News & Events

News & Events

Three Easy Steps to Keeping Your Landscape Plants Happy

January 24, 2014

Winter weather watchers are seeing all kinds of interesting conditions across the country right now, including a lot of snow in the Midwest and Northeast. But here in the desert Southwest, the forecast has been dry and parched! And yet, January is typically part of our winter rainy season with an average of one inch of rain throughout the month. …

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Save Watts and Drops!

December 12, 2013

When trying to save water around the house, have you thought about adding insulation to your attic? What many don’t think about is that there is a fundamental water-energy connection. According to the U.S. Geological Survey Water Use Report, the electrical power industry is the largest user of water in the United States, even surpassing agriculture! Thermoelectric generating plants (this …

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5 Ways You May Be Wasting Water Around the House

December 11, 2013

It’s easy to be conservation conscious in theory, but in practice, it takes sacrifice and discipline. The Bureau of Reclamation found that the Colorado River’s worst drought in 100 years could affect agriculture and hydroelectric power production, AZcentral.com reports. If the drought continues, desert residents could see more direct consequences, including higher water costs and limits on the amount of …

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See Desert Plants in Action at a Demo Garden

We live in a very special place where people enjoy the outdoors nearly year-round. The plants that thrive in this unique climate are the key that unlocks the door to outdoor living. Creating an ideal outdoor space enhances not only your life, but also the beauty of your community and, ultimately, the sustainability of our world. With up to 70% of …

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Annual Birds & Gardens Event Features Native Plants

November 8, 2013

Local gardens will be on display this weekend at Tour de Birds 2013. This self-guided tour of birds and gardens will feature nine habitats located around the East Valley. The tour will take place on Nov. 9th from 9am to 4pm and will feature a variety of native plants to suit all gardens. Planting native plants can provide many other …

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Are You Ready to Plant Wildflower Seeds, a Garden or a Winter Lawn?

October 30, 2013

Are you ready to plant wildflower seeds, a vegetable garden, or a winter lawn? 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. Wildflower Seeds Plant your wildflower seeds NOW for spring bloom! We recommend that you only …

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Learn to Save Water and Be More Green at a Free, Solar and Sustainability Tour, October 26 & 27

October 24, 2013

As we say here at Water – Use It Wisely, There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you. Everything from our personal habits to how we live, work and play can impact our water use. But, very likely, most of our water use is at home, both indoors and out. Check out Water-Saving …

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Community Gardens Flourish in PHX Renews

October 18, 2013

Have you driven by the intersection of Central Avenue and Indian School Road and wondered what is behind the art hanging on the fence?  There is a new community venture sponsored by Mayor Greg Stanton and Keep Phoenix Beautiful that has brought public, private businesses and government agencies together as partners to show neighborhoods ways they can turn blighted vacant lots into …

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’Tis the Season . . . for Planting!

September 30, 2013

From leafy greens to desert-adapted trees, October is an ideal time to plant in the low desert because the daily air temperatures are more moderate, yet the soil is still warm. This gives plants, especially trees, some time to get established before the frost hits. October is also a good time to scale back on your irrigation frequency, especially for …

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Dive into Your Community and Watersheds, Become a Master Watershed Steward!

September 17, 2013

Master Watershed Stewards are doing great things in their communities! What great things are they doing? This spring, Robert Kampfe organized trash clean-up and invasive species removal at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area;  Peggy Thomas is currently working to have “Watch for Wildlife” signs posted along the Bush Highway along the Salt River to protect vital wildlife in the …

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Breaking it Down: The Basics of Composting

September 12, 2013

Water – Use It Wisely offers one of my favorite tips: water-saving tip #7 Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time. Composting is not only a great way to recycle your kitchen scraps, it also makes better use of your green yard waste. The finished mulch can be added to vegetable or …

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Detecting Water Leaks

August 19, 2013

Have you recently found yourself staring at your water bill in disbelief, thinking, “How could I have used that much water?” Sometimes, high water bills are due to summertime water use, such as landscape watering or keeping the swimming pool full. But, you may also want to look for hidden water loss, such as toilet leaks or broken sprinkler heads. …

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