Florida friendly lawns in jax and saving our water (Tampa: sale, house)

[HIF]

Karla has posted a great thread about an upcoming plant sale at the Mandarin Garden Club. I don't want to hijack her thread, so have started this one.

There was a fairly lengthy article about the Mandarin Garden Club and water conservation in the Mandarin Sun section of the TU on Saturday. MyMandarinSun.com: Crackdown on water usage is turning serious

I am going to call the Club to get ideas on what to plant in an area that has been stripped bare along the beltway, as well as about conserving water in our neighborhood. Had yet another argument last week with our lawn service guy who told me again that he has disabled our rain sensors (even though he has been told to turn them ON) and insists that "everyone in the business" will tell me that rain gauges do not work.

How have others addressed the issue of irrigation modifications to conserve water? And are there any success stories on getting away from the carpet of water-guzzling sod? How do you ease those who would have perfectly manicured, "every blade of grass 3.5 inches" yards into the concept of Florida friendly?

How do you get folks to warm up to Xeriscaping? In the minds of many, it means ugly and bare, but that is not always the case. How can we begin to make converts?

[agreatlife]

Our home in Jax where there are watering restriction suggestions:



Our home in Tampa where they had complete water restrictions (as in don't water your lawn, period or we will fine you).

Moral of the story: Watering restrictions rock!

[cricketfan]

Unless you're out of town for an extended period you don't need timers to control your irrigation at regular intervals. Bypass the timers and start your irrigation system manually as needed. We have all become so lazy that we need automation for everything including rain sensors which don't always work. Nothing irks me more than seeing my neighbor's sprinklers going full blast during a rainstorm.

[HIF]

Originally Posted by cricketfan

Unless you're out of town for an extended period you don't need timers to control your irrigation at regular intervals. Bypass the timers and start your irrigation system manually as needed. We have all become so lazy that we need automation for everything including rain sensors which don't always work. Nothing irks me more than seeing my neighbor's sprinklers going full blast during a rainstorm.

Since we have eight timer boxes, each with at least ten zones, I'm thinkin' it will be difficult getting folks to volunteer for this task!

[cricketfan]

Originally Posted by HIF

Since we have eight timer boxes, each with at least ten zones, I'm thinkin' it will be difficult getting folks to volunteer for this task!

Oh no, I was thinking more along the lines of a modest home with a single timer box and maybe 4 - 6 zones.

[mawipafl]

It's actually not difficult for me now that I've shut off the automatic sprinkling. So, it should be simple for most to just shut off the automatic part.

I have it noted on my calendar when we've had rain of any substance (it's raining, I pick up a pen, I write the single word 'rain') and it's simple as simple can be to look at the calendar and say "ok rain was a while ago, so put the sprinkler on" - one push of a button and done and it runs the full zone cycle then goes back to sleep until I decide when to make it work again. Plus, walking out in the yard with the dog tells me yup the ground is dry or nope it's still soggy.

I don't get out there with a magnifying glass and examine the grass blades to see if they're curling for lack of moisture. I look at my calendar and I walk in my yard. Simple.

[travelingfood]

rocks...wonder if my community will allow me to put down quarter acre of rocks to replace the weed lawn.

[WitchDoctor]

Originally Posted by travelingfood

rocks...wonder if my community will allow me to put down quarter acre of rocks to replace the weed lawn.

Tell them you recently became a Bhuddist and it is a Zen rock garden.

[travelingfood]

Originally Posted by WitchDoctor

Tell them you recently became a Bhuddist and it is a Zen rock garden.

actually that's exactly what I wanted...

[HIF]

Hmm...the house that you had in Tampa really looks like a Florida house. Maybe I can put in a circular drive...

Instead of using mulch, is there a reason that I couldn't use pine straw in my beds?