North Center Revitalization Assoc. (NCRA)

City of Mesa encourages residents to skip winter rye

City of Mesa encourages residents to skip winter rye

For Release: June 29, 2006
Contact: Becky Zusy
Utilities Conservation Specialist
480.644.3058 Tel
480.644-2426 Fax
becky.zusy@cityofmesa.org


City of Mesa encourages residents to skip winter rye

It’s that time of year again, when businesses, homeowner’s associations
(HOAs) and residents must decide whether or not to overseed their lawns
this fall. As part of its continuous effort to promote wise and efficient
outdoor water use, the City of Mesa is encouraging all water customers to
consider limiting, or forgoing, overseeding of turf areas. Choosing not to
overseed Bermuda with winter rye grass saves water, allows the lawn to
rest for the winter making it stronger for new spring growth, and
demonstrates community leadership with a responsible outlook towards the
City’s water supply.

For the fifth year, the Utilities Department will send letters to 400 HOAs
and nearly 300 apartment communities asking them to consider this
voluntary measure of not overseeding their turf areas. A follow-up letter
will be sent in early September.

“Many HOAs and apartments have large turf areas, so there is great
potential for significant water savings by not overseeding,” said Donna
DiFrancesco, interim Utilities Conservation Supervisor. “Limiting or not
overseeding, and adjusting the irrigation timer for each change of season,
can have huge impacts on water consumption.”

During the past four years, communities and residents have responded
positively to the City’s suggestion to save water and money by not
overseeding, which resulted in the savings of millions of gallons of
water.

Winter rye requires significantly more water than dormant Bermuda. That is
a savings of roughly 8,000 gallons for every 1,000 square feet of turf not
overseeded. Once established, rye grass needs water every three to seven
days while wintertime Bermuda only needs water once every three or four
weeks.

For a list of 10 great reasons to skip overseeding, information on low-
water-use plants, landscape watering guidelines and many more helpful
conservation tips, visit www.cityofmesa.org/utilities/conservation or call
Becky Zusy, Utilities Conservation Specialist, at (480) 644-3058.
Residents also can visit www.wateruseitwisely.com/outdoor/index.shtml for
summer landscape water saving ideas and the tools needed to keep watering
on track and plants looking great.

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