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Up to 70% of your household water use is outdoors. This is why it’s so important to ensure you are watering efficiently. Raise your hand if you adjust your irrigation controller four times a year with the seasons. More than likely, you did not raise your hand. Either way, don’t worry there is a controller that is so smart that it adjusts automatically according to everything going on in your yard! This technology reduces the overall amount of water used up to 50% and reduces your water bill, saving you money, and helping to conserve a precious resource.

“Smart” VS “Not-so-smart”

Rain Bird ESP-SMT4 Smart Controller

The “not-so-smart” or “traditional” irrigation controllers required us to determine how much to water and when. With the “smart” irrigation controllers you simply program in the conditions for each zone. The programming information includes:

• light conditions (full sun, 25% shade, 50% shade, 75% shade, and full shade)
• plant type (grass, annuals, groundcover, shrubs, and trees)
• amount of slope (0°-2°, 3°-4°, 5°-7°, 8°-Up)
• soil type (sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, clay loam, silty clay, and clay)

Another feature is the on-site weather sensor that communicates current weather data on a regular basis back to the controller. The weather station measures rain fall and temperature and compares this information with the programmed historical data based upon the zip code entered. As weather conditions change, the irrigation schedule adjusts accordingly on a daily basis.

Programming

When the controller is programmed correctly, you can expect to maintain a healthy landscape while consuming up to 50% less water than “traditional” time-based controllers. One bonus feature of some “smart” controllers is that you can program the controller anywhere you want. The old days of standing out in summer heat and trying to program your controller while having difficulty reading the display are over. All you have to do is install a 9-Volt alkaline battery in the controller and program it from your couch inside your air conditioned home. The pre-programmed information is saved in non-volatile memory for retrieval at a future date.

Rebate programs

Summer is coming soon and why not start the season with a “smart” controller to do all the work for you. Save water and save money! Check with your water provider, as some offer controller rebates and may be able to assist with the cost of the unit such as the cities of Scottsdale, Peoria, and Chandler. Also in the spring, Salt River Project (SRP) has a Water Conservation Expo and offers a “smart” irrigation controller discount. For more information on “smart” irrigation controllers, visit SRP’s Facts and Questions page. Remember there are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.

Salt River Project (SRP) is one of fifteen Water – Use It Wisely regional partners who offer conservation assistance to water customers. Contact your local water conservation office.

Heat tolerant trees like the Palo Verde often have small leaves, light green or grey leaves, are native to arid climates, and can tolerate intermittent watering

Do you have questions about planting a tree or caring for existing trees in your yard? Joanne Toms, Water Conservation Specialist, from the City of Glendale is here with some helpful Q&A. Just in time for Arbor Day, which is today (Friday, April 27th)!

What type of tree should I plant?
Pick a tree that can survive and thrive in our desert region. Heat tolerant trees often have the following characteristics: small leaves, light green or grey leaves, are native to arid climates, and can tolerate intermittent watering. For a copy of the popular Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert, which features more than 30 desert-adapted trees, contact your local water conservation office.

Where should I water my tree?
Nature knows best. Imitate nature by watering your tree at the drip line (at the outer reaches of the canopy of the tree). This is also where a tree naturally sheds rainwater. The most active water absorption area is at the drip line and beyond, not adjacent to the trunk.

How much should I water my tree?
You need to fill up your tree’s underground water storage tank – the “root zone,” or the soil surrounding the tree’s roots. Be sure to water the tree’s root zone which is 24 to 36 inches deep. A good way to test how deep you have watered is to use a soil probe or a long screwdriver. Just be sure to know where your irrigation and utility lines are located, first. Several hours after watering, push the probe into the soil. It will slide easily through wet soil but will be difficult or impossible to push through dry soil. Check out this handy brochure on how to best water your trees.

Consider different watering depths for different types of plants.

New Tree Trail Dedication April 28
Just in time for Arbor Day, Glendale’s Conservation & Sustainable Living program has opened its new addition to the Glendale Xeriscape Garden, the Tree Trail. This project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, features a renovated 10,000-square foot area of the garden, with a focus on small- and medium-sized trees better suited for most residential landscapes where space may be tight. Residents are encouraged to come and enjoy the new Tree Trail and the surrounding Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. The new Tree Trail is located at the city’s Main Library, 5959 W. Brown St., and open sun up to sun down every day.

The Glendale Tree Trail showcases small to medium sized trees that would be suitable for residential properties. Check out the Grand Opening Celebration this Saturday, April 28 at 9 am!

Glendale is one of fifteen Water – Use It Wisely regional partners who offer water-saving landscape assistance to water customers.

