The Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents to turn off their irrigation systems after it rains.
During the winter months your lawn only needs water one-half to three-quarters of an inch every 10 to 14 days.
Because the area is experiencing below-normal rainfall and groundwater conditions, the need to conserve is greater than ever. Outdoor water use can account for up to fifty percent of residential water use.
“Many homeowners have a rain sensor shut-off device, which can be programmed to shut off an irrigation system when half an inch of rain has fallen,” said Sylvia Durell, Florida-friendly landscaping project manager. “Those homeowners who don’t have one should remember that even if it is their assigned day to irrigate, that doesn’t mean they have to water their lawns. Unnecessary watering can waste time, money and water resources.”
Here are some other helpful landscape maintenance tips:
- Check your irrigation system frequently to ensure you are watering the grass or shrubs, not paved areas.
- Mow your lawn high to encourage grass roots to grow deeper and hold moisture longer.
- Measure grass from the soil to the top of the grass blade to be sure you are cutting to the right height. The ideal height for St. Augustine and Bahia grass is 3 to 4 inches. The ideal height for Bermuda grass is 1 to 2 inches.
Homeowners can determine when their grass needs water when:
- Grass blades are folded in half
- Grass blades are blue-gray
- A footprint remains on the lawn
Due to below-normal rainfall and groundwater conditions, all 16 counties within the District are under one-day-per-week lawn watering restrictions through June 30, 2008.
Please visit the District’s drought page at www.WaterMatters.org/drought for more information about water restrictions, Florida-friendly landscaping and other ways to conserve water. Questions about water restrictions can also be answered by calling 1-800-848-0499 or 1-800-423-1476, extension 4498, during normal business hours.