Water conservation and gardening information for April
Environment |
Tue - April 8, 2025
10:52 am
|
Article Hits:50
|A+ | a-
Spring is here. Irrigate lawns once per week, according to the last digit of your home address (see information below, Addresses Ending in:). If you have a a Water Sense 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 understanding your irrigation system or to report watering new plants? Call 352-527-7669.
April - November: One scheduled irrigation of 1/2” to 3/4” each week, about 30 to 45 minutes per rotor head zone and 15 to 20 minutes per spray head zone.
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 -- 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 System & Controller Help
Our water conservation specialists can conduct a FREE one-time irrigation system checkup & 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.
April is Water Conservation Month
The Floridan Aquifer supplies Citrus County's drinking water
In Citrus County, all drinking water comes from the Floridan Aquifer. This includes citizen’s private wells and public utilities. The aquifer is a natural underground water source that spans all of Florida and beyond its northern borders. The aquifer can be confined or unconfined. A confined layer offers protection from contaminants. In Citrus County, the aquifer is unconfined and close to the surface.
The aquifer is a limited resource that relies on rainfall for replenishment. Below average rainfall causes lower aquifer and lake levels, as well as reduced spring and river flows. Maintaining levels and flows are necessary to prolong our drinking supplies and support the natural systems surrounding us. April is typically a dry month in Florida when water demands are highest due to lack of rainfall and increased irrigation needs. Each year the County joins other local and state organizations in proclaiming April as Water Conservation Month to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation and saving Florida’s precious water resources. This month, consider how you can help save.
Conduct a Pool Leak Check
Pools lose water every day through normal evaporation. However, leaks can cause excessive water loss. Conduct a simple bucket test to learn whether loss is a leak or just nature at work.
First, choose a day when no rain is forecast. Then, fill the pool up to its normal level and turn off the autofill device. Next, place a bucket on the pool step where it is submerged at least 4”. Add a stone or other weight to the bucket to hold in place. Use a sharpie to mark the inside and outside of the bucket indicating the pool's water level. Now, fill bucket with water up to the marks and level with the pool water. Leave the bucket in the pool for 24 hours. Finally, compare the two water levels.
The water level in the pool and bucket should remain about the same when no leaks are present. If the water level of the pool decreases more than the water inside the bucket, there may be a leak.
Join a FREE workshop available at the Extension Services office in Lecanto. Two to three classes monthly. Upcoming topics include:
Palms in Central Florida: Tuesday, April 8, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Right Plant, Right Place: Tuesday, April 22, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Lawns in Central Florida: Tuesday, May 6, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
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/
APRIL
Annuals: New varieties of coleus do well in sun or shade and provide vivid colors and patterns for months.
Vegetable: Continue planting warm-season crops, such as beans, peppers, squash, and others can be planted now. Mulch well to prevent weeds.
Bulbs: This is an ideal time to plant many bulbs. Consider blood lily, caladium, or canna. Louisiana iris and others make beautiful cut flowers.
Perennials and bulbs: Divide clumps of bulbs, ornamental grasses, or herbaceous perennials to expand or rejuvenate garden beds or to pass along to friends.
Mulch: Add mulch to minimize weeds and conserve moisture during dry weather. Organic mulches break down and add nutrients to the soil.
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.)
water loss. Conduct a simple bucket test to learn whether loss is a leak or just nature at work. 
