Daylight Saving Time Reminder: Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 2:00 am, and spring arrives March 20th. While adjusting clocks one hour forward, also change the irrigation schedule to water once per week according to the last digit of your home address as noted below. If you have a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller, there is no need to make adjustments because the controller will automatically increase runtimes to meet spring water needs.
Would you like help adjusting the irrigation controller or do you want to report watering new plants? Call 352-527-7669.
March-November: One scheduled irrigation of 1/2” to 3/4” each week. That is about 30-45 minutes per rotor head zone and 15-20 minutes per spray head zone.
Per ordinance, watering is limited to one day per week, either before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. (not both), as follows:
IRRIGATION SCHEDULE: Addresses Ending in:
0 or 1 - water on Monday
2 or 3 - water onTuesday
4 or 5 - water on Wednesday
6 or 7 - water onThursday
8 or 9 and locations with a mix of addresses or no address - water on Friday
Irrigation System & Controller Help
Our water conservation specialists can conduct a FREE irrigation system checkup and training that includes how to use your meter to check for leaks, operating the irrigation controller, testing the rain sensor, and offering toilet leak detection tablets. Call 352-527-7669 to schedule this free one-time training.
How to Use the Meter to Check for Leaks
Leaks account for nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted in U.S. homes annually according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fix a Leak Week, celebrated the third week of March annually, reminds Americans to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Toilets and irrigation systems are common leak culprits.
The County’s water meter is a great tool to determine if you have a leak. Here is how:
Turn off all water using fixtures inside and outside the house. Don’t forget the icemaker and auto-pool filler.
Write down the numbers from the utilities water meter (typically near the road.)
Wait 15 minutes and write the numbers again. If the numbers increase, there is likely a leak.
If you have a leak and know where the home’s indoor-water shut off is (Typically inside or outside the garage. NOT the County’s in the box), turn it off and perform the test again. If the leak stops, then the leak is inside. If the numbers increase again, the issue is outside.
Water Expo Co-hosted by the Sugarmill Woods Civic Association
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm at the Sugarmill Woods Country Club, located at 1 Douglas Street, Homosassa, Florida. Experts will be on hand, there will be free promotional items and a plant raffle.
Shrimpapalooza Festival Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Old Homosassa, 9:00 an - 6:00 pm. Pick up toilet leak detection tablets and a Mardi Gras mask for the kids. Shrimpapalooza - Mardi Gras Homosassa Style
Citrus Hills Nature & Wellness EXPO 2025 (residents only, behind closed gates)
Thursday, March 13, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM, Activity Center Auditorium. Strategies on conservation, wellness, wildlife protection, sustainable gardening, landscaping, irrigation and more. Citrus Hills Garden Club Presents: Nature & Wellness Expo | Citrus Hills
Bahiagrass: A Self-Seeding Water Saver
Bahiagrass: a warm-season grass that is well adapted to Florida's sandy soil, fairly low-maintenance, and can live with limited water and fertilizer.
When to plant: Overseeding & Establishing New Lawn: — The warmer temperatures during spring & early summer months help seed germinate and establish. This also allows the grass to grow before the cooler weather of fall. However, overseeding does not qualify for additional irrigation. Consider until June to take advantage of Florida’s rainy season.
Plant before the summer heat arrives.
Plant when soil temperatures are consistently between 65°F and 70°F.
Self-seeding: — Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum) in Central Florida produces seed heads from early spring to mid-summer, if not mowed. Seed heads can be tall and against owner association restrictions. Consider requesting a variance from the association to allow grass to self-seed after June 1.
How to prepare:
Remove weeds and vegetation.
Loosen and level the soil.
Apply lime, Phosphorus (P), or (K) potassium, if needed.
Avoid applying N before or at planting.
How to care:
If creating a new lawn, water grass seed twice per day for 2-3 weeks with a fine spray to maintain a moist soil surface without washing away the seeds. Then, reduce frequency while increasing quantity. Complete additional irrigation within 60 days of seeding.
Wait 60 days before applying fertilizer.
Dethatch established lawns in late spring or early summer when the grass is actively growing.
Benefits of Bahiagrass:
Drought Tolerance — Survives with limited water and is well-adapted to Florida's sandy, infertile soils.
Low Maintenance — Requires little fertilizer and water, and it's less susceptible to disease and insects than other grasses.
Reseeds Itself — Reseeds itself if left unmowed.
Thrives in Florida — Well-suited for Florida's climate, including its long, hot summers.
Join a FREE workshop available at the Extension Services office in Lecanto. Two to three classes monthly. Upcoming topics include:
Managing Pests Wisely: March 11, 2025, 2:00-4:00 pm
Florida-Friendly Fertilizing: March 25, 2025, 2:00-4:00 pm
Palms in Central Florida: April 8, 2025, 2:00-4:00 pm
Need some Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) advice?
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/
March
Annuals: Replace declining winter annuals with varieties such as angelonia, gazania, and salvia that will provide color now and into the summer months. See Annuals: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/annuals
Vegetable: Warm-season crops, such as beans, peppers, squash, and others can be planted now. Mulch well to prevent weeds. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening
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 than3.5+ 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.)
