Whew – record highs in the low 90s wrapped up February and kicked off March! 🌡️Thankfully, a slight cooling trend is bringing us back into the 80s… just a little above normal. Normal?? What’s that? 🤔

March is a transitional month in the desert. Warmer days and nights will begin nudging Bermudagrass and other cold-sensitive plants out of dormancy. Many trees – including mesquites, palo verdes, jacarandas, and lysilomas – may look sparse right now, but that’s completely normal. They’re shedding older leaves in preparation for fresh green growth.

Don’t panic – this seasonal leaf drop is not likely a watering issue. 💧

Thinking of replacing your grass with a beautiful water-smart desert landscape? Check out the exciting update below about our Grass-to-Xeriscape Incentive program!

HOAs: We’ve got great options for you, too – including incentives up to $70,000 and free water-efficiency assessments to help determine if your common areas are being watered properly.

Photo: Desert Marigold is a great spring bloomer.

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

Fri., March 6, 8-9:30 a.m. The City of Mesa is offering tree workshops hosted by experts from the non-profit, Trees Matter. This is the last one for the spring season. Stop by 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: Carriage Lane Park, 3140 S. Carriage Lane. Learn more.

Sat., March 21, 10 a.m. to Noon. Families are invited to a flutter-tastic Spring Equinox celebration at the Monarch Haven & Reading Sanctuary at Red Mountain Library!

Kids can enjoy hands-on activities or create Sonoran Desert native wildflower seed bombs with the Mesa Outdoor Recreation Experience (M.O.R.E.) mobile unit. The St. Vincent de Paul's Urban Farm will be giving away milkweed seedlings grown from their farm.

Chat with city landscape experts, Master Gardeners, the SciStarter Ambassador, and other exhibitors to learn more about plants, trees, pollinators, and sustainable gardening. Don’t miss your chance to win fun prizes – including origami butterflies created by our talented origamist!

Sat., March 28, arrive between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Join us at Skyline Park, 655 S. Crismon Rd., for our in-person Neighborhood Shade Tree Event. The workshop lasts approximately 75 minutes and includes four mandatory learning stations covering how to select, plant, and care for trees. Experts will be on-site to answer your questions.

Participants who complete the full workshop will receive up to two free 5-gallon desert-adapted shade trees the same day.

As part of our Spring 2026 events, Mesa is celebrating America’s 250th birthday by designating 250 of these giveaway trees as “Liberty Trees” (while supplies last).

Please note:

• Participants must stay for the entire workshop to receive trees.
• Spanish-speaking participants will receive a specific arrival time to complete the stations together with a live interpreter.
• This program is available to select neighborhoods served by SRP (not City of Mesa Electric) and is not available for county islands.

Learn More and Register

Spring planting season is here! 🌱
With warmer temperatures settling in, now is the perfect time to replace plants lost during winter – or swap out high-water-use plants for water-thrifty options that thrive in our desert climate.

Water – Plant It Wisely is your go-to resource for landscaping guidance, expert advice, and plant inspiration. By choosing low-water-use plants, you help conserve our precious water supply for generations to come.

Explore sample landscape plans, tips on hiring a landscape professional, information on local plant sales, and much more!

Find a great selection of native and water thrifty plants:

Boyce Thompson Arboretum: March 14-29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members can preview on March 13 and get 20% off their purchase.

Desert Botanical Garden: March 13-15, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 12 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.

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.

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 landscapes and avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.

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, 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.

Have you heard the latest news?

Mesa’s Grass-to-Xeriscape incentive just got a major boost!

Thanks to generous sponsorships from SRP and Google, we’re doubling the incentive for a limited time. That means you may qualify for up to $4,200 (was $2,100) to replace your thirsty lawn with beautiful, desert-adapted plants and trees.

It’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your landscape, save water, and create a yard that thrives in our Sonoran climate. But don’t wait – funding is limited, and this enhanced incentive won’t last long.

Ready to transform your outdoor space? Check eligibility details and apply at the link below. Terms and conditions apply. Incentives are for future projects only.

See If You Qualify

Did you know that a leak of just 10 drips per minute can waste more than 500 gallons a year? This promotion highlights the importance of finding and fixing leaks that waste millions of gallons of water each year nationally.

Here's how you can take part: 

     Do Our Scavenger Hunt and Win Great Prizes! 

• Mission: Take part in our Fix a Leak Home Scavenger Hunt to track down sneaky leaks inside your home and out in your landscape. Complete the hunt, fix what you can, and help save water.
• Prizes: Participants who submit a FULLY COMPLETED SCAVENGER HUNT FORM will be entered to win! 
  • A $100 gift card to Ace Hardware.    
  • Everyone who enters will receive a toilet leak test kit and free stickers (Contest open to Mesa residents only.) 
• Contest Dates: March 1-31, 2026. Gift card winners will be notified by April 30, 2026. 

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. 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.