We frequently receive requests asking for names of good landscapers. Because we must remain impartial, we aren’t able to make any recommendations. Except for one….Mother Nature. Use her as a guide and you’ll hardly go wrong. For instance, in nature, rain flows over the canopy of a tree and cascades to the ground from the edges of the branches. We call it the drip line. This is where 90 percent …
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On November 1, the morning was crisp and the volunteers were full of energy. Over 40 community members arrived at 7:30 a.m. to learn about green infrastructure and a relatively new idea called low impact development. By lunchtime a 20-foot wide and 200-foot long area in front of Mesa Urban Garden and neighboring restaurant, República Empanada, had over fifty native …
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In this arid land, when it rains, it really does pour. Residents who hope to take advantage of this free, yet ephemeral water have begun a revival in the ancient practice of rainwater harvesting, which involves capturing and storing rainwater near where it falls. It’s no surprise that people are interested: harvesting rainwater can save energy and water, reduce the …
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Fall is here! And it’s a great time to conduct an outdoor water use checkup, which could help you save water and money. Here are some tips to help you get started: Watering As temperatures begin to drop, you’ll need to water your landscaping less frequently. Make sure you water thoroughly and deeply at each watering. This way, roots are …
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Fall is a fantastic time to plant because soil temperatures are still warm, encouraging root growth and development while allowing plants to get 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. It’s also the time …
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Do you enjoy using fresh herbs when you cook? If so, you probably know how expensive they can be. What if fresh herbs were as close as your garden? Herbs are easy to grow and aren’t fussy. You may be surprised to find that herbs make great container plants and are a great alternative to flowering annuals. So, why should …
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The cool season brings with it the renewal of the mind and body—gone are the long, hot summer days, at least for the foreseeable future. So what better time to get out into your yard and examine the state of your irrigation system? As Water Conservation Specialists, we often see overwatering of the landscape in the fall months. Plants simply …
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I hear the whirring of the lawn mowers and see the dust in the air. It’s overseeding season! It’s a familiar scene in neighborhoods across the Valley every fall… the sound of a roaring lawn mower trailed by a cloud of dust. Immersed in the dusty fog is a homeowner or landscaper engaged in the seasonal ritual of scalping a …
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By: Cass Turnbull, PlantAmnesty Founder/President I invented and have run a nonprofit to end bad pruning (mostly tree topping and unsustainable shearing) for 26 years. During that time I’ve written a lot about the topic: why topping and shearing are bad, how to prune selectively, why grounds crews won’t selectively prune, how to change pruning practices and how I came to …
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Back when George H. W. Bush was president, the U.S. Congress passed a law that has helped the country conserve its water supply as we face drought and climate change. There was nothing glamorous about the law, but its impact was dramatic. The law, written and championed by Massachusetts engineer Amy Vickers, changed the amount of water that could be …
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Many valley cities are offering you cash! Cash for your grass that is! The purpose of a grass-to-Xeriscape program is to help customers reduce their landscape water use by half or more by replacing their water-thirsty lawns with landscape plants more suitable for our Sonoran Desert climate. What does Xeriscape mean? Xeriscape (zeer-a-scape) is a term that defines a creative approach to landscaping that …
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The second annual Water – Use It Wisely photo contest is a wrap, and we have a winner! After reviewing over 1,000 incredible images celebrating water throughout Arizona, Dave C’s photo of a post-rain scene in Boulder Canyon was a drop above the rest. “The celebration of water in a climate like ours can be very different for each person. …
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