Archive for “Uncategorized” Category

PLANT OF THE MONTH – IRONWOOD (Olneya tesota)

December 22, 2016

Description  As the common name suggests, Ironwood has hard, heavy wood. One cubic foot of the wood, valued for carving and firewood, weighs 66 pounds. Ironwood’s bark is light gray when young, turning darker with maturity. The gray-green foliage is evergreen except in extreme cold. The 2-inch-long, 1-inch-wide leaves are divided into oval leaflets to ½ inch long. Pairs of …

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PLANTING PROPERLY TO KEEP YOUR LANDSCAPE GROWING STRONG | PART 8 of 10

November 29, 2016

The Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab landscape has finally been installed for our winner, Lisa O. at her Avondale home! While our past videos featured irrigation systems, planter boxes, and patio pavers, we all know it’s THE PLANTS that are the most important component of a fabulous Xeriscape landscape. In episode 8 of our 10-part series, Cathy Rymer from City …

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HOW TO INSTALL YOUR XERISCAPE LANDSCAPE | PART 7 OF 10

November 22, 2016

We’re celebrating the long-awaited-for GROUNDBREAKING of the Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab landscape. Our winner, Lisa O., and her family have been patiently awaiting this day! The BIG lesson here? The steps leading up to the landscape install does take time and some good planning, especially if you want successful results. As you will notice on the video, having a …

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HOW TO USE HARDSCAPE TO CONSERVE WATER IN YOUR LANDSCAPE | PART 6 OF 10

October 31, 2016

The Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab landscape is getting closer to groundbreaking. You might remember that Lisa (our backyard rehab winner) visited both a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden and a local nursery to look at plant materials. However, another important shopping trip to take before you break ground is to a landscape materials supplier… you know… rock yards and paver companies …

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GARDENING THE GREEN WAY

October 25, 2016

Gardening can be a great way to relieve stress, grow your own food and even save some money on monthly groceries. So once you’ve decided to start growing your own garden, take a second to assess what you will need to start your project. Many times you’ll find out that growing a garden requires many materials that may actually have …

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HOW TO DESIGN YOUR YARD FOR YEAR-ROUND BEAUTY | Part 5 of 10

October 16, 2016

We love do it yourself (DIY) as much as you, but when it comes to designing an earth-friendly, water-saving Xeriscape landscape, it’s okay to lean on a professional. Sure, hiring a pro might sound like a sit-back-and-relax kind of process, but a pro can offer you much more than peace of mind. Landscape professionals, like the ALCA-Certified ones we provided …

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PLANTING THE RAIN: HYDRATING ARIZONA ONE YARD AT A TIME

August 8, 2016

Envision your dream landscape. Does it have a water-harvesting rain garden, rockwork and basins overflowing with flowering native plants? How about a greywater system feeding a fig tree or a humming pollinator garden? Once you’ve got the image—how do you bring it to life? Join Watershed Management Group (WMG) for the coolest educational series in Central Arizona to learn how …

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PROTECT LAKE MEAD NOW TO AVOID FUTURE WATER CRISIS

May 31, 2016

Shrinking to its lowest point since Hoover Dam was completed in 1936, Lake Mead has dropped to a surface level of 1074.03 feet above sea level – with a Colorado River shortage declaration looming as soon as the next couple of years. Arizona’s water managers have planned and prepared for a Colorado River shortage for decades. What worries them are …

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HELP YOUR YARD DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

May 2, 2016

DOES YOUR LANDSCAPE HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM? Water is a precious resource—and even more so in the desert climate of Arizona, which has been under drought conditions for 16 years. In the Valley, up to 70% of our water use is outdoors, and about half of the water we put in our landscape often goes to waste. Help your yard …

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IT’S ARBOR DAY!

April 29, 2016

April is dedicated to earthly celebrations and awareness events, such as Water Awareness Month (in Arizona), Arbor Day, and Earth Day. National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April. However, many states observe Arbor Day on different dates to coincide with the most favorable local tree planting times. This year National Arbor Day is April 29. The first …

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WATER TOWER TOUR & FINDING LEAKS

April 21, 2016

April is Water Awareness Month and Earth Month. The Water – Use It Wisely partners have many activities throughout the month of April to celebrate. See the Events calendar for exciting happenings around the valley including workshops, tree plantings, festivals, and more. One such event is the Water – Use It Wisely Water Tower that could be traveling to a city near …

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5 STEPS FOR A DRAB-TO-FAB BACKYARD REHAB

April 18, 2016

Convert a water-thirsty yard into a water-wise escape. Whether you’re landscaping a yard for the first time from the soil up or planning to overhaul an existing one, landscape projects can be exciting but also daunting. Add to that our challenging Sonoran Desert climate and years of drought, and all-of-a-sudden, planning a landscape makeover poses a whole new set of challenges …

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