High Desert Yard Care Calendar: Month by Month

What to plant, water, pull and protect each month in Hesperia, Victorville and Apple Valley, built on NOAA climate data.

Get a Free Yard Estimate

4.8 Stars / 114 Reviews CSLB #957605 Since 2009

Reviewed by Freddie Ruiz, Owner and CSLB-licensed contractor License C-27 #957605 Building landscapes in the High Desert since 2009 Last updated September 29, 2026

In the High Desert, October and November are the best months to plant trees and shrubs, tender plants should wait until mid-April, and sprinklers should be winterized before late November. Water at midday from fall through spring and at night in summer, and plan two weed pushes a year: late winter for summer weeds and late summer for winter weeds.

Victorville gets 5.57 inches of rain a year, mostly December through March, and averages 53.7 nights at or below freezing (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). Each month covers plants, irrigation, weeds, turf and rock, and what to watch for.

Jump to: January to March, April to June, July to September, October to December.

Victor Valley Climate by Month

Averages for the Victorville station (about 2,880 feet), NOAA 1991-2020 normals (NOAA NCEI).

Month	Avg high (°F)	Avg low (°F)	Rain (in)
January	58.4	33.2	0.97
February	61.0	35.9	1.27
March	66.8	40.1	0.78
April	73.1	44.2	0.33
May	81.4	50.9	0.09
June	91.4	58.0	0.04
July	97.5	64.2	0.22
August	97.0	63.3	0.11
September	91.2	57.6	0.16
October	79.3	47.3	0.31
November	66.9	37.6	0.35
December	56.9	32.5	0.94
Year	76.7	47.1	5.57

Hesperia’s 2E station runs wetter, 7.85 inches a year (NOAA). The frost dates and growing zones page has the numbers by town.

Watering Hours Change With the Season

Districts move watering to midday in the cold months so water does not freeze on plants and walks, then to night hours in summer. Rules differ, so check yours.

Water provider	Summer hours	Rest of the year
City of Victorville	10 p.m. to 6 a.m., June to September	9 a.m. to 3 p.m., October to May (Victorville)
Hesperia Water District (recommended)	10 p.m. to 6 a.m., June to September	9 a.m. to 3 p.m., October to May (Hesperia FAQ)
Phelan Pinon Hills CSD	6 p.m. to 9 a.m., June to October	9 a.m. to 3 p.m., November to May (PPHCSD)
Liberty Utilities, Apple Valley	Before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m.	Winter 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Liberty)

Watering days, drip exemptions and run times are in our High Desert irrigation guide.

January to March: Freeze, Prune, Get Ahead of Weeds

January

Plants and trees: Plant bare-root trees and roses. Dormant-prune deciduous fruit and shade trees (UCCE).
Irrigation: Midday only, deep and infrequent if no rain (SB County). Liberty Utilities advises shutting the supply off in freezes (Liberty).
Weeds: Pull mustards, filaree and red brome small, and bag them (MDLT). See Sahara mustard.
Turf and rock: Brush artificial turf after wind (general practice).
Watch for: Coldest month, average low 33.2°F. Check backflow covers.

February

Plants and trees: Above 2,000 feet, prune fruit trees and plant lettuce and cabbage-family crops (UCCE).
Irrigation: Wettest month (1.27 inches). Skip cycles after real rain.
Weeds: Pull winter weeds before they seed. Line up summer pre-emergent (rock and gravel weeds).
Turf and rock: Patch holes in weed fabric; Bermudagrass grows through them (UC IPM).
Watch for: Frost. Median last freeze at Victorville is March 18 (NOAA). See frost dates.

March

Plants and trees: Fertilize fruit trees and roses at leaf-out (UCCE). Stake new trees loosely; remove stakes after about a year (UC IPM).
Irrigation: Check for leaks and broken heads; change controller batteries at Daylight Saving (MWA).
Weeds: Pre-emergent before 1-inch soil passes 55 to 60°F (UC IPM). Our NOAA-based estimate: late February to mid-March. Water it in; follow the label.
Turf and rock: Cut weeds to 4 inches or less; remove tumbleweeds (SB County).
Watch for: County spring fire hazard surveys (SB County). See weed abatement.

April to June: Late Frost, Wind and the First Heat

April

Plants and trees: Prune frost-damaged shrub growth (UCCE). Hold tender plants until mid-April.
Irrigation: Skip watering on windy days (MWA). Check soil moisture by feel.
Weeds: Pull young goatheads and tumbleweeds.
Turf and rock: Rinse and brush turf after dust storms (general practice).
Watch for: One year in ten, Victorville’s last freeze is after April 12, El Mirage’s after April 22 (NOAA).

May

Plants and trees: Plant warm-season plants; deep water and mulch (UCCE). See drought tolerant plants.
Irrigation: MWA’s guide shifts to before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. (MWA); Victorville and Hesperia stay 9 to 3 through May. Your district wins.
Weeds: Goatheads can flower three weeks after sprouting (UC IPM). Walk the yard every 2 to 3 weeks.
Turf and rock: Pull drying red brome and mustard before seed drop (MDLT). See foxtails.
Watch for: Wind peaks April to June at Daggett-Barstow (WRCC).

