Cooler weather provides the perfect opportunity to beautify your yard

It may be hard to believe, but the days are finally getting cooler, the nights are more comfortable, and we can finally open the windows and enjoy the fresh air. It's also the ideal time to check how our yards held up during the record-breaking summer heat and make a to-do list for the cooler weather. 

There are limitless opportunities to design a stunning, low-maintenance landscape that flourishes in our local climate and requires minimal water. The best time to get started is now.

Proper planning is a must
A beautiful yard starts with a solid plan . When creating your landscape design and crafting your unique plan, it’s crucial to take into account your preferences and objectives, such as:

• The look you want to achieve
• How you will use your yard
• The amount of time you want to spend taking care of your yard
• Your budget

Developing your unique plan is vital because it will incorporate what you like into all phases of planning and building  your yard.

Pick the right plants
The desert offers a diverse selection of low-water-use, highly drought-tolerant trees and shrubs. Still, figuring out how to utilize these plants to their full potential can be intimidating. To assist you with selecting the perfect plants for your yard, we have the ideal interactive resource for homeowners, businesses, and anyone looking for a little extra desert-adapted flower power with the Plants for the Arizona Desert  website. This searchable site will help take the guesswork out of finding suitable shrubs and trees for your yard. Also, fall is the right time to sow wildflower seeds to ensure they bloom in the spring. 

A refreshed and updated version of the Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert book is now available. This publication is designed to be a user-friendly guide for residents. It is your key to saving water and money by incorporating desert-appropriate, drought-tolerant plants into your yards, creating a personal oasis. Contact your local water conservation office  for a free copy of the updated Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert. Additionally, you can now download a complete digital version from www.amwua.org/plants . 

Why plant in the fall?
The fall planting season offers an ideal opportunity to refresh your landscape with more water-efficient plants or to replace those that suffered at the hands of the summer’s extreme heat. Beginning in late September and continuing through early December is a great time to transform your yard for many reasons:

• Soil temperatures are still warm, which encourages root growth and development.
• Plants have time to get properly established in their new surroundings before dealing with desert heat in the summer.
• Plants require less water in cooler temperatures and without the relentless summer sun.

Don’t forget about watering
Water is a precious resource, particularly in the desert. Being water-wise is a year-round responsibility, so now that temperatures are dropping, it's the perfect time to evaluate your yard's water efficiency.

• Proper plant selection  and appropriate irrigation  can significantly reduce water consumption and ensure your plants thrive.
  
• The fall weather is perfect for an irrigation check-up. Turning on your irrigation system and walking around your yard to find and fix leaks is as simple as that. AMWUA’s Smart Home Water Guide  can help. 
  
• Seasonal adjustment of irrigation schedules is one of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid wasting water. You should adjust your irrigation at least four times a year. Learn more about properly watering your new plants and adjusting your watering schedule  for fall and in preparation for winter.

Help is available
All ten AMWUA communities have professional conservation staff dedicated to assisting their residents and businesses in efficiently using water. You can virtually visit your local water conservation office  for more information. Additional resources are also available:

• Take a class: The cities work diligently to ensure they offer a wide range of courses and workshops on various topics so you can learn new skills for planning, planting, and caring for your plants.
  
•  Get a rebate: In addition to classes, each municipality offers unique water conservation rebates to help residents and businesses save water and money indoors and outdoors. Visit the rebates section  for the most up-to-date information, including details on how to apply for the available rebate programs in your city.
  
• Hire the right pro: If you're not into DIY, it's essential to hire the right person  to assist with designing, installing, and maintaining your landscape, as well as ensuring your irrigation system runs efficiently. As in any profession, not all landscape service providers are equal. The landscape professional you work with should be a trusted partner offering expert advice, guidance, and services to help bring your outdoor living space to life.

We must be mindful of our outdoor water usage throughout the year. A thoughtfully designed, appropriately planted, and water-efficient landscape will save you time, water, and money and help create the outdoor sanctuary you've always wanted. So, prepare to spend time outside, plan, prepare the area, and start planting.

For 55 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has helped protect our member cities' ability to provide their communities with assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies. For more information, visit www.amwua.org .