The combination of aging irrigation systems and decades-old traditional overhead spray nozzles can result in large and unsightly brown spots in grass areas. Up until recently, traditional spray nozzles were the only option to irrigate grass areas between 5’-15’.

What is a traditional spray nozzle, you ask? In a nutshell, it’s any nozzle that delivers small water droplets quickly and in a fan shaped pattern. Due to the high flow of water coming out of traditional spray nozzles (almost 2 gallons per minute, 15’ half-circle), many aging sprinkler pipes get mineral buildup and can no longer provide the needed pressure to deliver water evenly between the originally designed head-to-head spacing. Most homeowners try to solve this issue by simply increasing run-times until the brown spots disappear. However, while this solution may improve the look of the site, it results in a tremendous increase in water consumption, with some areas getting a lot more water than needed, which is both costly and environmentally unfriendly.

Homeowners can take a cue from landscape professionals, who have learned to rely on multi-stream rotating sprinkler heads, such as the Hunter MP Rotator. The MP Rotator features a unique, multi-trajectory rotating stream delivery system that achieves water-conserving results. Rather than simply “spray” water onto landscapes, MP Rotators deliver multiple streams of water at a slow, steady rate. The reduction in flow will boost system pressure allowing the MP Rotator’s multi-stream “moving fingers” to achieve previously compromised head-to-head spacing.

This is what makes MP’s perfect for revitalizing older systems—the retrofit can solve both low pressure and poor coverage problems. The MP Rotator can be installed onto any conventional spray head body transforming them into high uniformity, low precipitation rate sprinklers. But be careful. Because the MP Rotator has a much lower flow rate (1/2 gallon per minute, 15’ half-circle) compared to a traditional spray nozzle, a complete removal of ALL traditional spray nozzles on a single valve (station) must be done. By mixing MP Rotators & traditional spray nozzles on a single valve (station), an already inefficient system will only become worse.

Another added benefit is the MP Rotator’s compatibility with Arizona soil absorption rates.  Most Arizona landscapes consist of clay soil profiles capable of absorbing only a ½” or less of water per hour. In Water – Use It Wisely’s 100+ Ways to Conserve, # 18 states If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption. That’s because most traditional spray nozzles deliver water at flows 100-200% faster than what Arizona soils can absorb.  Due to the MP Rotators “Slow-the-Flow” nature, it delivers water to your landscape at a much slower rate therefore minimizing or eliminating unnecessary run-off. This slower application rate allows water to gently soak into the soil, and achieves an even distribution throughout the area being irrigated. This increased efficiency results in 30% less water use when compared to traditional sprays, and significantly reduces wasteful runoff.

MP Rotators are also a great choice for new systems, as they provide immense range, flexibility and provide better system efficiency.

From time to time, WUIW features guest bloggers who write about water conservation and education. Danny Motylewski from Hunter Industries is our guest blogger this week. Hunter Industries is committed to research and development efforts centered on innovative solutions that save water, and they always have been. Moving forward, their focus towards water and energy conservation will continue every day.

MP Rotator 3 (Credit: www.hunterindustries.com)

Everyone enjoys a patch of lawn.  It’s cool to walk on barefoot, a comfortable spot for adults to gather and relax outdoors, and children and pets enjoy playing on it. But lawns do use a lot of water, and with up to 70% of your water use outdoors, the ideal lawn is one that will grow in our desert environment using water as efficiently as possible. One of the easiest and smartest things a homeowner can do is to replace their old-fashioned sprinkler spray nozzles with new water efficient nozzles.

Conventional “fixed spray heads” are the small heads that spray a fan-shaped pattern of water, somewhat like a shower nozzle spray. They apply water at a relatively fast rate which may not allow the water to soak into our tight clay soils and may contribute to runoff. Fixed spray nozzles are often prone to ‘misting’, an extremely fine spray that can evaporate quickly or drift easily in wind.

Replacing old spray heads with new, more efficient models can reduce your water use and save you money.  This is easier than you might think.  In most cases it’s not necessary to replace the entire sprinkler housing, just the spray nozzle.  If you can unscrew the cap on a bottle of water and then put it back on, you can replace a sprinkler nozzle. In just a few minutes you can give your irrigation system a tune up, conserve water, reduce puddling and water running into the street, and improve the health of your grass.

Rainbird Rotary Nozzles (Credit: www.rainbird.com)

New sprinkler products on the market can save as much as 42 percent on the amount of water applied to your lawn.  And, because the water is applied more slowly, and in droplets instead of mist, it soaks deeper into the soil and with less chance for runoff. They also deliver water more evenly over their entire coverage area, a vast improvement over conventional sprinklers.

