Xeriscaping

  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.