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 News Releases

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.”

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