Ongoing Well Study The United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) are working together to conduct a study on lawn irrigation wells in Sarasota and Polk Counties. To qualify, you must ... READ MORE
Category: Community Volunteers, Conservation, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Water
Where We Get Our Drinking Water Not many of us think deeply about the origins of our water, but it's important to be aware of our water resources. After all, the average Sarasota County resident uses about 80 gallons of potable, or drinking, ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Rain Shut-off Devices Residents with an automatic irrigation system in the state of Florida are required by law to have a fully operational rain shut-off device. These devices are crucial in preventing overwatering, which can lead to plant ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Where Is That Water Hiding? Though we may already be familiar with the more obvious ways we use our water (for drinking, cleaning, showers, and irrigation), there are plenty of other ways we use water indirectly in our daily rituals. For instance...consider ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Reduce Your Outdoor Water Use April is Water Conservation Month. Now is a perfect time to examine our water-spending behaviors and see where we can save big on our water bill. Most of our water use is outdoors, spent on the automatic ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Home Management, Lawn, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Spring Cleaning Chirping birds, vibrant wildflowers, and a clear, blue sky are all reminders that spring has sprung here in Sarasota County. In addition to spending some much needed time outdoors in the beautiful weather, many of us are ... READ MORE
Category: Food Safety, Home Management, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
A Porcelain Problem Ah, the toilet. Considered by many to be essential to our daily lives, toilets are a common feature in Sarasota County homes. We use them daily for our private business, sometimes upwards of 10 times a day. In older toilets, ... READ MORE
Category: Home Management, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Well, unlike many states up north, Florida winters are particularly bearable. In fact, we happen to attract many tourists from November to March, our annual "snowbird" season. Who can blame someone for wanting to escape the blistering cold and ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
This past December, our office hosted a webinar on micro-irrigation. We covered the main types of micro-irrigation, what makes it "micro" compared to a standard, in-ground irrigation system, and some basic installation tips for homeowners. Watch ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Reclaimed Water and Landscape Management For long time readers of this blog, you are no doubt familiar with our high praises of reclaimed water as an alternative to potable water for irrigation. To those tuning in for the first time, we greatly ... READ MORE
Category: Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Water