With the fall planting season upon us, the City of Mesa is pushing its residents to embrace water-conserving landscaping through its Grass-to-Xeriscape program. Announced on MesaNow.org, the initiative incentivizes homeowners with up to $1,100 to swap out their thirsty lawns for drought-resistant flora. According to the program details, landscape conversions have the potential to slash household water usage in half, a significant figure when outdoor watering can guzzle up to 70 percent of a home's water consumption.
Since launching in 2007, Mesa's conversion program has accounted for the removal of over 550,000 square feet of grass, translating to an impressive 127 million gallons of water saved. This year, Mesa is doubling down on their sustainability by upping incentives for commercial entities and HOA communities, which could now receive as much as $70,000 for removing grass and upgrading irrigation systems, partially funded by the Water Infrastructure Financing Authority of Arizona. "We live in the desert, and water conservation is at the forefront of Mesa’s sustainability efforts," stated Scott Bouchie, Mesa's Environmental and Sustainability Director.
Further fostering this conservational spirit, Mesa is providing its residents with a myriad of resources for tree care and plant selection post-summer. Interested locals can learn more about their environmental stewardship options directly from Mesa’s Urban Forest Program Manager and other water conservation staff. These personnel will be at hand in two upcoming free pop-up events at Treeland Nurseries on October 5, and SummerWinds Nursery on October 18, both sessions running from 8 to 11 a.m., as detailed in the announcement.
Moreover, for residents looking to dive into the world of water-wise planting, Mesa distributes a free guidebook titled "Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert," available at Mesa Libraries, local plant nurseries, and the Customer Service Center at 55 N. Center. This popular offering lists 218 plant species curated for the local climate and soil conditions which require less water and maintenance. An online version of the guidebook is also accessible for those who prefer a digital format.
