Mesa offers grass-to-Xeriscape, landscape irrigation incentives

The city of Mesa invites its commercial customers — apartments, businesses, churches, HOAs and nonprofits — to apply for newly increased incentive amounts for grass-to-Xeriscape conversions.

Eligible properties can now receive $2 per square foot — up to $50,000 per year — for removing at least 2,500 square feet of grass. Removing water-thirsty grass and replacing it with a Xeriscape landscape can reduce water use, increase shade and save money, according to a release.

“We are dedicated to fostering sustainable communities in Mesa and are excited to increase our incentive offerings to our non-residential customers, empowering them to conserve our precious water resources,” Marc Heirshberg, deputy city manager, said in the release. “Our Grass-to-Xeriscape Landscape Incentive Program aligns with Mesa’s climate action goals of responsible water stewardship, cooler neighborhoods and cleaner air.”

The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona provided the grant funding to increase Mesa’s grass-to-Xeriscape incentives from $10,000 annually to up to $50,000 per property per year. Mesa also increased its funding for the landscape irrigation equipment purchasing incentive up to $20,000 per property per year. All incentives are for future projects only. Funds are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Information about eligibility and the program application are available online at https://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/water/water-conservation/commercial-customers.

Mesa also offers a grass-to-Xeriscape landscape incentive of up to $1,100 on future projects for residential customers who swap their turf for a water-friendly desert landscape. Additionally, Mesa has online resources to help the public design their landscape. To qualify for the incentives, the converted grass area must be replaced with low-water-use plants that, at full maturity, will cover at least 50% of the area. Mesa’s plant square footage calculator, https://apps.mesaaz.gov/PlantSquareFootage/ , can guide customers in choosing the right plants and trees to equal the required plant coverage.

For more information and to schedule interviews, please call Ana Pereira at 480-644-2069 or email ana.pereira@mesaaz.gov.