By Cassie McClure
Published in Las Cruces Bulletin 4.01.22
Even though Las Cruces did see snow recently, spring has officially sprung into our lives – since Sunday, March 20! Plenty of residents will see the start of spring and the inching upward of the temperatures as signs to get ready to start planting, growing, and cultivating their landscapes and gardens. Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) provides ideas that help you spruce up your yard and be mindful of water conservation.
“It doesn’t take much effort to see the green heads of the weeds growing in our dormant Bermuda lawns and poking up in our rock areas,” said LCU Water Conservation Program Coordinator Rhonda Diaz. “Now is the time to take out those weeds while they’re small. Remove deadwood from plants if you didn’t trim them in winter and clean up yard debris left to help overwintering insects and wildlife in your landscape.”
She said this is the prime time to stock up on clear bags for the Green Grappler to pick up the green waste. It’s also time to inspect dormant landscape trees before they start breaking bud and leafing out. “Remove crossed branches that are rubbing together, limbs growing downwards or towards the tree's center,” Diaz said. The LCU Green Grappler will also collect branches less than 5 feet long and 5 inches in diameter.
Diaz finds this perfect time to test the irrigation system for leaks before the peak season. “The most important thing to do is run your system for the entire time for each zone you have programmed,” she said. “This will allow you to see if the water is leaving your property or ponding because it is programmed to water too long.”
Diaz said it’s too early to begin irrigating – she recommends waiting until we hit 60 degrees in overnight temperatures. She said, “But little drinks of water will make your landscape grass, shrubs, and trees happy.”
Residents are reminded of the Water Conservation Ordinance watering restrictions for residential and commercial properties served by LCU. Here are the restrictions:
- All outdoor watering is prohibited between 10 am and 6 pm from April 1st until September 30th.
- Outdoor watering is allowed at odd-numbered addresses only on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.
- Even addresses allowed only on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
- No outdoor watering on Monday.
LCU – Your Utility Connection. Customer Central can be reached at 575-541-2111 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. LCU provides clean, safe, and reliable services to Las Cruces residents and businesses. Learn more at: las-cruces.org/180/Utilities
For emergencies, call Dispatch at 526-0500.
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PHOTO 1: Stuff clear bags full of small tree limbs and lawn debris from your yard and have the LCU Green Grappler pick up your green waste, on your scheduled day of the month, as you get ready for spring in Las Cruces.