Outdoor Tips

1. #81

   Hire a qualified pro to install your irrigation system and keep it working properly and efficiently.

2. #82

   Hire a Smartscape Certified professional landscaper who has received landscape training specific to the Sonoran Desert.

3. #83

   Adjust your lawn mower to the height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Taller grass shades roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass.

4. #84

   Leave lawn clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.

5. #85

   If installing a lawn, select a lawn mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.

6. #86

   Aerate your lawn periodically. Holes every six inches will allow water to reach the roots, rather than run off the surface.

7. #87

   If walking across the lawn leaves footprints (blades don’t spring back up), then it is time to water.

8. #88

   Let your lawn go dormant (brown) during the winter. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three to four weeks, less if it rains.

9. #89

   Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass. Ryegrass needs water every few days, whereas Dormant Bermuda grass needs water monthly.

10. #90

    Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water.

11. #91

    While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.

12. #92

    Water your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every five days.

13. #93

    Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. 3/4 to 1 inch of water is enough to apply each time you irrigate.

1. #118

   Use a pool cover to help keep your pool clean, reduce chemical use and prevent water loss through evaporation.

2. #119

   Make sure your swimming pools, fountains and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.

3. #120

   If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks.

4. #121

   When back-washing your pool, consider using the water on salt-tolerant plants in the landscape.

5. #122

   Minimize or eliminate the use of waterfalls and sprays in your pool. Aeration increases evaporation.

6. #123

   Don’t overfill the pool. Lower water levels will reduce water loss due to splashing.

7. #124

   Keep water in the pool when playing, it will save water.

8. #125

   Instead of building a private pool, join a community pool.

9. #126

   Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air.

10. #127

    Use a grease pencil to conduct a bucket test to check for pool leaks. An unnatural water level drop may indicate a leak.

1. #52

   Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.

2. #56

   We’re more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses.

3. #128

   Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.

4. #129

   For more immediate hot water and energy savings, insulate hot water pipes.

5. #130

   Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Or, wash your car on the lawn, and you’ll water your grass at the same time.

6. #131

   Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.

7. #132

   Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that needs water.

8. #133

   When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.

9. #134

   When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.

10. #135

    Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.

11. #136

    Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance check. For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.

12. #137

    If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to plants in your landscape.

13. #138

    Set water softeners for a minimum number of refills to save both water and chemicals, plus energy, too.

14. #139

    If you have an evaporative cooler, install a recirculating pump to keep water from bleeding off with one pass.

15. #140

    Report broken pipes, leaky hydrants and errant sprinklers to property owners or your local water provider.

16. #141

    Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. Were a pipe to burst, this could save gallons of water and prevent damage.

17. #142

    Install a thermostat and timer on your evaporative cooler so it only operates when necessary.

1. #62

   Use porous material for walkways and patios to prevent wasteful runoff and keep water in your yard.

2. #63

   Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.

3. #64

   Choose the right Arizona-friendly plants and watch them thrive in our desert environment.

4. #65

   Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region.

5. #66

   Plant species native to your region.

6. #67

   Plant in the spring and fall, when the watering requirements are lower.

7. #68

   When sprucing up your front or backyard, consider xeriscaping. This landscape method uses low-water-use plants to limit your water use.

8. #69

   Consider attending a landscape class hosted by a water provider. Most workshops occur in the spring and fall.

9. #70

   Avoid planting grass in areas that are hard to water, such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways.

10. #71

    Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.

11. #72

    Start a compost pile. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.

12. #73

    Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.

13. #74

    Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants helps them retain moisture, saving water, time and money.

14. #75

    Use 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.

15. #76

    Visit your local xeriscape garden to view plants that thrive in our hot desert environment.

16. #77

    Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low-water-use plant and save up to 550 gallons each year.

17. #78

    Call your local conservation office for more information about xeriscaping with water-thrifty trees, plants, and ground covers.

18. #79

    Collect water from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts. Direct the runoff to plants and trees.

19. #80

    For automatic water savings, direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems to water-loving plants in your landscape.

20. #82

    Hire a Smartscape Certified professional landscaper who has received landscape training specific to the Sonoran Desert.

1. #64

   Choose the right Arizona-friendly plants and watch them thrive in our desert environment.

2. #69

   Consider attending a landscape class hosted by a water provider. Most workshops occur in the spring and fall.

3. #94

   Read the Landscape Watering by the Numbers guidebook to help you determine how long and how much to water.

4. #95

   Use a trowel, shovel, or soil probe to examine soil moisture depth. If the top two to three inches of soil are dry, it’s time to water.

5. #96

   Set a kitchen timer when using the hose as a reminder to turn it off. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons per minute.

6. #97

   Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.

7. #98

   Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.

8. #99

   Timing is everything when it comes to irrigation. Learn how to set your controller properly.

9. #100

   Look for WaterSense® labeled irrigation controllers.

10. #101

    Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case of malfunctions or rain.

11. #102

    Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.

12. #103

    If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.

13. #104

    Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.

14. #105

    Signs of overwatering: Leaves turn lighter shades of green or yellow, young shoots wilt, and sometimes algae or fungi grow.

15. #106

    Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions and landscape requirements.

16. #107

    Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run when it’s raining.

17. #108

    Water dry spot by hand instead of running the whole irrigation system longer.

18. #109

    Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.

19. #110

    Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the roots, where it’s needed.

20. #111

    Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.

21. #112

    Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops and mist often evaporate before hitting the ground.

22. #113

    Use a rain barrel to harvest rainwater from gutters for watering gardens and landscapes.

23. #114

    For hanging baskets, planters and pots, put ice cubes on top of the soil to give your plants a cool drink of water without overflow.

24. #115

    Remember to periodically check your sprinkler system valves for leaks, and to keep sprinkler heads in good shape.

25. #116

    Spring is a great time to give your irrigation system a checkup to ensure it’s working efficiently.

26. #117

    Pruning properly can help your plants use water more efficiently.