February water conservation tips for Citrus County, Florida
Irrigation:
Research suggests grass should not be watered as often during the cooler months. As a matter of fact, extended periods of moisture can be harmful. Many residents turn the irrigation system to the OFF position from December through February, and then turn ON after two weeks of no rainfall. Do not unplug the controller, as it will lose its settings. If you have a Water Sense labeled irrigation controller, there is no need to adjust the schedule because the controller will automatically reduce irrigation each week throughout the cool months.
February: One irrigation of 1/2” to 3/4” every 14 days. Wait another 14 days after rainfall. 1/2” of irrigation is about 30 minutes per rotor head zone and 15 minutes per spray head zone.
Per restrictions, irrigation may occur from 12:00 AM to 10:00 AM or 4:00 PM to 11:59 PM, not both, based on the last digit (number) of your (street) address as follows:
0 or 1 -- Monday
2 or 3 -- Tuesday
4 or 5 -- Wednesday
6 or 7 -- Thursday
8 or 9 and locations with a mix of addresses or no address -- Friday
Irrigation & turf management 101 class for homeowners:
Thursday, February 9, 12:00-3:00 PM.
Learn the basics of operating an irrigation system in Florida.
This class is held in person and online.
Register here: https://ccufflprogram.eventbrite.com.
Rebates Available for products with EPA Water Sense logo:
Rain Sensor Replacement — $50
Water Sense labeled Toilet — up to $100 (pre-approval required) Replace up to two pre-1995 toilets per household.
Water Sense labeled Irrigation Controller — $100 (auto-adjusting controller)
For more information and the application, visit: Water Savers Rebate Program (citrusbocc.com). Questions? Call (352) 527-7669.
Grass Fungus Alert -- It's Worth Repeating:
Brown Patch, aka Large Patch is a threat in cooler months. Do not apply irrigation to already moist soil. A common disease triggered by extended periods of moisture is Brown Patch.
This fungus infects the leaf area closest to the soil. The disease is most common from November through May when temperatures are below 80° F. All warm-season turfgrasses, especially St. Augustine and Zoysia, can be affected.
In winter, while temperatures are lower, cut back irrigation to every other week or turn it OFF and then back ON after 14 days of no rainfall. Do not unplug the controller, as this will cause it to lose its settings. More information at: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh044.
Winter Fertilizer & Mowing
Fertilizer — Winter’s short days and cool nights trigger grass to go dormant and cast off roots. No nitrogen-containing fertilizer should be applied until April when roots are re-established.
Mowing — Winter dormancy means less mowing because grass simply isn’t growing much. For greatest freeze tolerance in winter and drought tolerance in summer, most Bahia and St. Augustine grass varieties should NOT be cut below 3.5” to 4”.
February FFL plant guide:
This is a great resource for creating a new landscape, adding a new landscape bed or just browser for new plants and trees to add to existing. The book offers lists of plants and trees, and includes pictures, light. temperature zone & water needs, beneficial insect attractors, etc. FFL Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design (ufl.edu). Would you rather use an online app to browse selections? Check out this site: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/.
Annuals/Bedding Plants: Plants that can take a chill include dianthus, pansy, viola, and dusty miller. See Annuals: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_annual_landscape_plants.
Bulbs: Try dahlia, crinum, and agapanthus. Provide adequate water for establishment and protect them from cold with mulch. See Bulbs for Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_bulbous_flowers.
Vegetables: Plant potatoes now. Start with healthy seed pieces purchased from a local nursery or online seed catalog. Continue to plant cool-season crops. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening.
Roses: Prune roses this month to remove damaged canes and improve the overall form. After pruning, fertilize and apply a fresh layer of mulch. Blooming will begin 8–9 weeks after pruning. See Roses: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_rose.
Shrubs: Make certain that you know the height and spread of any shrub you plan to install. Not all shrubs are suitable for planting next to homes or under windows. Plant at least 2-3 feet away from the foundation to allow for maintenance and access to rainfall. See Shrubs: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_shrubs and The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/homeowners/publications.htm.
For more details, visit: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/florida-gardening-calendar/.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program workshops:
These FREE workshops are held both in-person & online via Zoom.
Optimizing Irrigation Systems — Tuesday, February 7, 2:00-4:00 PM
Irrigation & Turf Management 101 — Thursday, February 9, 12:00-3:00 PM
Palms in Central Florida — Tuesday, February 21, 2:00-4:00 PM
Lawns in Central Florida — Tuesday, March 7, 2:00-4:00 PM
For details and to register, go to: https://ccufflprogram.eventbrite.com.
Need some Florida-Friendly Landscaping advice?
Call FFL Coordinator Steven Davis at 352-527-5708.