Arizona’s hot and dry climate, scarce rainfall, and alkaline soil give homeowners their fair share of challenges in maintaining a lush, green lawn year-round. But what chores need to be done, and when?
This article has the answers. Discover various tips and tricks with our month-by-month Arizona lawn care calendar.
Key takeaways
Apply fertilizer from November to March, using a slow release fertilizer containing iron. In summer, fertilize every four to eight weeks.
Apply pre-emergent herbicides when soil temperatures hit 55 degrees Fahrenheit to keep summer weeds at bay.
Wait until May to mow, and increase the mowing height by ¼ inch each time.
January
Apply fertilizer
Soils in Arizona are sandy and are low in nitrogen and organic matter and they lack iron, zinc, and phosphorus. So from November to March, fertilize your winter grass with a slow-release fertilizer containing iron every six to eight weeks to keep it green, healthy, and thick. Use ½ lb of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet each time.
Water
Most lawns don’t need to be watered every day. Arizona has clay soils that absorb water slowly and hold it for a long time. A deep watering provides soil with three days of water. Additionally, the break in watering gives the grassroots enough time to go into the soil and retrieve the water.
Water your warm-season lawn once every 30 days and your cool-season lawn once every 14 days.
February
Apply more fertilizer
Give your grass another application of slow-release fertilizer.
Water your lawn
Water your warm-season grasses once every 21 days and your cool-season lawn once every 10 days.
March
Apply a pre-emergent herbicide
In March, soil temperatures reach 55 degrees Fahrenheit – high enough so the pre-emergent will keep summer weeds from germinating while allowing seeds to take root.
Apply more fertilizer
Give your winter grass another application of slow-release fertilizer.
Water your lawn
As the weather gets warmer, ramp up your irrigation schedule. Make sure your warm-season lawn gets water every 14 days and your cool-season lawn every seven days, including rainfall.
April
Plant warm-season grasses
Soil temperatures get to over 70 degrees Fahrenheit in April, which is enough to promote seed germination. Seeding bare spots with warm-season grasses in April gives it enough time to develop a hardy root system before summer.
Fertilize your warm-season grasses
Arizona soils don’t have much nitrogen and iron, so fertilize them using a slow-release fertilizer with iron once every four to eight weeks.
Water your lawn
Increase watering to once every seven days for warm-season grasses and every four days for cool-season grasses.
May
Install sod
If you plan to lay sod rather than seed, do it in early to mid-May. The temperatures are high enough to help the new lawn grow.
Start mowing your lawn weekly
Start mowing your lawn at a height of ¾ inches.
Continue to fertilize
Keep fertilizing with your slow-release fertilizer with iron.
Water your lawn
Water your warm-season lawn once every four days and your cool-season lawn once every three days.
June
Water your warm-season lawn once every three days
Your cool-season grass will die in the summer, so no need to water it from June to September.
Dethatch your lawn
In June, nighttime temperatures are above the mid-60s and the grass is growing. This makes June the perfect time to dethatch your lawn.
Continue to fertilize
Keep fertilizing with your slow-release fertilizer with iron.
Mow a little higher
Keep mowing your lawn weekly, but raise it ¼ inch higher, putting it at 1 inch.
July
Continue to fertilize
Keep fertilizing with your slow-release fertilizer with iron.
Dethatch and aerate if you haven’t yet
If you didn’t dethatch and aerate your lawn in June, you can do so in July.
Continue to water your warm-season lawn every three days
Continue to water your lawn once every three days.
Mow ¼ inch higher
Keep mowing your lawn weekly, but raise it ¼ inch higher, putting it at 1 1/4 inch.
August
Continue to fertilize
Keep fertilizing with your slow-release fertilizer with iron.
Dethatch and aerate if you haven’t yet
If you didn’t dethatch and aerate your lawn in June or July, August is your last best chance to do so.
Continue to water your warm-season lawn once every three days
Continue to water your lawn once every three days.
Mow your lawn ¼ inch higher
Keep mowing your lawn weekly, but raise it ¼ inch higher, putting it at 1 1/2 inch.
September
Continue to fertilize
Keep fertilizing with your slow-release fertilizer with iron.
Mow ¼ inch higher
Keep mowing your lawn weekly, but raise it ¼ inch higher, putting it at 1 3/4 inch.
Apply a pre-emergent herbicide for winter weeds
Apply before late fall comes and the temperature becomes cold enough for weeds to germinate.
Continue to water your warm-season lawn once every three days
Continue to water your lawn once every three days.
October
Plant winter grass in early to mid-October
Timing is everything when it comes to planting grass seed in Arizona. Nighttime temperatures typically drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which is ideal for cool-season grasses to grow. Don’t seed too early or competition from still-growing warm-season grasses will make it grow slower and thinner. Seeding too late exposes the seedlings to cold temperatures too soon, which can damage the grass.
Overseed warm-season grasses
If you have warm-season grasses, overseed them to keep them green during the winter months (when they go dormant). Doing so keeps weeds at bay and fills in thin and bare patches.
Apply a pre-emergent herbicide for winter weeds
If you didn’t apply pre-emergent in September, do so here. The temperature is still warm enough so winter weeds won’t germinate, so you’ll nip them in the bud.
Water your lawn
Water your warm-season lawn once every six days and your cool-season lawn once every three days.
November
Fertilize your winter grass for the first time
Give your winter grass its first application of slow-release fertilizer (see January).
Water your lawn
Water your warm-season lawn once every 14 days and your cool-season lawn once every 10 days.
December
Apply more fertilizer
Give your winter grass another application of slow-release fertilizer.
Water your lawn
Water your warm-season lawn once every 30 days and your cool-season lawn once every 14 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular grass in Arizona?
The most popular grass in Arizona is the Midirion Bermudagrass. It’s a dense, low-maintenance grass that grows well in Arizona’s sun and heat.
How do I keep plants alive in Arizona?
Picking the right plants ensures they survive and thrive in Arizona’s dry, hot summers. Check out our list of the best plants for Arizona heat to learn which plants are the best for your landscape.
What is the best winter grass to grow in Arizona?
The best winter grass to grow in Arizona is perennial ryegrass due to its attractive dark green color.
Hiring a Professional
Lawn care is a year-round process with a seemingly endless list of chores that would make anyone irritable. But breaking it down into a month-by-month calendar ensures you stay organized and your lawn remains healthy year-round.
But what if you don’t have time to tend to your lawn? That’s where LawnStarter comes in. Our local lawn care pros will do your lawn chores for you.
Main Image Credit: Elliott House, Mcmillin24 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0
