing a slew of plants. It's not like I don't have enough other garden projects! I did manage to start a cutting bed for propagation.

Rb- the water situation is the pits. This is my first house without a well. I'm spoiled.