Well hey there, desert dwellers! Tim Burr here. I know what August in Phoenix feels like — you step outside, the heat hits you like an open oven, and the last thing on your mind is planting anything. But here's a secret the old-school Sonoran growers have always known: August is actually one of the best planting windows of the entire year. Stick with me and I'll explain why, and exactly what to put in the ground.
Why August planting works
It comes down to the monsoon. By August, the summer storms have usually settled into a rhythm, and that changes everything for a young plant:
- The soil is warm. Roots grow fastest in warm soil — even when the leaves are stressed by heat, the roots are racing to establish underground.
- Humidity is up and clouds break the sun. Monsoon moisture in the air dramatically cuts transplant stress compared to the bone-dry heat of May and June.
- Natural rainfall helps water them in. The storms do part of your watering for you and rinse the dust off the foliage.
- There's a long runway to establish. Plant in August and your new additions have all of late summer and the gorgeous fall growing season to root in before winter — they hit next spring already established.
The key is to plant right after a storm, while the soil is soft and damp, and to keep up deep watering between storms since monsoon rain is generous but unreliable.
What to plant in August
Desert trees
August is prime time for getting desert-adapted trees established. Palo verde, mesquite, desert willow, ironwood, and acacia all root in beautifully in warm monsoon soil. If you need shade, this is the moment — plant now and the tree spends the next year building the roots that'll power years of canopy growth.
Tough shrubs and screens
Heat-and-monsoon lovers establish fast now: Green Hopseed for privacy, Texas sage for rain-triggered color, Yellow Bells and Red Bird of Paradise for nonstop summer blooms, and oleander or bougainvillea for fast color and screening.
Cacti, agaves, and succulents
Warm soil is ideal for establishing cacti and agaves — just go a little easy on the water given the extra humidity, and make sure drainage is sharp so monsoon downpours don't rot them.
Groundcovers and perennials
Lantana, trailing rosemary, damianita, and desert wildflower perennials fill in quickly in late-summer warmth and reward you with fall color.
What to hold off on
A few things are better to wait on. Cool-season annuals and winter veggies aren't ready yet — those go in once nights cool down in fall. Tender, soft-leaved plants and anything frost-sensitive that needs a long establishment can also wait for the milder fall window. And avoid planting on the rare bone-dry, 115°F August day with no storms in sight; wait for the next system to roll through.
How to plant in late-summer heat
- Time it to the storms. Plant in the cool, damp window right after rain, ideally in early morning or evening.
- Dig wide, not deep. A hole twice as wide as the root ball, planted with the crown slightly high, encourages roots to spread.
- Water in deeply at planting to settle the soil, then keep new plants on a deep, every-other-day schedule between storms for the first few weeks.
- Mulch heavily. A 2–3 inch layer keeps roots cool and holds the monsoon moisture in the soil where you want it.
- Shade the tender ones with 30–50% shade cloth for the first couple of weeks if we hit a hot, dry spell.
The payoff
Plant in August and you skip the rookie mistake of waiting until spring — when everyone else plants, and your new additions then have to establish right as the next brutal summer arrives. Your August plantings get a full, gentle fall to settle in, so they face next summer as tough, established veterans. That's the smart play.
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🌵 Tim's Tip: Watch the forecast and plant in the cool, damp window right after a monsoon storm rolls through — early morning or evening, while the soil is still soft and moist. That single timing trick cuts transplant stress dramatically and gives your new plants the easiest possible start. Skip planting on the rare bone-dry, 115°F August day with no storms in sight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't it too hot to plant in August in Phoenix?
Surprisingly, no — August is one of the best planting windows of the year here. The monsoon brings warm soil (which drives fast root growth), higher humidity and cloud cover (which cut transplant stress), and natural rainfall. Time your planting to the storms and your new additions establish beautifully, with a long, mild fall ahead to root in before next summer.
What's the best thing to plant in late summer?
Desert-adapted trees (palo verde, mesquite, desert willow, ironwood), tough screens like Green Hopseed, and heat-and-monsoon-loving bloomers like Texas sage, Yellow Bells, and Red Bird of Paradise all establish fast now. Cacti and agaves do too — just go easy on water given the humidity and make sure drainage is sharp.
What should I wait to plant until fall?
Hold off on cool-season annuals and the winter vegetable garden until nights cool down later in fall. Very tender, soft-leaved, or frost-sensitive plants that need a long establishment are also better planted once the extreme heat fully breaks.
How do I water new plants between monsoon storms?
Deeply and regularly. Monsoon rain is generous but unreliable, so don't count on it alone. Keep new plants on a deep, every-other-day soak for the first few weeks during hot stretches, always watering at the base so moisture reaches the roots. Mulch heavily to hold that moisture in.
Why is August planting better than spring planting?
Timing relative to summer. Plant in August and your additions get all of fall and the mild winter to establish a strong root system before facing a brutal summer. Plant the same thing in spring and it has only a few weeks to establish before getting slammed by 110°F heat — a much harder road.
So while everyone else is hiding from the heat, you'll be out there after a storm, quietly building the yard of your dreams. That's the move. — Tim 🌵
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