Christina Bickelmann, Water Conservation Specialist Arizona Department of Water Resources, Tucson Active Management Area

The Goal  To save water by promoting irrigation efficiency in the landscape by more effectively zoning plants by water use.  To develop a simple method of identifying low-water-use-plants in nurseries.  To encourage the Tucson community to choose and group plants by water use & irrigation frequency.

Getting Started  Develop the program concept and meet with wholesale nurseries to determine willingness to participate and to modifying their current labels to add a water use icon.  Meet with a few Tucson independent retail nurseries to determine interest and get input on what promotional materials and customer information they would like developed to use in their nurseries.  Based on input and review by nurseries – draft materials were developed, reviewed and finalized for a pilot program.

Irrigation Frequency  Convene a group of plant experts to re-evaluate and update the existing plant list.  Determine which plants would like the same irrigation frequency (zone).  Assign water use numbers (1-3) to plants.  Other considerations growing season, consistency with other programs…

Plant List Water Use Factors & Eto

Grouping Plants is as easy as 1, 2, 3

Promotional Materials for Retail Nurseries  Posters  UV stickers for nursery signage  Handouts watering guidelines, program description, Tucson plant list

Implementation and Customization at Retail Nurseries

Benefits to Wholesale Nurseries n Once the water drop icons are in the database for the labeling system they become a component of the retail plant label along with barcodes and plant names making it an easy program to maintain. n Provides an extra service to retail nurseries that wholesalers that are not participating in the program cannot = increased sales. n The nursery is doing its part to reinforce and strengthen the need to conserve water!

Benefits to Retail Nurseries  A great way to market low-water-use plants to customers.  Provides a silent sales person since plants can be more easily identified allowing the customer to choose plants with less assistance.  Its free… all materials are provided by ADWR at no charge to nurseries.  Reinforces and strengthens the local water conservation ethic!

Benefits to the Property Owner  Grouping plants by water use frequency and rooting depth saves water and allows for more efficient irrigation scheduling and better landscape management (happy plants)!  Placing trees on separate valves from shrubs and groundcovers allows trees to be irrigated less frequently and deeply, therefore plants with shorter roots are not being over-irrigated!

Benefits to the Designer & Contractor n Use the program to market your company, educate your employee’s and increase your competitive edge. n An educated client that knows about the benefit of zoning plants will be willing to install a more efficient irrigation system. n A better irrigation clock and more valves = more $ in your pocket, easier maintenance & irrigation scheduling and hopefully fewer plant replacements!

Participation so far… n Wholesale Nurseries: Mountain States, V & P and Desert Trees… and more to come! n Retail Nurseries: 14 independent retail nurseries and all 6 Tucson Home Depots n Publicity: Tucson Water bill inserts; ANA tradeshow and magazine; Tucson Home Magazine article; Desert Horticulture Conference

Questions?