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We typically warn you that the 110's are around the corner, but our milder late spring conditions continue. While warmer today, temps will drop below 100 through the next week. But, temps will creep up eventually and our humidity levels are low until monsoon season (typically below 15 percent), so be sure to water deeply at each irrigation for optimal efficiency and plant health. Are you seeing fruit drop on your citrus? Learn more below.
Monsoon Season: Did you know that starting in 2008, the National Weather Service defined our monsoon season to begin June 15 and end September 30? Prior to that time, it was determined by three consecutive days of dew points averaging 55°F or higher. Learn more about AZ monsoons, haboobs, downbursts, and gustnadoes at this ASU site. But, the point is, that you should be ready for wind, dust, and power outages... and let's hope for some noteworthy rainfall.
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 14 days
- High Water Use - once every 7 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 16 days
- High Water Use - once every 8 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 12 days
- High Water Use - once every 5 days
Cacti and succulent watering
Annuals & vegetable watering
Wildflower watering
- spring wildflowers die out, go to seed and may be pulled
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.
Summer Survival for Plants: Upcoming workshop
Sat., June 10, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners will talk about dealing with summer heat, drought, and monsoon weather. Learn about providing extra attention and care to get your landscape through some of our challenging summer conditions. Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road. Learn more.
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Citrus June Drop: It's normal
It is a normal occurrence this time of year and is a natural thinning process. Learn about this and see other great pics in a U of A publication, Diagnosing Home Citrus Problems. If your leaves look healthy, the fruit drop is not likely caused by lack of water.
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Lawn Watering: If you're watering every day, you're watering too much!
Our watering recommendations are based on science from the University of Arizona. It is healthier for grass if you apply .75 inch (3/4 inch) of water each time you irrigate to wet the root zone to a depth of about 8 inches. This encourages roots to go deeper into the soil where they are better protected from hot, dry winds.
With this amount of water, your grass will only need watering once every 3 days in the hottest part of summer, and less often as we get into the fall months. How do you know if you're applying 3/4" of water? I thought you'd never ask! See pages 7 & 8 of our watering guide. Once you've found your run time for your specific system, you only need to change your frequency of watering through the year.
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Great Water-Saving Ideas are 'wading' at your fingertips…
We've handpicked some favorite blogs from Water – Use It Wisely:
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High Water Bills? We can help!
Try our easy Know Your H2O Water Calculator to help you determine how much water you should be using. After going through the estimates, you can request a free water-saving kit with a low-flow WaterSense showerhead, outdoor hose nozzle, and more that will help you save water!
Once you have completed your calculations, compare what you should be using to the actual use on your water bills to see if it is in line.
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Confused About What's Going on with Water? Who isn't?
Significant snowpack and winter rains were certainly helpful to alleviate drought conditions, especially the dire situation of the Colorado River. Is the problem now solved? Or did we simply catch a break? And, what's going on with groundwater? Here are two articles that may help:
Video of the Month: From AZ Plant Lady
 Landscape Watering in the Real World. Are you challenged to water more efficiently because your irrigation system is set up to water trees, shrubs, and groundcovers all on the same valve? Listen to the AZ Plant Lady for ideas on how to make adjustments without having to use a pickaxe and dig a new trench. View Here.
**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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