Click on the ‘Lawn Stars’ listed below to learn more about various types of spray heads and even help for unexpected geysers. These products are available from a variety of manufacturers.

• Multi-Stream Spray Heads
• MP Rotators
• Oscillating spray heads
• Auto-stop for broken sprinkler heads

It’s easy to change a spray nozzle.  Read on for simple tips.
Replacing a sprinkler spray nozzle:

1. Unscrew the very top sprinkler head. If it is a pop-up sprinkler you’ll need to pull up the riser a couple of inches to get a grip on it. If the insert is snug, you might need a pair of pliers. A special tool to lift the spray nozzle is available at irrigation or home improvement stores.  The little insert is the only part you are going to replace. You won’t need to do any digging or get dirt on your hands. (See a how-to video).
2. Bring this spray nozzle, along with a list of the total number of nozzles you need, to a store that sells multi-stream or oscillating nozzles. Don’t worry about distinguishing quarter heads and half heads; most of the new nozzles are adjustable from 90 degrees to 210 degrees. Home improvement stores may not have these products, but most nurseries and irrigation stores should. Call ahead if you’re not sure.
3. To install just unscrew the old nozzles (with the water off) and screw on the new ones. Turn the sprinkler system on and make adjustments to the spray direction. If needed, adjust the radius of the spray by turning the little screw on the top. (You may need a tiny little screwdriver for this, which is also available at irrigation supply stores).

Spray Head Pull-Up Tool (Credit: www.rainbird.com)

That’s it. In just a few minutes you’ve updated your sprinkler system, saved water, reduced runoff and made your lawn just a little bit healthier.

For more landscape and irrigation tips, please visit www.chandleraz.gov/water

Chandler is offering landscape watering workshops throughout the month of April. Topics include yard watering & timer programming, sprinkler design and how to maximize your irrigation. Find detailed descriptions and programs offered by Chandler and other Water – Use It Wisely partners at the Water – Use It Wisely calendar on our home page.

Over half of household water – in some cases up to 70% is used outdoors. That means saving water in your landscape is one of the best and easiest ways to reduce your outdoor water use. We’ve got three great resources to make you the top water miser in the neighborhood:

Photos and plant charts help you with plant selection.

1. Xeriscape is defined as water efficient, creative landscaping that guides you with seven landscape principles to create a beautiful, healthy and water efficient yard. And, no! It’s not just rocks and cactus. Details can be found in Xeriscape: Landscaping with Style in the Arizona Desert.
2. Use Water Thrifty Plants like the bold, armored agaves or like the fragrant-flowered acacias. There are hundreds of beautiful low-water-use plants that are available for our region of the Sonoran Desert. Learn more from Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert.
3. Water Efficiently to reduce your water use by 30-50%. If you’ve used the Xeriscape principles and planted low-water-use plants, it’s even more important to make sure you are watering properly. It is very common by residents and even commercial landscapers to over water desert landscapes. Check out our Landscape Watering by the Numbers: A Guide for the Arizona Desert.

Proper watering techniques are provided for all types of Arizona landscapes.

These resources are all available online, but free booklets are also available. All fifteen Water – Use It Wisely regional partners, offer these guides to their water customers. Contact information is available on our partner page.

Our three must-have guides.

· Trees clean pollutants from the air

· Trees produce oxygen

· Trees conserve energy

· Trees reduce stormwater runoff

· Trees add value to communities

· Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife

· Trees create shade and cool the environment

Arbor Day in Arizona is celebrated any time from February through April, but the National Arbor Day is designated for Friday, April 30^th. It is a very special day, set aside as a time to plan – and to plant – for a healthier future. A tiny seedling planted today will give back for a lifetime. According to the US Forest Service, over a 50-year lifetime a tree recycles $37,500 worth of water and generates $62,000 worth of pollution control. Now that’s something to celebrate! Planting a tree in your neighborhood is one of the best things you can do not only for your community, but for our planet as well. Make a difference. Plant a tree.

What does planting a tree have to do with saving water? There are many trees that not only save water, but that also perform well and are easy to maintain in the desert. Check out our listing of over 200 low-water use plants in our booklet Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert, or find the information online here.

Courtesy of City of Scottsdale

February is a great time to plant in the low desert as temperatures are still cool and roots can get established before the heat sets in. Whether planting an entire landscape or just replacing lost plants, hundreds of desert plants are available for just about any function in your landscape. Would you like to attract birds or butterflies to your yard? Desert plants are up for the challenge! Perhaps you are looking for year-round color, or maybe a living fence or a cool, shady retreat?

