Making Landscapes Smartscapes for Three Decades

A well-designed, desert-adapted landscape is more than just picturesque—it can help lower your water bill, reduce the time and money you spend on maintenance, add value to your home or business, and even reduce your electricity use. Your landscape is an investment, something you plan to enjoy for years to come, so it's also essential to hire the right person to help you design, install, and maintain that investment. 

Landscape and irrigation professionals influence water use by creating and maintaining our landscapes, which is precisely why the Smartscape Program  was created 30 years ago. Smartscape is a comprehensive, research-based training program that instructs landscape and irrigation professionals on the fundamentals of designing, installing, and maintaining sustainable, desert-adapted landscapes and irrigation systems. 

Since its inception in 1994, it has grown to be a collaborative partnership between AMWUA , Tucson Water , the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension , and the Arizona Department of Water Resources , with regional support from the Arizona Nursery Association , the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association , and industry representatives. The program has seen over thousands ofindustry professionals attend the various courses taught by local industry experts, academics, and practitioners.

The benefits of the Smartscape Program  can be seen on all sides. Taking part in the program empowers landscape and irrigation professionals to build skills to increase landscape water use efficiency. It also allows them to distinguish themselves from their competition, provide their customers with quality service, and take personal responsibility for a resource critical to the industry. It also helps landscape and irrigation professionals stay current on the latest industry trends, research, and practices while networking and learning about marketing opportunities.

In addition to the benefits to the professionals, residents, and business owners also get better educated on the positive impact a low water use yard can have. It helps residents understand the importance of hiring the right person  to help you design, install, and maintain your landscape and ensure your irrigation system runs as efficiently as possible. As in any profession, not all landscape service providers are equal. 

The Smartscape website  is a critical component of the program. For landscape professionals, it provides information on upcoming Smartscape training  in both Maricopa, Pima and Pinal Counties and promotes the value of training and certification. For residents and businesses , the website details the value of hiring trained and certified landscape and irrigation professionals while highlighting Smartscape graduates by enabling consumers to search for and contact those trained professionals available for hire. 

Water is a precious resource, especially for us here in the desert. Proper plant selection  and appropriate irrigation  can significantly reduce water consumption while maintaining the landscapes that are critical to cool the urban environment and enhance our communities. Ultimately, we know that these professionals influence commercial and residential outdoor water use through their practices and the information they share daily with their colleagues and customers. Their role is vital to achieving overall conservation goals while educating customers on the importance of low-water-use landscapes.

We are proud that Smartscape is an affordable way for professionals to strengthen their skills and innovate their businesses while providing residents and business owners with a wide range of resources to create and maintain beautiful, sustainable landscapes.

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