This is no time to have irrigation problems! We have brutally hot 110+ temps and little monsoon activity happening so far. Your plants are on sprinkler or drip system 'life support' as we get through the next few weeks.

The water needs of plants are the greatest in June and early July. Long days, high temps (day and night), and intense sunlight all mean greater water loss from soil and plants. Even adequately watered plants may show signs of stress as they adapt to the extreme heat.

If we get more cloud cover and higher dewpoints and humidity like we had recently, that will help. It might feel hotter to us, but it is easier on plants. As is typical of our summer monsoons, the rainfall can be hit or miss. Learn more below.

Photo: Leaf wilt and curling leaves on this citrus tree are a sure sign of heat and water stress.

Recommendations below are for plants that are established in the landscape (in the ground about two years).

Since summer monsoon storms can be localized, shop for a rain gauge if you don't have one, or empty the dust out if you do. 😉

If you get at least 1/2" of rain you can skip an irrigation cycle. If you are not sure how much fell in your yard (and you didn't buy a rain gauge yet), visit rainlog.org or Maricopa County Flood Control Rainfall Map. Turning off controllers during rain events is a great way to save water and help out with the drought.

Don’t miss out on using this clean, salt-free source of water that contains many beneficial ingredients for plants. Check out our resources below for harvesting rainwater from our monsoon storms:

• Find our sustainability tip on rainwater collection
• Visit our Water Harvesting page! Whether you want to naturally channel rainwater to your plants or use a barrel or cistern for storage, we’ve collected all of the best local resources for you.

Something Fun! Monsoon Melodies

Monsoons are music to our ears! That's why our Water – Use It Wisely outreach campaign curated a special playlist on Spotify of rain-themed songs. Yes, it's still a bit dry outside, but the playlist includes classics like I Wish It Would Rain by the Temptations and No Rain by Blind Melon. Check it out and get in the rainy day spirit!

July 13, Aug 1, or Aug 24. SRP customers can attend a webinar this summer so that they can qualify for two free trees in the fall. Registration now open.

Sept. 21. Mesa Electric customers can attend a workshop and pick up their tree the following week. Learn more and register.

Why?

Desert-adapted shade trees can lower your cooling costs and improve air quality without using a lot of water. 

If you plant a tree, record your tree to get it onto our planting map at our Trees Are Cool page.

Photo: Desert Willow

High Water Bills? 

Your Water. Your Impact. Know, Compare, Save. How much water does your household use compared to how much you should be using? By reading your water bill, and knowing your expected use, you can take control of your water usage. Our simple water use calculator will help you estimate your optimal water use based on your household, number of occupants, landscape, etc. 

If your monthly usage is higher than those estimates, we have tips and tricks to help you reduce your use, conserve water, and save money. As a bonus, you can order a water-saving kit and get it mailed directly to your home to provide even more savings. To order yours, look for the "Request a Water Saving Kit" link at the bottom of the 'Water Calculator Results' page.

Our special Your water. Your impact. page gives you all the steps and links to this very cool water conservation tool.

It’s summer in the desert… and it’s brutally hot! Many of our spring blooming plants are taking a rest. So, what can we expect to see blooming now? Turns out, there are three tough, heat-hearty plants that are perfect for the 4^th of July! Check out these plants, having ‘hot fun in the summertime’ and offering blooms for your landscape in red, white, and blue!

Well, if you have a pool, over 2,500 gallons just evaporated in one month! POOF!

• Drain or backwash your pool while protecting the environment. Learn more.
• Check out our Water Saving Tips to Keep the Splash in Your Pool.
• Our Best Water – Use It Wisely Swimming Pool Resources

Each time you water, be sure to water deeply. About 1 foot for groundcover, 2 feet for shrubs, and 3 feet for trees. How long is that? See our interactive landscape watering guide for a quick and easy way to determine your run times. For example, a 2-foot diameter shrub would need about 4 gallons of water each time you water. If you have a 1-gallon per hour emitter on that shrub, your run time would be 4 hours!

Tree Steward Program Increase your knowledge about tree planting, tree care, and ways to improve the environment. Virtual information sessions are being offered on July 10 and August 5.

Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund The Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund offers up to $5,000 for projects tackling Mesa's climate goals. Open to groups of 3 or more applicants, the majority being between the ages of 15-24. First review of application, July 31.