According to Pasco County’s watering regulations, new landscape material may be watered more during a 60-day establishment period as an exception to the water restrictions.
Meaning: different water restrictions apply to new, young plants for 60 days – check your city/county for additional watering restriction orders.
New Landscape Plants
For new landscape material, keep in mind:
- Watering is permitted between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
- New plant material day 1 to 30, may be watered any day of the week, regardless of source
- New plant material day 31 to 60, may be watered 3 days each week, according to the schedule below
- An entire irrigation zone may be used only if the zone being watered contains 50% or more new landscape material
| Addresses ending in: | Days you may water |
|---|---|
| 1,3,5,7 or 9 | Monday, Wednesday and Sunday |
| 0,2,4,6 or 8 | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday |
There are more restrictions. Read more about Establishment of New Landscape Material in Pasco County
Our Recommendation: Wait until the rainy season (near June) to establish plants, if possible. Not only is the rainwater free, but the summer is a high-time growing season, which can help establish plants more successfully.
Timing
In the fall and spring, we experience drier conditions, which is completely normal for Florida. This year, we are experiencing record-breaking drought conditions – drought with less than average rainfall.
It is important to provide your plants with supplemental water as needed, within the watering restrictions of the county. So, if possible, hold off on growing anything new.
June marks the start of the rainy season, and rainfall takes the pressure off irrigation systems (and your wallet). If natural rainfall consistently meets the water requirements of your plants, you may shut your irrigation system off during the rainy season. Otherwise, your operational rain sensor will automatically adjust your irrigation schedule, if water requirements are met and detected.
The Best Time to Water
Water in the early morning (before the sun rises) if possible. The water wets the root zone but doesn’t keep the plant moist overnight. Too much moisture on the leaf, paired with the high temperature and humidity, may lead to fungal growth and diseases.
In the early morning hours, less sunshine and wind result in greater water absorption at the root zone and reduce overall water loss (and money wasted). In terms of watering with the Modified Phase III Water Shortage Order, this means watering from 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on your scheduled day.
Remember, low-volume watering of plants and shrubs (micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering) is allowed any day but is limited to before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. You can hand-water plant material, with the exception of lawns, on any day before 4 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
- Visit District Water Restrictions | WaterMatters.org to read more about the Phase III Modified Water Shortage Order. View the full order here: Phase III Fact Sheet Final.pdf.
- Also see the Phase III Water Shortage FAQs and Phase III Water Shortage Fact Sheet.
Visit these UF/IFAS Resources to learn more about best watering practices:
- ENH9/LH025: Watering Your Florida Lawn
- AE515/AE515: Estimated Water Savings Potential of Florida-Friendly Landscaping Activities
- AE436/AE436: Summary of UF/IFAS Turf and Landscape Irrigation Recommendations
- Lawn Management During Drought – Gardening Solutions
- Tips for Homeowners to Save Water and Save Money | WaterMatters.org
Email SaveH2O@MyPasco.net to request help with your irrigation controller or schedule a free irrigation system evaluation with UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County.
Stay tuned to learn How to Care for your Landscape During a Drought!
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Resources
- Florida. Drought.gov. https://drought.gov/states/florida
- Historical Rankings Map. Drought.gov. https://drought.gov/historical-rankings
- Local Drought and Rainfall Information. https://drought.gov/data-maps-tools
- Pasco County Conditions. Drought.gov. https://drought.gov/county/pasco-florida
- WSO Phase II FAQs (PDF). Southwest Florida Water Management District. WSO Phase II FAQs.pdf
- District Declares Modified Phase II Water Shortage. WaterMatters.org. https://www.watermatters.org
- Water Resources. Southwest Florida Water Management District. https://www.watermatters.org/water-resources
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