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Lawn Care & Maintenance in Phoenix, AZ

Quick answer

Lawn care in Phoenix revolves around Bermudagrass. University of Arizona Extension suggests feeding Bermuda monthly from about April through October and overseeding with ryegrass around October 10 to November 10 if you want a green winter lawn. Deep, less frequent watering and good sprinkler coverage matter more than any product.

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Lawn care in Phoenix runs on a different calendar than most of the country. The main lawn grass in the Valley is Bermudagrass, which loves heat, grows hard all summer, and goes dormant and tan in winter. Many homeowners keep it green year round by overseeding with ryegrass in the fall. A good lawn program is built around that cycle, and around a water bill that can climb fast in summer.

Know your lawn

  • Common Bermudagrass: can be grown from seed or sod. Tough, drought tolerant, and spreads into beds if not edged.
  • Hybrid Bermudagrass: finer texture and denser, sold as sod. Hybrids are sterile, so they can't be started from seed.
  • Overseeded ryegrass: a cool-season grass seeded into Bermuda in fall for a green winter lawn. It dies back as summer heat returns.
  • Other grasses: St. Augustine and some zoysias show up in shady Valley yards, but Bermuda is the grass University of Arizona Cooperative Extension recommends for the low desert.

The Phoenix lawn calendar

The University of Arizona's low-desert turf guide suggests starting light fertilizer in April, once soil temperatures hold around 60 degrees, and feeding monthly through October. Overseeding is suggested for roughly October 10 to November 10 in the Phoenix area. Extension advises against overseeding a brand-new Bermuda lawn in its first winter, and against aggressive dethatching right before overseeding, which can damage the Bermuda's crowns. If you skip overseeding, dormant Bermuda generally needs little water in winter.

Mowing basics

  • Bermuda grows fast in summer, so weekly mowing is common from late spring through early fall.
  • Mow often enough that you remove no more than about a third of the blade at once.
  • Hybrid Bermuda is usually kept shorter than common Bermuda. Ask for a height that suits your variety.
  • Keep blades sharp. Torn tips brown quickly in dry heat.
  • In spring, lower mowing on overseeded ryegrass helps the Bermuda come back.

Watering is most of lawn care here

Water deeply and less often rather than a little every day. In summer, Extension's guide describes watering about every few days to build deeper roots. The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association's watering guide, built for the Phoenix area, gives month-by-month schedules. Many lawn problems people blame on fertilizer or bugs turn out to be coverage gaps from tilted or clogged sprinkler heads. A good lawn company checks the system, or tells you when it needs an irrigation tech. See our irrigation page for more.

Weed and pest control licensing

Mowing and basic yard upkeep don't need a pesticide license. Applying herbicides or insecticides for hire is regulated by the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Pest Management Division, which licenses businesses and certifies applicators. If your program includes pre-emergent, weed spraying in rock areas or grub control, it's fair to ask whether the business is licensed with the Pest Management Division and who on the crew is certified.

Thinking about less lawn?

Many Phoenix-area cities pay homeowners to remove living grass and replace it with desert landscaping, with approval required before work starts. If your lawn mostly gets walked on to reach the mower, it may be worth a look. Our grass-to-desert guide walks through the process.

What to ask before signing up

  • What is included in each visit, and how many visits per year?
  • Is overseeding included or priced separately?
  • Do you check and adjust sprinklers, or only mow?
  • How much notice do you give before chemical applications, and when is it safe for kids and pets?

Ready for help? Request a lawn care company and tell us whether you overseed.

See how it works

How a sprinkler zone waters a lawn. Press the buttons to run each step and see what happens inside. Made with Colorfigures ·
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Frequently asked questions

When should I overseed my lawn in Phoenix?

University of Arizona Extension suggests roughly October 10 to November 10 for the Phoenix area, when temperatures cool. Don't overseed a new Bermuda lawn during its first winter.

Do lawn care companies need a license in Arizona?

Mowing doesn't require a pesticide license, but applying herbicides or insecticides for hire is licensed through the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Pest Management Division. Ask about licensing if your program includes weed or pest control.

Why does my Bermuda lawn turn brown in winter?

Bermuda is a warm-season grass that goes dormant when it gets cool. It's normal. Homeowners who want green grass in winter overseed with ryegrass in fall; others let the Bermuda rest and water it very little.

Sources and further reading

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