Desert yards play by different rules. A lot of what works back East or in California backfires here, and the mistakes usually show up as dead plants, high water bills or a tree on the roof after a monsoon storm. Here are five of the most common, and how to avoid them.
1. Watering a little bit every day
Short daily sprinkler or drip runs feel responsible, but they keep water near the surface, where it evaporates fast in Arizona heat. Plants grow shallow roots and get more stressed, not less. Too much water also does damage: over-watered trees grow weaker wood and smaller roots, so they're easier for wind to knock over.
Do this instead: water deeply and less often, and change your controller with the seasons, not just twice a year. Check for leaks and broken emitters every few months. How to water desert plants →
2. Planting in late spring or summer
Nurseries are busy in spring, so it's natural to plant then. But in the low desert (Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma), a new plant then has only weeks before triple-digit heat, with a small root system that can't keep up.
Do this instead: plant trees and shrubs in fall, roughly late September through early December. The soil is still warm, which helps roots grow, and the air is cool, so plants need less water and have months to settle in before summer. In higher areas like Flagstaff and Prescott, timing is different because of frost, so ask a local nursery. Find a nursery near you →
3. Over-trimming trees before monsoon season
Stripping out a tree's inner branches and leaving leaves only at the ends ("lion-tailing") looks tidy, but it shifts weight to the tips of the branches. In a monsoon wind, those limbs are more likely to snap.
Do this instead: take off no more than about 20% of a mature tree's canopy, focus on the outer canopy, and don't prune hard every year. Hire someone who knows desert trees. Storm-proofing tips → · When to trim palms →
4. Putting down rock without a plan for weeds and water
Swapping grass for decorative rock is one of the best ways to cut water use. But dumping rock over old grass and weeds usually means weeds pushing through within a season, and plants that can't get water once the rock is down.
Do this instead: kill or remove the old grass and weeds first, run drip lines to every plant before the rock goes down, and have a plan to keep weeds in check. Check your city's grass removal rebate before you start, since some programs have rules about how the work is done. Landscape rock guide + calculator → · Grass removal rebates by city → · Xeriscape pros →
5. Hiring an unlicensed contractor for a big job
A low cash quote is tempting. But Arizona generally requires a Registrar of Contractors (ROC) license for work that totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or that needs a permit. That covers most installs, pavers, irrigation systems and turf. If an unlicensed job goes wrong, you can be left with little recourse.
Do this instead: get a written quote and check the license before you pay anything. Routine mowing and cleanup crews usually don't need a license, but installs do. Do I need a licensed landscaper? →
Skip the guesswork
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- Water – Use It Wisely: Fall planting in the low desert
- Water – Use It Wisely: Five mistakes that harm your landscape during the summer
- Water – Use It Wisely: Save your trees from monsoon damage
- City of Chandler: Reduce the Risk of Storm Damage (PDF)
- Arizona Commerce Authority: Landscaping / Lawn Maintenance licensing
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors
Last checked Nov 6, 2026. This is general information, not professional advice. Watering needs vary by plant, soil and season.