WaterSmart Receives
"Best of Tucson" Recognition

WaterSmart, the Residential component of the SmartScape Program, was recently picked "Best of Tucson" (September 27, 2007) by the staff of Tucson Weekly. Winner in the category "Best Way to Learn the Ways of the Desert", the WaterSmart classes teach homeowners the basics of landscape water conservation through informative workshops based on the principles of xeriscape. Approximately 500 residents of Tucson and surrounding areas attend classes each year to learn techniques and applications for water-efficient landscaping compatible with the urban desert landscape. For more information on the SmartScape Program and classes, please call Kathryn or Teri at 626-5161.

WaterSmart Workshop Schedule

So many of our city's residents come from other areas of the country, and when they purchase a new or existing home, they have many questions about how to create a pleasing landscape, and how to water that landscape! Tucson Water is continuing to sponsor the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension SmartScape Program's popular series of workshops that help residents answer those questions. The SmartScape Program promotes attractive landscaping with water conservation. WaterSmart workshops help the homeowner whether they are going to hire an installation crew, do the install themselves, or have an existing system that needs maintenance or upgrades. The following is a brief description of each class currently scheduled.

• Basic Landscape Maintenance
  This lecture-format workshop teaches basic horticultural care for the residential landscape. Topics include seasonal pruning, fertilizing, and watering. Participants will learn how to create a maintenance schedule for their landscape.
• Desert Rain Gardens
  This class introduces the concept of creating a water-thrifty landscape that relies on seasonal rainfall and rainwater harvesting techniques rather than supplemental irrigation with potable water. Design tips, plant selection and considerations, and plantings for berms and basins are discussed.
• Hands-On Drip Irrigation
  This workshop is designed to teach participants how to assemble and maintain an irrigation system. Each participant receives a box of parts (for use during the class) and learns how to correctly identify the parts and assemble a drip irrigation system.
• Harvesting Rainwater for Landscape Use
  This lecture-format class focuses on simple earthworks techniques, hardscapes, and plant choices for passive water harvesting. The homeowner learns how to use natural rainfall to offset irrigation use, resulting in water conservation and lower water bills.
• Irrigation Timer Use
  This workshop discusses the reasons why timers are useful in an irrigation system, the pros and cons of different types of timers, how and where to install them, and a hands-on demonstration on programming a timer. During the hands-on portion of the workshop, each participant receives a timer (for use during the class) on which to practice setting an irrigation schedule.
• Landscape Water Budgeting
  This class teaches residential water users how best to use and manage their landscape water resources. Discussion addresses rainwater, graywater, reclaimed water and how to calculate a water irrigation budget to reduce wasteful watering practices and increase efficiency.
• Principles of Xeriscape
  This workshop teaches xeriscape and the use of native and desert-adapted plants in the landscape. Why should we use low-water use plants? How do we take care of them? These questions and more will be answered.

For information on Arizona tax credits for water conservation systems, please see Arizona Department of Revenue Publication 565, Water Conservation Systems and Plumbing Stub Outs Credits (152 Kb pdf - opens in new window/tab): http://www.azdor.gov/brochure/565.pdf

These workshops are a joint program of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and Tucson Water.

For questions, to reserve a space, or for more information on these classes or other workshops given by the SmartScape Program, contact the Arizona Cooperative Extension SmartScape Program office at (520) 626-5161. For information on other Extension Office programs, visit (and bookmark!) their website: http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/smartscape/

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Source: City of Tucson, Water Department  ◊  ◊  ◊  Last Revised: 22 June 2009
© Copyright 1997-2009 Tucson Water. All rights reserved.

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