Yes, Florida does have a fall and a winter and during these seasons we experience reduced sunlight, cooler temperatures, and reduced rainfall. Fall is also when we return to Eastern Standard Time.
When you turn back your clock on November 7, you also need to turn your irrigation controller to its fall and winter irrigation schedule. The fall and winter schedule (November 7 through March 13) restricts outside irrigation to one day a week. Odd-numbered residential addresses may irrigate on Saturdays; even-numbered residential addresses may irrigate on Sundays; and commercial and non-residential properties may irrigate on Tuesdays. In Titusville, well water, city water, and reclaimed water all fall under the irrigation restrictions.
Irrigation is reduced during the fall and winter because the growth of both plants and grasses slows down, reducing their need for food; which then reduces their need for irrigation. Watering your yard more than is needed encourages fungal growth, disturbs the plant’s normal growth cycle causing stress and increasing susceptibility to disease and pests, and leads to increased runoff.
So celebrate Florida’s fall weather and the beginning of the holiday season by giving your lawn the gift of smart irrigation. Don’t turn on the sprinklers unless your lawn tells you it is ready for water: leaf blades are folded in half, color turns a bluish-gray, and footprints stay visible. And remember, established trees and shrubs need less water than turf.
To learn more about the irrigation restrictions and Florida-Friendly landscaping contact Titusville’s Water Resources Conservation Office at 321-567-3865 or visit the Water Resources Conservation Program’s pages here.