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    Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

    Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

    PRINCIPLE 2: WATER EFFICIENTLY


    Water Efficiently:

    • For Home Landscapes
    • For Community Landscapes
    • For Landscape Professionals

    For Home Landscapes

    An efficient irrigation system conserves water and helps to ensure that fertilizer and other pollution doesn’t flow into water bodies. However, even an efficient irrigation system can waste water if not appropriately programmed and regularly maintained.

    If an irrigation system is present, a rain shutoff device should be installed and maintained to prevent irrigation after a rain event. Don’t let the calendar tell you when to water – look to your plants for telltale signs of water stress and turn on your irrigation system manually instead of allowing the automatic controller to run on a set schedule. Handwatering, microirrigation, mulching and mowing at the highest setting are ways to reduce water use in your landscape.

    Benefits:

    • Irrigation water applied correctly and only when needed is more accessible to the plants
    • Efficient irrigation, handwatering or microirrigation use less water
    • Your water bills may decrease
    • You may be more satisfied with your yard’s appearance, as too much watering can lead to fungal problems and disease
    • There is less runoff and nutrient leaching from the site

    Community landscapes may require supplemental irrigation, particularly new landscapes that have not been fully established. If your community fits this description be sure that you are irrigating efficiently. A well-designed irrigation system uses rain shutoff devices to prevent irrigation after a rain event, irrigates based on the needs of the plants, uses microirrigation in the landscape beds and is checked regularly for leaks and overspray. This will save your community a significant amount of money when compared with traditional systems.

    Benefits:

    • Irrigation water applied correctly and only when needed is more accessible to the plants.
    • Efficient irrigation reduces water bills, pest problems, and maintenance needs.
    • Community satisfaction increases.
    • The environment will benefit from reduced water use, runoff, and nutrient leaching.

    Water is a finite resource, so we need to conserve and protect our ground and surface waters.  Irrigation systems should be installed and managed correctly to conserve and reduce water use.  Add smart irrigation technology to save water and money. Instead of permanent irrigation systems, consider using temporary systems that can be removed once the vegetation is established.

    Benefits:

    • Irrigation water will be applied correctly and will be more accessible to the plants
    • Efficient irrigation reduces water bills, pest problems and maintenance needs
    • Client satisfaction will increase
    • The environment will benefit from reduced water use, runoff and nutrient leaching
    Water Efficiently Guidance


    Right Plant Right Place
    Water Efficiently
    Fertilize Appropriately
    Mulch
    Mulch
    Bumble Bee on Cone Flower
    Attract Wildlife
    Grasshopper
    Manage Yard Pests Responsibly
    Recycle Yard Waste
    Reduce Stormwater Runoff
    The waterfront
    Protect the Waterfront
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    Contact

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    Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program
    P.O. Box 110675 Gainesville, FL 32611-0675
    (352) 273-4518

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