Florida Yards & Neighborhoods 
Water Efficiently
By Ed Ayen, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods
This is another in a series of articles written about the new area program called Florida Yards & Neighborhoods.
Homeowners in many parts of Florida are becoming accustomed to restrictions limiting irrigation to certain days and times. Still, many of us are overwatering which depletes our water supply, makes plants prone to pests and adds to our stormwater runoff which pollutes our streams and lakes. The more you water, the faster your lawn grows and the more it needs to be mowed. Lawns should be watered when 50% of the lawn shows signs of wilt (leaf blades folded in half, blue-gray color and footprints that remain on the lawn). Established bedding plants and shrubs can be watered “as needed.”
Planting water efficient and drought tolerant shrubs and trees is a sure way to reduce the need for watering. Group your plantings according to their water needs and set up irrigation zones just for them.
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, install a rain shut-off device or a soil moisture sensor shut-off that will override the system when adequate moisture is available. Set the rain devise to shut off your system when 0.5 inches of rain has fallen. By the way, Florida has a law which states that all automatic sprinklers installed after 1991 require a rain sensor shut-off devise. Also, be aware of water district restrictions; those in Southwest Florida Water Management District are allowed to water two times per week. Even numbered addresses may sprinkle on Tuesday and Saturday and odd numbers on Wednesday and Sunday with no watering between 10:00am and 4:00pm. In the South Florida Water Management district lawns may be watered no more than three time a week; odd numbered addresses on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and even numbers on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Again with no watering between 10:00am and 4:00pm as this is when temperature and winds are at their highest so high evaporation loss is likely. Sprinkle in the early morning and apply ½ to ¾ inch of water to get the best results. If rain is predicted within the next 24 hours withhold irrigation. You can water less in the cooler months (November thru March) as lawns are dormant and evaporation is less. If you have consistent rains during the summer months you may be able to turn off your system part of the time. Check your sprinkler system yearly to make sure it is operating properly.
The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program is being implemented through your local county extension service in Highlands, Okeechobee and Glades County and is partially funded from Clean Water Act Section 319 funding from the U. S. EPA through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Ed Ayen is available to address interested groups such as homeowners associations, voluntary organizations and clubs. For further information he can be reached by calling the Highlands County Extension Service office. Phone: (863)402-6540 or email. Location is 4509 George Blvd., Sebring, FL 33875-5837