Skip to main content

Sand Now Available for Sandbags at Select Phoenix Parks

City of Phoenix official website

Make a Payment
Report an Issue
Public Records
City Careers
Menu
Menu

Pledge Item 3: Water with the Weather

The third Pledge item of the Save Water Pledge is to water with the weather, meaning take advantage of our cool, rainy days!

Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert. As desert residents, we enjoy a diverse and beautiful natural desert landscape. Due to our low rainfall, it's easy to forget to turn off the sprinklers when we get hit with a lucky storm, or overwater when it's a cooler day.

By watering with the weather, you can use less water while having your landsc​ape thrive!

Get the landscape watering guide
Take the Pledge today!
On This Page...

Tips

Tip 1: Consider how often you water your plants.

  • Even for your thirstiest plants, you should water no more than 2x pe​r week, in the hottest part of the year. In cooler months, you can water far less.
  • ​Learn more about water quantities for your plants with our partner, Water Use It Wisely.

Tip 2: Time your watering for efficiency.

  • When you can, try to water at night or befo​​re the sun comes up. This way, the water won't evaporate before your plants get a drink!
  • Learn about how the wrong time of day can waste water by visiting this page from our partner Water Use It Wisely.

 

Tip 3: Reduce waste, water deep.

If you experience runoff during watering or you notice thirsty plants despite watering in short, frequent sessions, you may want to start watering deeper! 

Tip 4: If it is raining, you shouldn't be watering!

When it rains, turn off your irrigation contr​​oller. You can skip your next plann​​​ed watering day, or in general, just wait a week!

 

Tip 5: Choose desert-adapted or low water-use plants!

  • When planting, consider choosing desert-adapted an​​​d low water-use plants, which are perfect for the Sonoran Desert! These plants will need very little extra water, which means less time, money, and water spent caring for your landscape.
  • ​​To get inspiration when choosing plants or designing a conservation landscape, visit our Desert Landscapes in your Front Yard webpage.

 

A close-up of a person holding a smartphone displaying a text message, next to an outdoor irrigation controller.

Tip 6: Don’t Set It and Forget It

Sign up for AMWUA’s educational text service to help you water better by thinking about the weather! Text WHENTOWATER to 1-844-416-1428 to receive free monthly watering reminders, making it even easier to water efficiently. Sponsored by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association.

A close-up of a person holding a smartphone displaying a text message, next to an outdoor irrigation controller.

The Pledge