Arizona Garden in May

The heat brings with it important garden tasks – mulching and providing shade are two of the most important to help the garden survive the summer.

Keep reading for garden inspiration, a May garden checklist, and a list of which vegetables, herbs, and flowers to plant in your low desert Arizona garden in May.

Low desert includes elevations below 3500 ft in the Southwest, such as the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.

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What to do in your low desert Arizona garden during May

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What grows in low desert Arizona gardens in May? I’ll show you. All of these pictures come from my garden in Mesa, Arizona. Although the temperatures are beginning to climb, May in the Arizona garden is one of the most beautiful and productive times.

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“It was such a pleasure to sink one’s hands into the warm earth, to feel at one’s fingertips the possibilities of the new season.”

~ Kate Morton, The Forgotten Garden

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Vegetables growing in the low desert Arizona garden in May

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Tomato varieties highly recommended for Arizona include Punta Banda, Celebrity, Pearson, and Cherokee Purple.

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Tips for growing flowers in the low desert Arizona garden in May

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Fruit trees in the low desert Arizona garden in May

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Herbs in the low desert Arizona garden in May

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The new tender leaves are the most flavorful. Keep tips pruned to encourage production. 

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Arizona Garden in May to-do list:

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Planting:

• Plant container-grown roses this month on the north or east sides of the yard that receives afternoon shade in the summer.
• It is ok to plant summer flowering shrubs. Do not over-plant; be aware of the mature size of the plant and space accordingly.
• Get warm-season annuals planted this month. 
• Start seeds indoors this month for a monsoon planting of tomatoes. 
• Harvest garlic and onions this month. 

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Watering:

• Do not overwater or underwater this month. Both are harmful to plants. 
• Check the irrigation system and timer. Run the system, and inspect all drips and sprinklers for leaks and proper watering. 
• As temperatures heat up, annual plants will need more frequent watering. Water to a depth of about 6 inches every 2-3 days; allow the top of the soil to dry out before watering again. 
• Check containers with a moisture meter or ensure the top inch or so of soil has dried out before watering. 
• Established citrus trees should be watered once every 7-10 days to a 2-3 feet depth. 
• Water established fruit trees every 3-5 days to a 2-3 feet depth.
• Grape vines need deep watering every five days. 
• Wateruseitwisely.com is a helpful resource for landscape watering guidelines. 

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Pruning:

• Deadhead annual warm-season flowers such as coreopsis, gaillardia, marigold, and cosmos to extend bloom. 
• Light pruning of dead branches from trees and shrubs is okay. Delay heavy pruning until later in the fall.   
• Minor citrus pruning is okay; delay heavy pruning until later in the fall. 
• Do not prune newly-planted trees or shrubs. 
• Cut back (slightly) spring-flowering perennials. 
• Pinch back summer-flowering perennials to encourage blooms. 
• Prune suckers of tomato plants, and pinch back basil often to keep it from flowering. 

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Fertilizing:

• Fertilize citrus this month. Water well before and after applying fertilizer. Do not fertilize other fruit trees this month.
• Plants in containers should be fertilized every 2-3 weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer or about once a month with a slow-release fertilizer.
• Fertilize summer herbs such as oregano, basil, and mint with an organic fertilizer. 

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Yard to do and clean-up:

• Clean up fallen fruit from deciduous trees and citrus trees to discourage pests and disease. 
• Provide support for grapevines. Check the underside of grape leaves for skeletonizer eggs; if found, remove and destroy eggs. If you see caterpillars, use Bt to control them before they overtake grapevines. 
• Continue to thin fruit on deciduous fruit trees. This article helps explain the process. 
• Prune suckers (shoots growing straight up below the bud union) on citrus and other fruit trees. 
• Remove spent winter-growing annuals.

• Save seeds from wildflowers like poppies.  

• Thin warm-season annuals to keep plants from overcrowding each other. 
• Clean up and remove dead or damaged wood and crossing branches on citrus. Delay major pruning on citrus until later in the fall. 
• Apply a 3-6 inch layer of mulch around the base of shrubs, trees, annuals, and vegetables.

• Mulching reduces soil temperatures and adds organic matter to the soil. 
• Provide shade for annual vegetables with shade cloth or plant in areas that receive afternoon shade.

• Harvest garlic when the lower 3-4 leaves brown. Dig up a test bulb to check on size. Once pulled, let the garlic lie in bed for a day to dry out. Store in a dry shady spot to dry for two weeks. Store in a cool, dry location. Use some and save the largest bulbs to plant in the fall. 
• Harvest I’itoi onions this month. Store in a dry, shady spot for a week or two. Store in a dry, cool location. Use some and save some to plant in the fall. 

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What to plant in your low desert Arizona garden in May

Before planting:

• Prepare beds for planting – Add compost and other organic matter to the soil.
• It’s important to have your soil tested at least once a year. A soil test can determine the health of your soil. I use this test kit from Amazon.
• Add a balanced fertilizer if needed. 

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Vegetables, herbs & fruit to plant in the low desert in May

(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)

SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed / T= Transplant

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Vegetable, herb & fruit seeds to start indoors in May

(Click the link for seed sources.)

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Seed Box Labels with planting dates for vegetables and flowers

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Flowers to plant in the low desert in May

(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)

SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed / T= Transplant

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Flower seeds to start indoors in the low desert in May

(Click the link for seed sources.)

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