Unlike most of the country, we didn't have to dial back our clocks last 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. Most areas of Mesa got a little over .1" on Nov 9, and the next week ahead looks like we'll be cool with highs in the upper 60s.
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 (see below).
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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!
Still have fall planting on your mind? Water - Use It Wisely has the ultimate Arizona Fall landscaping and planting microsite to create a landscape that is beautiful and sustainable. Learn more at Water - Plant It Wisely. Find info on:
-How to plant trees and shrubs.
-Designing for wildlife.
-All about irrigation.
-Our best water-saving landscape tips for fall.
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Q&A: How much more water will I use if I plant a winter lawn?
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 8,000 gallons is just the amount of water we estimate that the grass needs. We find that most people overwater their winter lawn, meaning it will likely be even more water use. 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.
Build Your Own Basin - BYOB
Build Your Own Basin to grow shade trees, help recharge groundwater, and beautify your neighborhood!
Basins are the containers that catch rainfall and support the growth of rain gardens—stunning ecosystems of plants and trees that help clean and recharge groundwater, provide habitat for native species, cool homes and sidewalks, and reduce flooding. Building your own basin is a quick and simple project that can be done at your home, school, place of worship, or other places around your neighborhood! Find helpful videos and instructions on the Watershed Management Group site
And, get two free shade trees by attending an SRP Shade Tree workshop. Classes for 2023 are now open - choose from Jan 12 & 28 or Feb 18. Learn more.
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Emerge 2022: Eating at the Edges
Sat. Nov 19, 12-7 pm. EMERGE is a free art, science, and technology festival that offers an imaginative look into our relationship with food and what that will look like in a future with severe environmental challenges. Together, we will think and taste our way through asking what alternative forms of food production, distribution and consumption we should consider to build a more inclusive, equitable and delicious culinary world. Bring your hands, noses and mouths — they are critical tools! Featured experiences include food art installations, food researchers, food trucks/vendors, live music and entertainment, Mesa Arts Center’s MABEL (Mobile Arts Based Engagement Lab), a Bountiful Future Food Feast art installation made from ceramics, interactive art activities and more. Stop by our booth where we'll be talking about growing food locally and how to compost. Learn more.
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Ask A Master Gardener at Red Mountain Library
Sat. Dec 10, 9:30 - 10 am, and 10am-Noon. Click to edit this placeholder text. This month includes a special Citrus Fertilization Review from 9:30 to 10 am. Then from 10 am to Noon University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners will answer questions about gardening, landscaping, plant identification, and plant problems. Click here for citrus and here for the Q&A program.
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 Our Plant of the Month, Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana) is a great xeriscape plant to add to your landscape. It holds up to summer heat and winter cold, blooms from spring to fall, uses little water, and attracts butterflies and pollinators.
**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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