HIP HIP HOORAIN!! Finally! We have a promising outlook thanks to a strong storm system moving through Arizona. Today's rainfall could exceed half an inch across the Valley, with even higher amounts possible in areas experiencing thunderstorms. Expect a cool day, with temperatures reaching the upper 50s.
Remember that March is a transitional month. Warmer days will nudge Bermudagrass and other cold-sensitive plants out of dormancy. Many trees, such as mesquites, palo verdes, jacarandas, and lysilomas, may appear sparse, but this is normal! They will shed their older leaves and sprout fresh green foliage soon. Don’t be worried – this leaf drop is not likely due to a watering issue.
Photo: Desert Marigold will be bursting into bloom with warmer days.
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 25 days
- High Water Use - once every 11 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 30 days
- High Water Use - once every 12 days
- Desert Adapted - once every 19 days
- High Water Use - once every 9 days
Cacti and succulent watering
Annuals & vegetable watering
- Once every 5-7 days (or more if you are starting seeds)
Wildflower watering
- Once every once every 8-10 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.
Trees Are Cool - Get Answers, Get Planting
TODAY! Fri., March 7, 8 a.m. to noon. Our urban forester is hosting tree workshops across Mesa on the first Friday of the month. This is the last one for the season. Join him to learn what trees are great options for your home, how to plant them, and best practices for staking, watering, and pruning. This is a free event and registration is not required. Location: Superstition Springs Center at Southern and Power. Due to the rain, this one will be held inside the mall. Learn more.
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Spring Equinox in the Monarch Garden
Sat., March 22, 10 a.m. to noon. Join us for a flutter-tastic spring equinox celebration at the Monarch Haven and Reading Sanctuary at Red Mountain Library! Immerse yourself in the world of monarch butterflies with experts from the Southwest Monarch Study and Desert Botanical Garden, and chat with city staff and UofA Master Gardeners about all things plants and trees. Kids can get crafty with fun activities at the library tables, and don’t miss your chance to win cool prizes—like an origami butterfly! Plus, raffles and surprises await. It’s a nature-filled day of fun for the whole family!
 The spring equinox marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring when the sun crosses the equator. In Mesa, this celestial event will take place on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 2:01 A.M.
Water – Plant It Wisely: The Ultimate Spring Planting Resource
Spring planting season is here! Temperatures are warming up, making it a perfect time to replace plants you may have lost during the winter, or replace your high-water-use plants with water-thrifty ones.
Water – Plant It Wisely is our special microsite that lists all our best landscaping resources in one place. You'll find landscaping guidance, advice, and ideas on design and what to plant. By selecting low-water-use plants, you help conserve our precious water supplies for generations to come.
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Plant Sales!
Find a great selection of native and water thrifty plants:
Boyce Thompson Arboretum: March 15-30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members can preview on March 14 and get 20% off their purchase.
Desert Botanical Garden: March 14-16, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 13 is members day. Find an extensive selection of desert plants, including cactus, agaves, succulents, trees and shrubs. This sale is so popular that reservations are required.
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Fun Plant Features!
Shades of Green. Shamrocks aren’t the only green plant to celebrate in March. While we often select plants in our landscape for their seasonal color, or for flowers that attract butterflies or pollinators, you may find great value in a plant for its year-round green presence. Find our favorite plants known for their beautiful green features in our Water – Use It Wisely blog.
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Pollinator-Friendly Plants are All the Buzz. Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies are just a few of the helpful pollinators flying through our landscapes. Many of our pollinators are in decline due to habitat loss and pesticides. We can support and protect pollinators by selecting pollinator-friendly plants for our landscape and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.
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Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert. Looking to refresh your landscape? This free booklet showcases over 200 beautiful, low-water-use plants perfect for Arizona’s climate! Recently updated last summer, it's a must-have for any desert gardener.
Find it at Mesa libraries, most local nurseries, or explore it online: Online version or Mesa residents can Order the book.
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More Resources
Planting Trees and Shrubs Get all the details on planting trees and shrubs the right way to ensure they thrive from day one!
Grass-to-Xeriscape and Tree Bonus Incentive Program Apply to remove your established grass and replace it with a water-efficient landscape, and you could receive up to $1,100 from Mesa! Please note, incentives are available for future conversion projects only.
Fix a Leak Week, March 17-23
Did you know that a leak of just 10 drips per minute can waste more than 500 gallons a year?
Fix a Leak Week is promoted by the EPA to help you detect and chase down leaks!
Email us with your mailing address if you’d like to get our toilet leak detection kit, and our Find and Fix Leaks booklet. You can also find the booklet online how to find and fix leaks.
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Can Test to Determine Your Sprinkler Run Time (Measuring Sprinkler Output)
 Sprinkler output can vary depending on your system design and water pressure. Find out how much water your sprinkler system applies with a one-time can test. Collect 6 to 8 shallow, flat-bottomed cans like tuna or cat food cans. Spread the cans around your lawn 4 to 5 feet apart (cans in photo are farther apart than they appear 😉). Then, turn on each valve or station of your sprinklers for 15 minutes. When the sprinklers turn off, measure the depth of water in each can. Write down your numbers, then visit our Lawn Watering Interactive Guide (and click on Tab 2 'know how much water your sprinkler system applies') hit 'continue' to enter your measurements with the sliding rulers. Once all entered, hit the 'calculate' button. A screen will pop up like the one below with your sprinkler number and sprinkler run time in red. Water for that length of time every time you water. Only change the frequency as the weather changes.
 How Much Rain Did You Get?
Rain is expected throughout the day. If your yard receives 1/2" of rain or more, turn your controller to the 'off' or 'rain' setting. If you don’t have a rain gauge, check out what local weather watchers are reporting at www.rainlog.org, or explore rainfall data maps from Maricopa County Flood Control.
When Should You Turn Your Irrigation Back On?
Let your landscape be your guide! You can typically skip at least one, if not two, irrigation cycles. For example, if you usually water your shrubs every 19 days, consider waiting 19-20 days—or even longer—before turning the system back on.
**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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