This Week’s Hot Topics
- Governing Board Water Conservation Workshop on Nov. 9.
- New water conservation cost-share program information available.
- Watering restrictions changed Nov. 1 to one day per week.
- Water supply planning meetings to be held throughout the region.
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Waterwise Florida Landscapes
Irrigate efficiently
The major oasis area in most yards is the grass. In some Florida locations, rainfall may be adequate for turf, but some supplemental water may be required.
If an irrigation system is needed, manual methods may be the most thrifty. If the landscape is planted with species suited to existing conditions, little or no irrigation will be needed once the landscape is established, so an automatic system isn’t necessary. For occasional, manual irrigation of grass areas, a rain gauge is a valuable tool. It can tell you how much rain has occurred and can be used to measure the needed 1/2 to 3/4 inch recommended for grass areas.
Inground irrigation systems are convenient, but often waste water. While the goal of these systems is to uniformly and efficiently irrigate lawns, some may be used to overwater.
Florida law requires an automatic rain sensor shut-off device that is properly installed and functioning on all automatic irrigation systems installed after May 1, 1991 (section 373.62, FS). The rain sensor overrides the irrigation system settings when there has been sufficient rain. Some local laws also require older systems to be retrofitted with shut-off switches.
In addition to having a properly functioning irrigation system, the system’s efficiency will depend on you having the correct spray-head types for the various zones to be irrigated and how your landscape has been planted.
For example, turf areas and planting beds should be separated into different irrigation zones because they have different moisture needs.
Select the emitter head that will deliver water to the plant roots as efficiently as possible. For planting beds, microirrigation system emitters deliver water directly to the plant. Microirrigation types include “drip,” “trickle,” “microsprays” and “bubblers.” Microsprays or microjets are often used in shrubbery or on groundcovers. Bubblers are normally used on trees or large shrubs.
Within a zone, all the heads should have the same precipitation rate — the rate at which an irrigation head delivers water — in order to have even distribution within the zone.
Microirrigation delivers water at rates of 60 gallons per hour (gph) or less. Usually, bubblers emit 1 gph and a single-drip emitter, 2 gph. For drip line, 45 gph per foot of line is delivered and up to 60 gph for microsprays. High volume heads are rated at 60 gph or more.
Turf areas need rotors or spray heads. These sprinkler heads should deliver water “head-to-head,” meaning that heads are properly placed to ensure uniform application of water, with one head’s spray reaching the closest neighboring head.
To test for distribution uniformity and to determine how long it takes the irrigation system to deliver 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of water — the amount recommended for lawns — use the “can” method. Place tuna (or similar sized) cans around the yard and measure the water collected in half an hour. If some cans have more water than others, distribution is not even. If you get 1 inch of water, you know you only need to run that zone for 15 minutes to get half an inch.
Use a rain gauge
Keep track of how much rain has fallen in your yard. Do not adhere to a rigid irrigation schedule. When it rains, you probably don’t need to water. During periods of extended rainy weather, irrigation systems should be turned off.
Irrigate only when plants or grass need it
Water plants that begin to show signs of stress. Signs of stress for grass include leaves wilting or grass blades folding in half, or soil from the root zone feeling dry. Your lawn needs watering if grass blades start turning a bluish-gray color or if footprints linger after being made. Overwatering is often the cause of many common problems, such as dollar weed and fungal growth.
Water if it hasn't rained
St. Augustine grass only needs rain or watering once or twice a week in summer and once every 8–14 days from December through February. Bahia grass needs water less often.
Help grass and plants develop deep root systems
It is better to water your lawn and plants well once a week than it is to water lightly each day, but apply water only as quickly as the soil can absorb it. Thorough watering encourages roots to establish themselves deeper in the soil, which makes them more drought-tolerant. Frequent light watering causes roots to stay too close to the surface, where they are dependent on regularly recurring precipitation or irrigation and are more likely to suffer in dry times. The exception to deep watering is for newly installed plants, where the roots are still closer to the surface. These plants need light, more-frequent waterings until they adjust to the new location, generally about 30 to 60 days. Larger plants, shrubs and trees may need frequent waterings longer to become established.
Water early in the day
To minimize loss of water through evaporation, water early in the morning, before sunrise. When the sun rises, it will dry plants, reducing the potential for fungal growth or diseases. Leaving plants wet overnight creates conditions for fungal growth. Watering in the heat of the day is prohibited in some areas of Florida under rules established by the water management districts. In addition, watering in the middle of the day results in water loss through evaporation.
Observe water restrictions in your area
Under Florida law, the water management districts have established water conservation rules. Where there is a year-round watering rule, it applies to everyone who uses water outdoors — homes, businesses, nurseries, golf courses — regardless of the water source, whether private well, public utility or surface water. There are some exceptions to the water restrictions, such as when reclaimed or reuse water is being used. Any local water restrictions that are more strict than the water management districts’ must be followed. Violating Florida’s water restrictions is punishable with penalties of up to $500, with additional fees as applicable.
- Sweep sidewalks or driveways instead of hosing them down. If your chore requires water, use an automatic shut-off nozzle at the end of a hand-held hose.
- Inspect your irrigation system regularly. Check all hoses, pipes and fittings for leaks, which can waste hundreds or thousands of gallons of water every week. Repair broken or clogged spray heads and emitters and adjust them to keep from watering the pavement. Clean microirrigation filters regularly and change as needed. Also, use a rain gauge in the yard to make sure the rain shut-off switch is working.
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