News & Events

News & Events

Top 10 Darn Good Reasons to Plant a Tree!

February 25, 2020

Drum roll, please … Here are our top 10 reasons why you should plant a tree this year! 10. Decreased Odor – Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. 9.  Protect the Soil – By holding soil in place …

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Plant(s) of the Month: Three Bird-Friendly Desert Plants for Small Spaces

February 13, 2020

Feeling like your yard is too small to plant for birds? Before you throw in the towel, give these petite garden favorites a try. Like goldfish, these plants will fill the space they are given and can be trimmed back easily if needed. Endorsed by gardeners and hummingbirds alike, these easy additions will add more life and interest to your …

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Make Sure Your Landscape Weathers the Winter Season

February 5, 2020

The temperatures have cooled and as many of us plan to head outdoors and enjoy the winter weather, there are a few tips that can help you get your yard ready for you and your winter guests. Properly maintaining your desert-adapted yard during these cooler months will also make help make sure it is in prime condition come spring. Winter …

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ATTEND THE FREE 2020 SRP WATER CONSERVATION EXPO

January 28, 2020

Salt River Project (SRP) invites Valley customers to learn about water conservation and water supplies at the 13th annual SRP Water Conservation Expo on March 7, 2020, from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a “smart” irrigation controller at a discounted price, attend classes and receive a water-efficient Evolve showerhead (one per household while supplies last). …

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Plant of the Month: Shrubby Bulbine for Winter Color

January 14, 2020

If you’re looking for delicate winter color in small spaces, consider shrubby bulbine. FIELD NOTES Once upon a time in the Groot Swartberg Mountains in South Africa, while photographing an intriguing bulb called Boophone disticha on a dry, rocky slope, we happened upon a lonely, flowering Bulbine frutescens. The species is native to dry areas throughout South Africa from near …

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Bulbine Flower

5 Tips to Conserve Water in the Bathroom throughout the New Year

January 7, 2020

Ultra high-efficiency toilets can help you conserve water in the bathroom by saving up to 13,000 gallons of water a year.  While many New Year’s resolutions include revitalizing gym memberships or clearing out overflowing email inboxes, a great way to start the year off right is to focus on helping the environment and creating an eco-friendly household. Going green can …

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Plant of the Month: Winter Blooms in the Southwest Garden

December 17, 2019

Living in the desert southwest has many advantages, including being able to have a landscape filled with winter blooms all winter long when gardens throughout much of the country are brown or covered in a layer of snow. Over the weekend, I stepped out into my garden to see how my plants were doing and took photos of those that …

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Give the Gift That Keeps on Saving

December 12, 2019

December is typically the time to shop for others. So, while you’re at it, why not consider a gift of water savings for your home and/or for the environment? Water-efficient devices and appliances give back all year not only in terms of the amount of water saved, but also money saved on your water bill, wastewater bill, and often even …

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WaterSenseLabel

Eight Ways to Make Your Home More Sustainable

December 11, 2019

We asked an Arizona energy and building expert – John Wesley Miller of Tucson – to suggest eight sensible ideas for how to make your home more sustainable. As an award-winning builder and solar pioneer, Miller has been a national leader in energy conservation and green building ideas. He also champions the concept of “universal accessibility” – building homes that …

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Celebrating 20 Years with our Top 20 Water-Saving Resources

December 5, 2019

We are very excited to share with our readers that this year, Water – Use It Wisely celebrated its 20th anniversary of helping Arizonans save water with a variety of water-saving resources. What began in 1999 as a joint effort between Mesa, Phoenix, and Scottsdale to launch a water conservation campaign is now one of the largest conservation movements of …

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Holiday Shopping at Your Local Businesses

November 27, 2019

The holidays are here and no doubt, this can be a stressful time when deciding on your gift-giving. And this year, there are six fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas than there were last year so you’re going to have to work more efficiently. But don’t fret (or spill your water), we’re here to help make your shopping a snap …

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Plant of the Month: Fall Planting for Spring Blooms

November 21, 2019

Spring wildflower season is one of the desert’s most colorful periods. But planning for those multicolored displays in the spring requires planning in the Fall. The prime time to plant spring flowers in the low desert areas of southern Arizona is during late September through early December. Most spring-blooming wildflowers benefit from the cold temperatures of winter and begin their …

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