Citrus County Utilities: Water-wise News; free irrigation check-up training
Environment |
Sun - January 5, 2025
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University of Florida research suggests grass only needs water about once every 14 days this time of year. Many residents turn the irrigation controller to the ‘OFF’ position from December through February and then turn ‘ON’ after two weeks of no rainfall. Keep the controller plugged in to maintain 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 while it is cool.
January & February, 2025: All warm-season grasses go into some sort of dormancy in winter. Apply irrigation about once every 14 days. If the lawn receives 1/2-inch of rainfall, wait another 14 days.
Per ordinance, watering is limited to one day per week, either before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. (not both), as follows:
Addresses Ending in:
0 or 1 -- Water on Monday
2 or 3 -- Water on Tuesday
4 or 5 -- Water on Wednesday
6 or 7 -- Water on Thursday
8 or 9 and locations with a mix of addresses or no address -- Water on Friday
Irrigation Controller Help
If irrigation controller help is needed, call (352) 527-7669 to schedule a free one-time training.
It’s Time for a Sprinkler Spruce Up!
Winter is a great time to spruce up the irrigation system. Get tips from the utility during a free one-time checkup and training. Topics include:
Scheduling the irrigation controller
Zone-by-zone efficiency review
Testing rain sensor
Seasonal water needs
Using the meter to check for leaks
Call (352) 527-7669 to schedule an appointment.
Join a FREE workshop available at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Services office, located at 3650 W. Sovereign Path, Suite 1, Lecanto, Florida 34451. Upcoming topics include:
Right Plant, Right Place, Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
9 Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Weed Management, Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Call FFL Coordinator Steven Davis at (352) 527-5708.
Want to add new plants to the landscape? The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design offers color images, zone hardiness, drought tolerance, light requirements and more: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/
Vegetable: Irish potatoes can be planted now. Start with healthy seed pieces purchased from a local nursery or online seed catalog. Continue planting cool-season crops, including broccoli, kale, carrots, and lettuce. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening
Camellias: Select and plant camellia this month. Visit local nurseries now for the best selection of colors and forms. See Camellias: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_camellia
Water Sense Labeled Irrigation Controller — $100 (auto-adjusting controller)
Water Sense Labeled Toilet* -- $100, 1st toilet / $75, 2nd toilet if replacing a toilet that flushes more than1.6 gallon per flush with 1.28 gpf or less (old toilet typically installed before1995. Pre-approval & photos required.)
Water Sense Labeled Toilet* -- $25 per toilet if replacing a 1.6 gallon per flush with 1.28 gpf or less Water Sense labeled toilet. (old toilet typically installed after 1995. Pre-approval & photos required.)