June

Plants and trees: Hose dust off plants; spider mites like dust and water stress (UC IPM).
Irrigation: Victorville moves to 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Victorville).
Weeds: Spotted spurge can seed five weeks after sprouting (UC IPM).
Turf and rock: Raise mower height on real lawns (UCCE).
Watch for: Heat: average high 91.4°F, almost no rain.

The County guide warns that spring winds “can reach 60 mph or higher and can quickly dry out plants” (SB County). We found no published wind averages for Victorville; the nearest record, Daggett-Barstow, averages 14.3 mph in April and 14.8 in May (WRCC).

July to September: Heat, Storms and Fall Prep

July

Plants and trees: Peak demand: more water than November through February combined (SB County).
Irrigation: Lawns: 3 to 4 minute cycles, let each soak in (MWA). See run times.
Weeds: Pull or mow tumbleweed as it starts to bloom (UC IPM).
Turf and rock: After storms, re-level washed rock (general practice). Repeat washouts need drainage work.
Watch for: Thunderstorms. July rain (0.22 inches) is more than five times June’s.

August

Plants and trees: Wash dust off shrubs (UC IPM). Start cabbage-family seeds indoors (UCCE).
Irrigation: Same summer plan. Victorville averages 42.2 days a year at 100°F or more.
Weeds: Line up winter-weed pre-emergent for late summer to early fall (UC IPM).
Turf and rock: Sweep goathead burs from rock edges and turf (UC IPM).
Watch for: Flash floods: Apple Valley, August 1998 (NWS).

September

Plants and trees: Plan fall planting. Know your soil first.
Irrigation: Cut minutes and days per week (MWA).
Weeds: Our estimate: winter-weed pre-emergent late August through September, before fall rain. Water it in; follow the label.
Turf and rock: Hesperia’s fall inspections target tumbleweeds (Hesperia).
Watch for: County fall fire hazard surveys (SB County).

Summer storms here can be violent; NWS records a 1967 High Desert thunderstorm that knocked down telephone and power poles (NWS San Diego). Before July, clear drain inlets and make sure water runs away from the house (general practice).

October to December: Plant, Cut Back Water, Winterize

October

Plants and trees: Best planting months are October and November (UCCE). Water new plants every 3 to 4 days at first (MDLT).
Irrigation: Victorville returns to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Victorville).
Weeds: Get tumbleweeds out before they break off and blow.
Turf and rock: Book winterizing; Hesperia says warm weather is cheaper and easier (Hesperia).
Watch for: One year in ten, first frost comes by October 27 at Victorville (NOAA).

November

Plants and trees: Keep planting trees and shrubs; seed wildflowers (UCCE).
Irrigation: About a third of summer water (SB County). Winterize before the November 24 median hard freeze (NOAA).
Weeds: Winter weeds sprout after rain. Pull them small.
Turf and rock: Heat tape on exposed pipe, insulated box over valves (Hesperia).
Watch for: Median first freeze: November 11 at Victorville.

December

Plants and trees: Plant bare-root roses and spring bulbs (UCCE).
Irrigation: Timers off or way down; water in the warm part of the day (MWA).
Weeds: December rain (0.94 inches) starts the winter weed season.
Turf and rock: Rake rock and brush turf after wind (general practice).
Watch for: Pipe freezes. See backflow protection.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust also names fall and early winter as planting time (MDLT). Then the job flips to pipes. In January 2007 Hesperia hit 5°F and the county logged about $600 thousand in broken-pipe damage (NWS). For the steps, use the sprinkler winterizing guide and the backflow freeze protection guide.

High Desert Yard Care FAQs

When is the best time to plant in the High Desert?

October and November, according to the UCCE Master Gardeners of San Bernardino County. Hold tender warm-season plants until mid-April, because one year in ten Victorville’s last freeze comes after April 12.

When should I turn my sprinklers down or off for winter?

Cut minutes and days in September and October. By November, needs are about a third of summer peak, per the San Bernardino County guide. Winterize before the median hard freeze, November 24 at Victorville.

When do the spring winds hit the Victor Valley?

Roughly March through June. The nearest long-term wind record, Daggett-Barstow, peaks April through June, and the County guide says spring gusts can top 60 mph. Avoid running sprinklers in wind.

When should I prune trees in the High Desert?

Prune deciduous fruit and shade trees while they are dormant, in January and February. Wait until April to cut back frost-damaged growth on shrubs, once the risk of another freeze has dropped.

What should I do to my yard before monsoon season?

As general practice, before July clear drain inlets, check that the ground slopes away from the house, and fix spots where water pooled last year. After storms, re-level washed rock and pull new weeds while small.

Sources

We checked every number on this page against the public sources below. If a rule or date changes, the agency page is the final word.

Related Guides & Services

Frost Dates and Growing Zones High Desert Irrigation Guide Winterize Sprinklers Backflow Freeze Protection High Desert Weeds Drought Tolerant Plants High Desert Soils Irrigation Rockscape Design Artificial Turf

Planning Fall Planting or a New Drip System?

Fall is the best time to plant in the High Desert and the right time to fix irrigation before it freezes. Monarch designs and installs drip, rockscape, turf and plantings across the Victor Valley. Book a free consultation and we will walk the yard with you.

Get a Free Yard Estimate

Or call (760) 792-7627