Each low-water-use plant can save you up to 550 gallons a year.

This hybrid palo verde shows two desert adaptations - small leaves are more water efficient and a green stem and trunk allow the tree to photosynthesize and make food even if dry conditions cause the leaves to drop. Photo by Donna DiFrancesco

Silvery leaves of the brittlebush help the leaves reflect sunlight and stay cooler. After blooming, many native birds feed on the seeds. Photo by Donna DiFrancesco

By selecting plants that are well adapted to our desert climate you’ll have less maintenance and more time and money while enjoying a more attractive landscape. Learn plant selection tips and how plants provide many functions for the landscape from the City of Mesa’s February $ustainability $avings Tip (PDF). You may also want to attend Mesa’s February Living Green Workshop titled Landscape Plants for Shade, Color & Wildlife on Saturday, February 13th at 1:30 p.m. at the Mesa Main Library, 64 E. First Street.

Leaf hairs reflect sun and help maintain leaf moisture on this fragrant native desert lavender. Photo by Donna DiFrancesco

Mesa is one of seventeen Water – Use It Wisely regional partners, many of whom offer water-wise workshops. Check out all of the partner programs from the Water – Use It Wisely calendar on our home page. You can also check out all of our landscape plants and Xeriscape links, including rebates available on our Water – Use It Wisely local resources page.

Hesperaloe blooms not only attract hummingbirds, but also native birds like this verdin. Photo by U.A. Sinclair

A painted lady butterfly finds nectar to drink on blooming sand verbena wildflowers. Photo by Donna DiFrancesco

Colorful penstemons are always a magnet for hummingbird. Photo by Jeff Lee

The fall planting season has arrived! Temperatures are cooler, and it’s a great time to replace plants you may have lost during the hot summer.

Why is fall planting so good for plants? Soil temperatures are still warm, encouraging root growth and development and allowing plants to get much better established before next summer’s heat sets in. Also, with cooler temperatures, plants need less water and it is a much more forgiving time of year to put new plants in the ground. Forget to water just one day in the summer, and your new plants can be toast. From the fall season through spring, water newly planted plants once every 3-4 days and gradually increase the number of days between watering as plants get established.

Always plan before you plant!

Whether you are planting a single plant or an entire landscape, look at plant characteristics to make sure they will fit into the space you have available and to be sure it will perform the function you are looking for. Good planning is a worthwhile investment of time that will payoff with a more attractive, easy to maintain, and useful home landscape. Water – Use It Wisely Arizona partners have put together great information on local planting, called Plant Now for the Future that includes planting instructions, plant placement and other design ideas. Also be sure to explore the on-line calendar on the Water – Use It Wisely home page and find out about all of the fall landscape workshops going on in the Valley.

There are exceptions to fall planting. All bare root plants, including roses, pecan, and fruit trees are generally planted in late December or January when they are dormant. Palm trees and other tropical plants will do best if planted during the spring or summer. When you purchase plants for your home landscape, be sure to look for healthy, well-grown plants. Don’t forget to add 2-3 inches of compost or mulch to the surface of the soil after planting and before covering with granite or rock (keep the mulch a few inches away from the stem or tree trunk). Check with your local plant nursery for best results, but don’t forget local plant sales put on by botanical gardens or others. Here’s a list of upcoming fall plant sales:

• Master Gardener Fall Plant Sale – Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Office, 4341 E. Broadway Road in Phoenix. Contact them at 602-827-8200 x311 or http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/plantsale.htm
• Desert Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale – Oct. 16 (members only), Oct 17 & 18 open to everyone. Contact them at 480-941-1225 or www.dbg.org
• Boyce Thompson Arboretum Fall Plant Sale – Oct. 9 – 25, located at U.S. Highway 60 in Superior. Contact them at 520-689-2723 or http://ag.arizona.edu/bta
• Local Nurseries – Your local nursery will often have fall promotions. Find your closest local nursery by visiting the Arizona Nursery Association Web site at http://azna.org/retail/

Don’t forget to plant seeds!

