By Doris Heitzmann, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Program Manager

As we are headed towards the dry season, with April being one of our driest months, we are reminded that some easy steps before and during the dry season can keep your landscape healthy.

Remember, more than half of all residential water is used outdoors for lawn and landscape irrigation. Watering wisely year-round promotes healthier lawns and landscapes and can save thousands of gallons of water per month, as well as save homeowners money. Overwatering a lawn can promote weeds and insect pests, as well as weakened grass roots.

Even small changes can contribute to water savings and protecting our precious water resources. Starting with knowing and adhering to your local watering restrictions followed by making sure your irrigation time clock settings are correct and your rain or soil moisture sensor is functioning, are significant steps to water conservation.

Protecting our precious water resources is the core teaching concept of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™. Therefore, check out these useful UF/IFAS links with information on Drought in Florida, Irrigation, A Better Lawn on Less Water, Improving Your Yards Drought Tolerance and Soil Moisture Sensors.

https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/lawn_and_garden/drought.shtml#:~:text=Frequency,perennials%2C%20shrubs%2C%20and%20trees.

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/irrigation/

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/lawns/lawn-care/improving-your-lawns-drought-tolerance.html

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/irrigation/better-lawn-on-less-water.html

AE437/AE437: Smart Irrigation Controllers: How Do Soil Moisture Sensor (SMS) Irrigation Controllers Work? (ufl.edu)

For more information on Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Maintenance Practices visit the UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension website or contact Doris Heitzmann at dheitzmann@pinellas.gov or visit our event calendar https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/events/?location=pinellas

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