Gardening question about watering (Sarasota, St. Augustine: landscaping, maintenance, live)

[nature1]

Hi All,

Just wondering if one typically needs a sprinkler system to maintain a nicely landscaped yard in Sarasota? I know the summers are wet, but do you get enough rain in winter to avoid installing a system? Perhaps the occasional soaking from the garden hose would suffice ...

My husband and I really try to use native plants when landscaping so that we don't have to use excessive water to keep them alive. Here in Cali it's all dependent upon the sprinkler systems and we're hoping to avoid that. Thanks!

[TamRE]

I had a student who was a conservationist and she said to use rain barrels. I thought it would be a good idea in the summer when it rains, but what about the winter when we don't get much rain.

Here are the rain barrels if you want to take a look: http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/rainbarrel/

We have a sprinkler system at our house, but rarely use it. We have bahia grass and it goes dormant in the winter. I hand water my landscaping with a hose, even though I could just set the sprinkler system for the landscaping only. I prefer to hand water. It is part of the fun of gardening. Our area has watering limits. 2 days per week and you have to go to the county web site to see which days and times you are allowed to water.

I guess it depends on what type of grass you have. Some have to be watered and others do not. As far as new landscaping, you can water as often as you want when they are first planted. And during the summer rainy season, you rarely have to water.

[d4g4m]

Many counties have water use restrictions. In Sarasota county we can use water for yards only one day a week after 4PM. People still refer to the 'rainy' season, but many years in the last twelve have been below normal rain fall. For Jan-Mar, my rain gauge is already 6.31 below normal.

[nphomeowner]

One more plus for having a well. No watering restrictions!

[TamRE]

If you have a well you still have to follow the watering restrictions. It is the water table that gets low and the well pulls from that water table. My neighbor thought he could water anytime because he had a well, and he got two warning notices. So be careful and follow the restrictions.

Sarasota County - Sarasota County Environmental Services Water

Current Water Restrictions for unincorporated Sarasota County as of Jan. 16, 2007
Sarasota County reminds all residents of unincorporated Sarasota County of the following landscape and irrigation water restrictions. These restrictions apply whether the source of water is a well, pond, or from a utility system. Go the web site above to see the restrictions.

[photoman_6]

from what i see the grass can take a beating, but your plantings, as long as they're not too exotic can do well on their own, with only an occassional soaking, maaybe once a week.

[nphomeowner]

Thanks for the link. It says no restrictions for handwatering and I hand water so I'm in the clear.

[imagardener]

nature1

If you want a green lawn you will need an irrigation system, rain is not reliable to keep a lawn green.
Well water can be too salty to use as irrigation as we found out, especially during a drought, the well water is pulling saltier water and applying it to the lawn and plants.

Talk to your local extension agent about alternatives. Many people are now planting minimal lawn and using well mulched plants that do not require much water. Other people tear out their lawns and out down stone for low- or no-maintenance. One of our neighbors did this last year and another down the street is doing that as we speak.

We removed our dying St. Augustine lawn and put in bahia grass which needs less water and no chemicals. Yes it came with some weeds but they are green too and look nice. It still needs water in the dry winter season but much less than St. Augustine.

As water gets more expensive more and more people will have xeriscaped (low water) yards. It's the "green" thing to do. :-)

[d4g4m]

Water restrictions [less revenue to county] water use/sewer rates increased to make up for lost revenue, people xeriscape to use less water, rates increased to make up for lost revenue. You will pay the same amount for not watering your yard as you did only a few years ago for watering your yard 3 times a week.

[NYtoOsprey]

Originally Posted by nature1

Hi All,

Just wondering if one typically needs a sprinkler system to maintain a nicely landscaped yard in Sarasota? I know the summers are wet, but do you get enough rain in winter to avoid installing a system? Perhaps the occasional soaking from the garden hose would suffice ...

My husband and I really try to use native plants when landscaping so that we don't have to use excessive water to keep them alive. Here in Cali it's all dependent upon the sprinkler systems and we're hoping to avoid that. Thanks!

we have a drip system that goes to specific plants around the yard and we run it for an hour in the morning 3-4 times a week if it is dry out. if it rains maybe 2x a week. it uses very little water. We don't water anywhere else. I want to find out about doing rain barrels and using that with the drip system too. we get enough rain in the summer to stock up lol I have no idea how that all works though :P