Archive for “Xeriscape Landscaping” Category

News & Events

Plant of the Month: Winter Color Means Winter Wonderful!

January 16, 2023

As we all know, our desert cities are magnets for winter visitors, who are seduced by our balmy weather, manicured fairways, and bountiful recreational opportunities. Not surprisingly, they also expect their winter paradise to be landscaped with loads of COLOR! This is always a challenge for landscape professionals because although our cold temperatures are mild compared to those across most of the country, they are low enough to prevent most ornamentals …

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Five Favorite Blogs of 2022

January 6, 2023

Happy 2023! We’ve rounded up our very best blogs of 2022 to help you start the year with a water-saving splash. #1 Xeriscape Gardens – Great Outdoor Escapes   Your local xeriscape garden not only serves as a helpful resource on water-wise landscaping but also offers a beautiful place to spend quality time in nature! We’ve pulled together a list …

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Xeriscape Gardens – Great Outdoor Escapes

November 28, 2022

Local Xeriscape Gardens. Great holiday getaways for landscaping ideas. You’ve heard about the benefits of forest bathing? Well, in the desert we have xeriscape bathing. Arizona’s many xeriscape demonstration gardens are perfect outdoor getaways during the holiday season. They provide calming places to relax, to enjoy light exercise, and to pick up pointers on how to incorporate xeriscaping ideas into your …

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xeriscape demonstration garden

Fall Planting with Water – Plant It Wisely

September 14, 2022

The fall planting season is here! Temperatures are cooling down, making it a perfect time to replace your plants you may have lost during the hot summer, or replace your high-water-usage plants with water-thrifty ones. Find our favorite Water – Use It Wisely resources below: Water – Plant It Wisely: Our Ultimate Fall Planting Resource Put your gardening gloves and …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH – CORDIA

September 8, 2022

Lovely, white blossoms of not one, but two different types of cordia, add welcome beauty to the arid landscape throughout the warm season, including summer. Cordias are large shrubs that are underused in the garden and deserve more attention due to their ability to thrive in full sun and shrug off the summer heat. Their evergreen foliage looks great all …

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Make Saving Water a Lifestyle (and Fun Hobby) with Our Events Calendar

August 24, 2022

Arizona water has been making headline news lately. You’ve seen the headlines and the images of lakes (reservoirs) that appear to be draining before our very eyes. The growing urgency to preserve the precious water we have challenges us to think harder about the water we use. Fortunately, our state is having a relatively active monsoon season this summer. However, …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH – CREOSOTE BUSH

August 11, 2022

Creosote Bush, Larrea tridentata is the perfect plant for us to feature during these hot summer months. It’s one of the toughest plants you’ll find, and with a little extra water, they are green and attractive in the landscape! Description – What does the Creosote Bush look like? Whenever it rains in the desert, Creosote Bush lends a distinctive fragrance …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH: LEUCOPHYLLUM OR TEXAS SAGE

July 14, 2022

Texas sages are among the most reliable and fool-proof of the low water use plants available in Arizona. In the past twenty years, many new species and varieties have been brought into cultivation. These evergreen shrubs are native to Texas and Mexico, and perform well in our desert with very little maintenance. These shrubs require full sun and good drainage. …

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Chihuahuan Sage

Plant of the Month: Eight Plants Perfect for Your Pollinator Garden

June 16, 2022

Help protect biodiversity! There are over 7 million humans in Arizona, and we all rely on insects and plants to survive. Native plants support native wildlife. Using native plants in your yard and landscapes is the best way to support healthy ecosystems and protect biodiversity. An easy place to start with planting natives is a pollinator garden. No matter where …

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Using native plants in your yard and landscapes is the best way to support healthy ecosystems and protect biodiversity.

Questions Answered: Water Deeply But Infrequently – What Does That Mean?

June 9, 2022

The Watering Mantra for Desert Landscapes You may have heard Arizona landscape experts saying, “water deeply but infrequently,” but what does that mean? If you are originally from a part of the country that gets significant rain throughout the year, watering means running the sprinklers or hose occasionally during a dry spell. Arizona is one of the few places where …

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Efficient and Effective Outdoor Watering is a Key Component of Conservation in the Desert

May 20, 2022

Here in the Valley, most of our water use occurs outdoors and not inside the home. With such a significant amount of our water being used outside, it highlights the importance of being efficient with our outdoor water use, especially during a historic drought, changing climate, and Colorado River shortages. As our temperatures rise, so does outdoor water use in …

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Photo of a drip emitter

Plant of the Month: Ironwood — The Desert’s Oldest Nurse

May 12, 2022

Feeling melancholy as you sweep up the spent yellow petals of your Palo Verdes? I understand why: when the “month of monochrome yellow” is behind us, the baking summer is upon us, and most plants (and people!) sober up to prepare. Don’t despair yet, though—late spring wildflowers still surround Saguaros wreathed like brides with white blooms. And, now is the …

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