There is still time to
Skip-a-Week of Irrigation
By Doris Heitzmann, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program Manager
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, the winter months are the perfect time to save water and increase the health of your lawn and landscape.
According to University of Florida/IFAS research, during the cooler months your lawn doesn’t need as much water as plant growth slows and enters a dormancy phase. Your lawn only needs between one-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10-14 days during the winter. This includes any water your lawn may have received from recent rainfall. In order to skip a week of irrigation set your irrigation controller to “off” until your lawn needs water again.
How do I know when my lawn needs water?
Look for the following symptoms to know when it is time to turn your sprinkler system back to “on”:
- Grass has a blue-gray color,
- Footprints remain for several minutes,
- Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise.
Also keep in mind:
Overwatering your lawn can lead to many pest and disease problems and makes your lawn less able to survive periods of drought.
To learn more about the Skip-A-Week initiative, watch the video below and visit the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s website.
For more information about Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ practices, contact Doris Heitzmann at dheitzmann@pinellas.gov
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