Tucson Gardening Calendar

TUCSON GARDENING CALENDAR

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JANUARY

•Clean and repair drip-irrigation systems now, while plants can survive with less watering

•Check and repair berms, swales, basins in rainwater harvesting system

•Apply a deep-soak watering to trees and shrubs if winter rains are sparse

•Plant cool-season herbs, vegetables, and bare-root fruit trees

•Rake fallen leaves into planting beds, to serve as a mulch

•Watch for cold nights – cover cactus tips with styrofoam cups, cover larger plants with frost cloth or blankets
FEBRUARY

•Prune dormant trees if needed

•Don’t prune spring-flowering plants until after their blooming cycle ends

•Fertilize flowering perennials such as iris and roses

•Fertilize citrus around Valentine’s Day, and again near Memorial Day and Labor Day

•Begin pulling small weeds before they make seeds

•Continue to watch the weather and cover sensitive plants on cold nights

•Make plans for March and the start of spring planting season
MARCH

•Purchase plants for spring planting – watch for local plant sales

•Plant herbs, trees, shrubs

•Plant corn, tomatoes, peppers late in the month

•Install drip irrigation to new plantings, adjusting irrigation rate for establishing plants

•Prune perennial herbs

•Check for aphids on new plant growth, control by washing with soap and water

•Check for caterpillars on flowering plants

•New growth can still be vulnerable to late frost – do not put away covers yet

APRIL

•Clean and repair drip-irrigation systems before temps hit 100!

•Adjust irrigation clock to increase watering frequency

•Prune frost-damaged shrubs down to the live wood

•Finish up spring planting – plant cacti and succulents; plant trees & shrubs early in month

•Plant summer herbs & vegetables ( melons, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, okra)

•Apply finely-ground mulch to planting beds, forming a layer 3 to 4 inches deep

•Fertilize roses, iris, container flowers

•Store cold-weather covers in a dry location until fall
MAY

•Adjust drip-irrigation timer to meet plant needs in warmer weather

•Apply regular watering to fruit-producing plants such as citrus

•Fertilize container flowers, roses and citrus late in the month

•Prepare beds for monsoon vegetable garden

•Remove fading cool-season annuals, and replace with warm-season growers

•Keep compost pile moist, turn it weekly
JUNE

•Keep the garden watered, check plants daily for stress

•Watch for sunburn on spring plantings, cover with shade cloth before sunburn becomes severe

•Shade & mulch vegetables as needed

•Summer prune plant suckers while small (Desert Willow, Acacias)

•Avoid planting during this, our warmest & driest month
JULY

•Monsoon rains arrive! Use rain delay function on irrigation timer to delay irrigation

•Clean and repair drip-irrigation systems if needed

•Inspect water harvesting system and other garden structures after heavy rains

•Plant a monsoon garden of southwestern heirloom seeds (beans, corn, squash)

•Tidy up herbs, flowers

•Fertilize container succulents 1/2 strength
AUGUST

•Check drip-irrigation system timing, reduce watering if rains penetrate deeply

•Prepare beds for cool season vegetables & annuals

•Fertilize roses and citrus at the end of the month

•Pull summer-season weeds before seeds are set
SEPTEMBER

•Watch for a post-monsoon dry spell, maintain warm-season watering frequency if needed

•Plant trees, deciduous fruit trees (pomegranate, fig), shrubs, cacti & succulents

•Plant perennials (penstemon, verbena, evening-primrose)

•Start seeds for cool-season herbs (dill, cilantro, parsley)

•Start seeds for leafy winter vegetables (chard, lettuce, collards)
OCTOBER

•Check drip-irrigation system timing, emitters, lines – decrease watering frequency with cooler weather

•Wean plants off regular watering to harden them up for winter protection against freezing

•Fall planting season begins – plant perennials & bulbs, hardy trees, shrubs, and cacti

•Sow desert wildflower seeds in late October

•Plant hardy herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme), bulbs, and cool-season annuals (pansy, petunia, violets)

•Plant leafy winter vegetables. Sow seeds of radish, carrot, peas, spinach

•Divide perennials, ornamental grasses

•Fertilize roses
NOVEMBER

•Check drip-irrigation system timing, reduce watering for cool temps

•Finish up any planting from October, hold off on planting cold-sensitive plants until spring

•Research your plants and learn which ones are cold-sensitive, prepare cold-weather covers

•Bring cold-sensitive potted plants indoors, if possible

•Watch for early frosts and cover tender plants

•Rake fallen leaves, use them to mulch beds or add them to the compost pile
DECEMBER

•Clean, repair and rework drip-irrigation systems

•Use rain delay function on irrigation timer to delay irrigation if rains come

•Plant hardy herbs & winter vegetables (root & leafy veggies)

•Cover tender plants on frosty nights

•Resist pruning frost damaged branches from plants until new growth appears in spring

•Do heavy and strenuous garden projects during this cool season

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