Landscape Care
& Watering Guide

Welcome! Use this guide to keep your Sonoran Landesign landscape healthy in Arizona’s climate. The watering times below are recommended starting points — not hard rules. A plant’s needs shift with the season, soil type, sun exposure, and maturity, so check your landscape regularly and adjust as conditions change. If Sonoran Landesign maintains your property, we handle these adjustments for you.

1Plant Watering Schedule

Use the schedule below for established landscape plantings. “Warm Season” covers Arizona’s hot months; “Cool Season” covers the milder winter months.

Plant Type	Warm Season (Apr–Oct)	Cool Season (Nov–Mar)
Shrubs, Groundcover, Agaves & Succulents	Daily — 30 min	Every other day — 30 min
Trees	Every other day — 1.5 hrs	Every third day — 1.5 hrs
Pots (Annuals & Potted Plants)	Daily — 3–5 min	Every third day — 3–5 min
Cactus & Desert Natives	Hand-water only when needed	Hand-water only when needed

Newly Planted — First 14 Days

New plantings need consistent moisture to establish roots. For roughly the first two weeks after install:

• Plants: water every day for 30 minutes
• Trees: water every day for 1 hour

After about two weeks, transition to the standard schedule above.

2Reading Your Plants — Signs of Stress

Plants tell you when watering is off. Check for these signs and adjust your schedule accordingly.

Signs of Under-Watering	Signs of Over-Watering
Soil is dry · Leaves are wilted · Leaves are curled	Soil is constantly damp · Leaves turn light green or yellow · Young shoots are wilted · Leaves are green yet brittle · Algae or mushrooms are growing

3Seasonal Adjustments

• Plants can use 3–5 times more water in summer than in winter — adjust your controller as the seasons change.
• Respond to the weather, not just the calendar. Significant temperature swings call for changes between scheduled adjustments.
• Roots need oxygen between waterings. Avoid keeping soil constantly saturated.
• Watch for winter freeze warnings and cover sensitive plants with frost cloth.
• Tip: keep a copy of your watering schedule near your irrigation controller.

4Lawn & Turf Care

Arizona lawns need precise timing and seasonal attention. Here’s how we keep turf green, healthy, and resilient from summer heat to winter cold.

Warm-Season vs. Cool-Season Grasses

• Warm-season (Bermuda, Hybrid Bermuda, Paspalum): built for extreme heat; they go dormant once soil temps near 55°F. Keep them green all winter by overseeding with perennial ryegrass or applying eco-friendly turf colorants.
• Cool-season (West Coaster Dwarf Tall Fescue, Blue-Rye mixes): stay green through winter and transition smoothly into spring — ideal for shaded or specialty areas.

Fall Overseeding

Overseed when nighttime temperatures consistently fall below 65°F. Warm-season turf should be established for at least 90 days first. We recommend premium perennial ryegrass for its deep color, durability, and superior performance over annual rye.

• Prepare: verticut thatch to ½ inch, lightly scalp (never remove all leaf tissue), and clear debris for flawless seed-to-soil contact.
• Fertilize: apply a starter fertilizer to fuel strong early growth.
• Seed: spread 8–10 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. in two directions, using high-germination, zero-weed, premium-grade seed.
• Water for germination: 3–4 times daily, 5–7 minutes each, keeping soil consistently moist for the first 10–14 days. Once seedlings reach 1″, reduce to one deeper cycle per day.
• First mow & feed: mow once blades cut cleanly; apply a balanced fertilizer 10–14 days after seeding, then feed once more before Thanksgiving for deep winter color.

Spring Transition — Helping Bermuda Wake Up

As temperatures warm in April–May, Bermuda begins pushing through the winter rye. Encourage a smooth transition:

• Lower the mowing height gradually
• Lightly verticut to open the canopy
• Apply a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer
• Adjust irrigation to about 70% of peak summer levels
• Increase mowing to twice per week
• Aerate areas with compaction

Seasonal Turf Tips

Season	Key Tasks
Fall	Clear debris; aerate compacted zones; overseed weak sections; apply potassium fertilizer for root strength; spot-treat weeds; begin reducing irrigation.
Winter	Final fall mow slightly lower; keep turf clear of leaves and debris; irrigate sparingly (avoid soggy soil); limit foot traffic on frost; remove shading objects; monitor for pests.
Spring	Rake and clear winter debris; verticut if needed; aerate for drainage and airflow; repair bare spots; apply slow-release balanced fertilizer and a pre-emergent; increase mowing; water deeper, less often.
Summer	Water early morning; apply 1″–1½″ of water weekly (soil-dependent); mow with sharp blades; light slow-release nitrogen; spot-treat weeds; watch for grubs and heat stress; reduce traffic on the hottest days; aerate early summer.

Verticutting vs. Dethatching

• Verticutting: thins the overall canopy without disturbing roots — perfect for overseeding prep and spring transition.
• Dethatching: deeper, more aggressive removal of organic buildup — best during active summer Bermuda growth and needed only every 3–4 years.

New Sod — Establishment Watering

Newly laid sod dries out fast in Arizona heat. Water in the early morning or evening to limit evaporation, and follow the establishment schedule below until roots take hold (about three weeks).

Stage	Summer	Winter (overseeded sod)
First two weeks	4–8 times/day — 5–10 min	2 times/day — 10–15 min
Third week	Once/day — 15–45 min	Once/day — 15–20 min
Established	2–3 times/week — 10–25 min	Weather dictates frequency & amount

5Helpful Resources

These trusted Arizona sources offer additional guidance on watering and plant care:

• Arizona Municipal Water Users Association — amwua.org
• Maricopa County Cooperative Extension — extension.arizona.edu/maricopa
• Evergreen Turf — evergreenturf.com