Arizona outdoor gardening — a real planning guide for the Sonoran desert.
Most gardening advice is written for temperate climates and dies here. This guide is written for Phoenix, Peoria, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, and the low desert — Zone 9b, alkaline soil, 115°F summers, and a two-season planting calendar.
Zone, sun, and soil
- USDA Zone 9b across most of the Valley (9a outlying, 10a central).
- Sun map your yard for 3 days — full sun south/west, filtered sun east, shade north.
- Native soil pH 8.0–8.5, low organic, caliche layer 12–24" down.
- Amend planting holes: 30–40% compost + gypsum. Never plant edibles in unamended native soil.
Two planting seasons
- September–October: lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, peas, root crops, cilantro, wildflower seed.
- February–March: tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, basil, corn.
- May–August: no new planting. Maintain existing only.
- Trees and shrubs: October–March for best establishment.
Water design
- Drip on a smart controller — Rachio 3 or Hunter Hydrawise.
- Separate zones: trees / shrubs / vegetable beds / turf.
- Established shrubs: deep water every 7–14 days summer, 21–30 days winter.
- Trees: every 10–14 days summer, monthly winter, always deep (24–36").
- Vegetable beds: 1–2" per week summer via drip lines on 6–12" spacing.
Bed prep and mulch
- Break through any caliche layer at plant location.
- Amend hole with compost + gypsum for pH and drainage.
- Mulch 3–4" deep — decomposed granite (natives) or shredded bark (edibles).
- Raised beds for vegetables: 12–18" deep, filled with 1/3 native, 1/3 compost, 1/3 aged manure or leaf mold.
What AE builds
- Full landscape design with plant selection matched to sun/zone/water.
- Raised vegetable and citrus beds with caliche-broken drainage.
- Smart drip irrigation on Rachio or Hydrawise with owner training.
- Season-appropriate install (October–April for trees and shrubs).
Common questions.
Ready to plan an Arizona garden that actually thrives?
AE builds landscape and edible-garden scope with irrigation design, bed prep, and plant selection matched to your yard's sun, soil, and water.
Start My Project PlanWhy this is an investment, not a cost.
An AE backyard is engineered to add daily livability and long-term home value. We publish honest ranges and build to code with a licensed and bonded Arizona crew. AE provides project-specific workmanship and manufacturer-warranty information in the signed agreement. Website summaries are for planning only.
- Licensed, bonded & insured in Arizona. ROC 340966 (R-62) · ROC 341002 (R-3) · ROC 347738 (KA-5) · ROC 211530 (CR-21). Most Arizona contracting work valued at $1,000 or more — or requiring a permit — must be performed by a properly licensed contractor, subject to statutory exemptions. Verify the legal entity, license status, and classification with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- Real ranges, itemized scope. You see materials, finishes, equipment models, and a line-item budget before you sign — not a one-line "pool — $90,000."
Related landscape reading
More gardening questions?
Bed prep, irrigation zones, and seasonal planting timing — in the Landscape section of the Homeowner FAQ.