Expect some lows in the upper 30's for the next couple of nights, but most plants should be able to tolerate it. While below freezing temps can occur into early April, our typical last frost date is mid-February. Looking at the extended forecast, the warming trend that starts Saturday – aka beautiful AZ weather – appears to continue for a while.
Don't forget that some trees and shrubs have already dropped their leaves due to the winter season. Others will drop leaves within the next couple of months but will leaf back out quickly.
The December rains helped to water our plants and germinate a few wildflowers, but also helped the weeds. Remove them when they are young and BEFORE they go to seed. They will compete with your plants for water. NEVER use strong weed killers or soil sterilants (labeled total vegetation killer, groundclear, etc.) as they persist and move in our desert soils, and will impact desirable plant roots.
Recommendations below are for plants that are established in the landscape (in the ground about two years).
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- Desert Adapted - once every 28 days
- High Water Use - once every 12 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 36 days
- High Water Use - once every 14 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 21 days
- High Water Use - once every 10 days
Cacti and succulent watering
Annuals & vegetable watering
- Once every 6-9 days (or more if you are starting seeds)
Wildflower watering
- Once every once every 10-12 days if no rain
Note: These recommendations are a general guideline only and may need to be modified for your specific site conditions.
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.
Plant of the Month: Texas Mountain Laurel
It won't be long before you'll see (and possibly smell) this plant around town. Texas Mountain Laurel naturally occurs in south-central and western Texas, New Mexico, and southward in Mexico to San Luis Potosí. It displays large clusters of showy purple flowers from February through March, filling the air with the fragrance of grape soda.
Learn about Texas Mountain Laurel.
Find all of our Plant of the Month Articles.
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Growing Food in the Desert: Cultivating Sustainability
Sat., Feb. 26, from 1-2:30 p.m. Learn about all
the benefits of growing food locally, tips for successful gardening, composting basics, and about Mesa Urban Garden, our downtown community garden. We’ll also talk about the City’s Climate Action Plan and how sustainable food systems play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The workshop is free and located at Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road. Learn more.
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...And More Gardening Resources:
Sun. Feb. 6, 2-4:45 p.m.: Totally Tomatoes: This UofA Master Gardener DIG (Desert Institute of Gardening) class will be taught by the wonderful Pam Perry! Learn about best planting times, varieties, planting basics, and care needed to grow delicious tomatoes in our AZ climate. Offered via Zoom!
Good Local Food is Easier Than You Think. Read our our February Sustainability Savings Tip about how to reduce your food miles with gardening, CSA's, and Community Gardens.
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The Seed Library: Did you know that we allow library card holders to check out three seed packets per month for free? Choose from a wide variety of seeds for edible plants and herbs. Seed varieties are rotated with the seasons and are suitable to local growing conditions. The Seed Library is open during regular library hours at Mesa Main and Red Mountain branch.
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Annual SRP Water Conservation Expo!
Feb. 22, 24 or 26: The expo is virtual again this year. What's it all about? It's a great way to purchase a 'smart' controller (uses real-time or historical weather data to adjust the frequency of watering) at an amazing price. SRP customers who register for the virtual expo classes will have the opportunity to buy one of two smart irrigation controller models. For $60+tax you can get a Hunter or Rachio 3 controller (these have a retail value of $200-$400). Register.
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Irrigation Maintenance Checklist Perfect for Spring Weather
Did your cute dog just chew off another emitter?
During our beautiful spring weather is an especially good time for irrigation system maintenance. Irrigation problems are not always apparent because of the cool nighttime temps, cloudy days, and the occasional sprinkle of rain. Don’t wait until the heat sets in. It won’t be fun for you or for your plants. Find our easy irrigation maintenance checklist.
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Thinking of a Landscape Renovation?
Here are three great resources:
Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab 10-Part Video Series Check out our ten 3- to 5-minute videos that take you through the process of a landscape installation – the series follows a real landscape renovation.
Residential Landscape Revitalization Workbook This booklet from Scottsdale features seven unique landscape design idea options for you – Birdscape, Colorscape, EZscape, Flutterscape, Nativescape, Shadescape, and Verdescape.
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Xeriscape: Landscaping with Style in the Arizona Desert This vastly improved online guide provides information on design, installation, and maintenance, and a photo gallery of ideas for Arizona low desert gardens.
We've also got Tips for Selecting Professional Landscape Services.
SRP's Shade Tree Program - Free Trees!
Attend a virtual workshop and you can receive two free trees. Why? Because shading your home helps reduce cooling costs, improves air quality, and will help lower the heat island effect - all without using a lot of water. Six shade tree species are available.
Feb. 9 & 26 dates are currently open. Learn more and register.
Note that the classes are also being offered in Spanish. Asiste al taller y recibe dos arboles.
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1-2-3 Rule for Watering Depth
 The 1-2-3 Rule is an easy way to remember how deep to water:
- Water small plants such as groundcovers, cacti, and annuals to a depth of 1 foot (water grass to 10 inches).
- Water medium plants such as shrubs to a depth of 2 feet.
- Water large plants such as trees to a depth of 3 feet.
Keep in mind that larger plants need more water to wet the root zone, but can also typically go longer periods in between watering. Learn more.
**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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