Archive for “Outdoors” Category

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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HOW TO WATER YOUR LANDSCAPE EFFICIENTLY | PART 4 OF 10

October 3, 2016

The best time to think about how you’ll water your landscape is actually before you install it. That’s because a healthy and efficient landscape plan considers how much water your plants need and how best to get that water to the root systems of your plants. This week’s video brings Lisa Osborne, the Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab Contest winner, …

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WHY DON’T YOU GIVE IT A BREAK THIS YEAR?

September 28, 2016

Considering a winter lawn? Consider the benefits of forgoing a winter lawn this season instead. Not only do winter lawns use more water than dormant Bermuda (warm season) grass, they cost more, take more maintenance, and can weaken the Bermuda lawn. Each year, more people are embracing the monetary, time, and environmental savings of forgoing a winter lawn. A recent …

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CELEBRATE AZ WATER WITH US AT KNOLL LAKE

September 27, 2016

Knoll Lake, named for the small island in the middle of the lake, is located in the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. This scenic lake is 108 miles east of Flagstaff and is an outdoor lover’s paradise. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. There is also a campground; open late April to …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH: SALVIA OR SAGE

September 21, 2016

With over 750 species, salvia (commonly called sage) offers a great variety of forms, foliage, and seasonal colors. Sages are known for their fragrant foliage and long-lasting, spectacular blooms. The flowers emerge above the rounded shrubs either distinctly spaced on tall skewers or in long, densely clustered spikes. Although mostly noted for their cool blue, purple, or lavender blooms, some …

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HOW TO CREATE A FABULOUS LOW WATER USE LANDSCAPE | PART 1 of 10

September 9, 2016

This past Spring, the Water – Use It Wisely campaign had nearly 11,000 entries to its Drab 2 Fab Backyard Rehab promotion with ABC/15 TV.  If you entered, THANK YOU! If you didn’t win, we invite you to live vicariously through our winners, Lisa and Alan Osborne of Avondale. Today launches a 10-part video series where you will meet the winners. See their drab backyard. …

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TIRED OF SKIMMING AND CLEANING? 10 POOL-FRIENDLY SHADE TREES

September 6, 2016

Cities need trees, including our desert cities. Trees help to mitigate the heat island, reduce ground temperatures in the evening and remove pollutants from the air. Trees raise property values, save energy by shading walls and windows, and attract birds and other wildlife. Here’s the question: Why don’t we plant more of them? Here’s one answer: Some people think of …

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CHINESE PISTACHE

PLANT OF THE MONTH: LEUCOPHYLLUM OR TEXAS SAGE

August 30, 2016

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

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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CELEBRATE AZ WATER WITH US AT LAKE POWELL

May 26, 2016

Lake Powell began filling in 1963 after the completion of Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River by the federal Bureau of Reclamation. The 710-foot-high hydroelectric dam creates the second-largest man-made lake, or reservoir, in the U.S. The lake stretches 186 miles along the Colorado River from Page, Arizona to Hite, Utah. Located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the …

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