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Unlike most of the country, we will not have to dial back our clocks early Sunday morning, but it is a great reminder that it’s time to cut back on watering. Water needs for plants are only one-third the amount needed compared to the summer months. However, it was also a completely dry October – though we had hoped to get rain during last week’s cool down.
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Did you plant winter ryegrass? Once it has germinated, be sure to cut back on the watering frequency to avoid disease problems! Oh, and it’s still a great time to do some fall planting. |
Recommendations below are for plants that are established in the landscape (in the ground about two years).
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Warm season grass (Bermuda) - once every 14 days
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Overseeded cool season grass (rye) - 4x per day for 1st 7 to 10 days to germinate, then once every 7-10 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 24 days
- High Water Use - once every 11 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 27 days
- High Water Use - once every 13 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 21 days
- High Water Use - once every 10 days
Cacti and succulent watering
Annuals & vegetable watering
- Once every 5-7 days (or more if you are starting seeds)
Wildflower watering
- Once every 1-2 days to germinate, then once every 7-10 days
Note: These recommendations are a general guideline only and may need to be modified for your specific site conditions. Our current weather conditions may require more frequent watering.
Landscape Watering by the Numbers: Don’t forget our online, interactive watering guide. If you input some simple information about your landscape irrigation system, it will tell you how long to water to give your plants just the right amount with these frequencies.
Water - Plant It Wisely Fall Microsite!
Want to create a landscape that is beautiful and sustainable? Water - Use It Wisely has the ultimate Arizona Fall landscaping and planting microsite, Water - Plant It Wisely.
Dig into the benefits of low-water-use plants by putting your gardening gloves and shovel to work during this beautiful fall weather.
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Find:
- A list of nurseries with pickup and delivery options
- Our top fall planting ideas
- Our 5 best fall water-saving tips
- How to plant wildflowers (there's still time)
- Gardening for wildlife
- Drab-to-Fab 10-part video series & more
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Q&A: How much more water will I use if I plant a winter lawn?
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Save water – Getting ryegrass seed to germinate requires watering three times a day or more. Spikes in water usage are always noticed by water providers during the months of October and November when winter rye is seeded. By not overseeding, over 8,000 gallons of water can be saved for every 1,000 square feet of grass each season. In contrast, dormant Bermuda only needs to be watered once a month from November to February – less if we get winter rains. |
Oh, and we should mention, that's just the amount of water we estimate that the grass needs. We find that most will overwater their winter lawn, meaning it will likely be even more than 8,000 gallons. Another insider tip: Most water providers base your wastewater fee on your winter water usage, so having a winter lawn may cause your wastewater charge to be higher for the following year. Learn more.
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Laundry to Landscape?! Yes you can.
Did you know that it is legal to use greywater in Arizona? The Watershed Management Group is teaching a series of "Steward In Place" virtual events. On Wed, Nov. 11, from 5-7 p.m. you can attend How to Install an L2L System. This virtual class is for people ready to learn how to install their own greywater Laundry-to-Landscape (L2L) system.
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 Changing leaves is a great reminder to adjust your irrigation timer if you haven't already done so. Have you seen the fall/winter color from the Chinese Pistache tree? This row of trees is in front of our i.d.e.a. Museum (reopening Nov. 7).
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Find our City of Mesa facility closures and changes to programs/services, general information, face covering requirements, and resources during the COVID-19 emergency.
Mesa CARES. The City launched a Mesa CARES initiative in an effort to connect individuals, families, and businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to available resources.
**Reduce your landscape water use 30 to 50 percent by adjusting your irrigation each season.** Landscape Watering by the Numbers: A Guide for the Arizona Desert will help you determine how much water to apply and how long to run your system. Visit the interactive website or request a free copy of the booklet.
-H2O-
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