Albuquerque Backyard Refuge Certification Program
The ABQ Backyard Refuge Program is working with greater Albuquerque residents to create a mosaic of habitat across the city that will support a wide variety of both year-round and migrating wildlife. The program, which is managed by the Friends of Valle de Oro…
How to Transform Your Thirsty Lawn in 6 Steps
You undoubtedly have seen your neighbors and friends around town removing their grass lawns and replacing them with water efficient desert friendly xeriscapes. You may yourself be interested in doing the same with your yard but perhaps are overwhelmed by the tasks or…
How to Install Irrigation Sprinkler Bodies and Spray Nozzles
Grass lawns in the greater Albuquerque area need supplemental irrigation to survive our high desert climate. Most residential landscapes are watered by pop-up spray heads that include a sprinkler nozzle set into a spray sprinkler body. We recommend switching out your…
Favorite Ways Locals are Composting
Nationally, food waste contributes to 58% of methane fugitive emissions from landfills c/o the EPA. Composting this food waste at your home and in your community helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building local healthy soils. Compost is defined in the…
Save Water, Save Time, Save Money and Get Your Rebate
The Water Authority’s desert friendly xeriscape conversion incentive rebate has been around since the early ’90s and is still going strong. Millions of square feet of thirsty lawns have been converted to healthy xeriscapes that save billions of gallons of water….
Local Plant Nurseries to Check Out
A popular question we get at 505Outside is “Where should I go to get plants for my yard?” We’re highlighting our local nurseries and the uniqueness of each of them. Every yard has its own unique environment that includes things like sun and wind exposure, soils,…
Keep Your Trees Happy: Build a Tree Irrigation Watering System
Trees are especially important in arid, urban environments like Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. They provide shade, mitigate urban heat, reduce greenhouse gasses and air pollution, and create wildlife habitat, among many other benefits. All trees, even…
How to Research and Hire the Right Landscape Contractor for Your Project
Sometimes you need help to create your perfect desert friendly landscape. Many times, this involves hiring a landscape contractor. The Water Utility Authority is committed to helping its customers. Below we share some tips to help you choose a landscape contractor….
How to Build a Trellis
One of the questions the Water Authority xeriscape inspector gets asked most often is how to inexpensively build a trellis for vines. You can make a DIY trellis from materials that are easy to find at your local hardware store. Off-the-shelf trellises can be…
The “Wow Factor” – Summer Containers Simplified
One of our favorite things to do at Bennu Organics is design container gardens. We like to talk about the “wow factor,” and containers are a fantastic way to add stunning, season-long color to our landscapes without digging a single hole in our hard, unforgiving soil….