⏰Time to cut back on watering!
While much of the country turns back their clocks this Sunday (Nov. 2), we don’t have to in Arizona. But it’s still a great reminder to turn back your watering frequency! As temperatures cool, plants need only about one-third the water they did during the hot summer months.
The next 10 days show above-normal temps in the 80s to 90s and no rain in sight, so keep an eye on your plants and adjust watering accordingly.
Did you plant winter ryegrass? Once it’s germinated, be sure to reduce watering frequency to help prevent disease problems.
Thinking of adding new plants? It’s still a perfect time for fall planting! See below for tips and inspiration.
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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.
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.
Get a Free Seed Packet!
Water – Use It Wisely has never given away a Plant of the Month before – but this time they’re kicking things up a notch with a free wildflower seed packet! Sign up for their monthly newsletter and they’ll mail you seeds to start your own spring bloom.
Check out their Wildflower blog to learn more and get inspired!
Water – Plant It Wisely Fall Microsite!
Still thinking about adding to your landscape? Fall is one of the best times to plant in the low desert! The weather is perfect, and thanks to the October rain, your soil should be softer and easier to dig.
Water – Use It Wisely has the ultimate Arizona fall landscaping and planting resource, a microsite called Water – Plant It Wisely. It's packed with ideas to help you create a landscape that’s both beautiful and sustainable. Explore tips on:
- How to plant trees and shrubs
- Designing for pollinators and wildlife
- Smart irrigation basics
- Planting wildflowers, and more!
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🌳 Mesa’s “Trees Are Cool” Initiative Is Growing Strong!
The Trees Are Cool initiative challenges every Mesa resident, community group, and business to help us reach our goal of planting one million trees by 2050.
Planting trees isn’t just about beautifying our yards, parks, and shared spaces – it’s also a powerful way to advance our Climate Action Plan goals. Trees provide shade, filter greenhouse gases, and help cool our community.
If you’ve planted a tree recently, be sure to record it on our interactive Trees Are Cool map — and share a photo like the resident pictured here! The site also offers tips on tree selection, planting, and care. You can even click on the “See Map of Trees Planted” feature to explore more than 13,600 trees planted and recorded by Mesa residents and businesses.
The City of Mesa also continues to host tree-planting events across the city, including the recent ones at Guerrero Park (Oct. 17) and Reed Park (Oct. 25).
Did you help plant trees at Sherwood Park on Feb. 22? Check out our latest StoryMap highlighting Mesa’s Tree Steward Program and Volunteer Planting efforts.
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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. Water providers always notice spikes in water usage 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.
🦋Check Out the New Monarch Waystation at Red Mountain Library!
The Monarch Haven & Reading Sanctuary is a hidden gem tucked into the northeast corner of the Red Mountain Library parking lot (635 N. Power Road) — a peaceful pocket park designed for butterflies and other pollinators (oh and for our library patrons to sit and read). 🌸
On Oct. 18, a new Monarch Waystation was dedicated at the site, created by Eagle Scout Morgan W. through a grant from the Mesa Youth Climate Action Fund.
Learn more about this inspiring project and how it supports Mesa’s pollinator habitats in this short YouTube video.
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 What's blooming? Cascalote (Caesalpinia cacalaco recently classified as Tara cacalaco) is a great Xeriscape tree to add to your landscape. Early in November, they begin to produce long spires of tightly bound yellow flower buds.
**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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