It’s also the time of year to plant seeds. Are you thinking of overseeding your bermudagrass? First, see the Top Ten Reasons Not to Overseed with Winter Rye. If you decide you still want to overseed, keep it as efficient as you can with the timing and watering and limiting the areas. Find helpful details at the University of Arizona site at http://ag.arizona.edu/turf/tips894.html

Are you looking for carpets of golden poppies or spikes of violet lupines? Fall is the time to sow many of the wildflower seeds in your landscape. If possible try to sow shortly before one of our October or November rains. For good details on wildflower gardening, request our free booklet, “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” or you can find information at the Desert Botanical Garden Web Site at www.desertbotanical.org/index.php/gardening/growingguides/ground/wildflowers.
Wild Seed, Inc., is one of our best local wildflower seed companies. Look for the seed at plant sales or your local nursery, or contact them at 602-276-3536.

If you’ve been considering converting your grass into a colorful low-water-use landscape, a local class will show you the easy step-by-step methods. And, you may even be eligible for a rebate!

The City of Chandler is presenting a free workshop, Basic Yard Makeovers on Tuesday, September 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call 480-782-3580 to register for the program.

Many of the partners in the Arizona Water – Use It Wisely coalition offer FREE workshops or classes with expert speakers willing to share their knowledge. You can learn about designing a colorful water-saving, low maintenance landscape, programming an irrigation controller, attracting wildlife to your yard, selecting low-water-use plants, pruning, watering your landscape, making compost, or herb and vegetable gardening in the low desert.  There are even walking tours of local Xeriscape gardens.

Explore the new on-line calendar on the Water – Use It Wisely home page and find out more about conservation events scheduled in the metropolitan Phoenix area. See for yourself.  Click on the calendar on the left navigation bar ‘Learn about local events & classes’ to see what’s happening in your city or town.

The weather outside is far from frightful – in fact, it’s downright delightful.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t create your own “Winter Wonderland” in the Arizona desert.  The winter months provide a perfect opportunity to experiment with container gardening, which can add some amazingly colorful – and even flavorful – variety to your landscape and garden.  Landscaping with containers is also a great option for winter visitors who may be looking for ways to quickly and inexpensively add some Arizona beauty to their patios and entryways.

Many types of low-water use plants lend themselves to container planting, especially cacti and succulents.  There are a number of possibilities that look great during the winter months. For container gardening success, check out the following ideas:

Plant Selection

• Consider cacti, agaves, and a great selection of other succulents such as aloes, which will provide spikes of winter blooms that attract hummingbirds.
• Desert annuals and perennials will provide lots of showy color.  Try early blooming Mexican poppy and penstemons, or long blooming angelita daisy, blackfoot daisy, and moss verbena.  Combine flower types and colors for added visual interest.  Mix and match colors to find the combination that’s most pleasing to you.
• Small, colorful shrubs are good performers. Look for plumbago, bush morning glory, purple hop bush, and dwarf bottlebrush.
• Herbs also do well in containers and provide the benefit of fragrance and for spicing up your cooking. Tough performers include trailing rosemary, lavender, oregano, thyme, and lemon grass. Many will cascade nicely over hanging baskets.
• Don’t hesitate to combine plants together in pots. Just don’t mix cacti and succulents with plants that will need more water.

Choosing the Right Pot

• Plants don’t like to be crowded, so buy the bigger pot, as opposed to the smaller one. Plant roots will stay cooler during warmer months and will also dry out less quickly.
• No matter what pot you choose, allow for drainage.  Arizona’s water is highly
• alkaline and the salts can harm plant roots.  Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the pot; place screens over the holes so you’re draining water, not    soil; and, place pots on pot feet, bricks or iron stands, rather than saucers.
• Clay pots are most popular, but they don’t always hold up well to the moisture.  To preserve them, line the inside with plastic before putting in soil and plants.  Punch a hole through the plastic in the bottom of the pot to allow water to drain. Inserting a plastic pot inside a clay planter is also an option.
• Pots made of light-weight Styrofoam-type materials are great for making it easier to move plants to a protected location on colder nights.  They also allow you to move your plants in and out of the shade as the seasons change.

Maximize Your Soil

• A good quality soil mix is probably the most important ingredient to successful container gardening.  Choose a cactus/succulent mix for those varieties. For everything else use a lightweight packaged potting soil or a blend of 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 pre-moistened peat moss.
• Use a timed-release fertilizer.  Typically, a three- or four-month release fertilizer is sufficient for container gardening.

Water Appropriately

• Container plants have restricted root systems and less soil compared to plants established in the ground, so will typically need more frequent watering than your landscape plants.
• Be sure to water thoroughly each time, then allow the soil to dry moderately in between.
• Keep in mind that weather and plant growth over time will change water needs.

Visit www.wateruseitwisely.com for more tips on plant selection, outdoor water use, and landscaping.  If you have an idea you’d like to share about container gardening, please write us in the comments box below.  We’d love to hear from you.