Landscape

Landscaping and irrigation Tips

Landscaping can add value to your home. With the use of properly located trees and shrubs, you can save energy and help clean the air.

Did you know that:

• Landscape irrigation accounts for about 50% of all residential water use in Florida?

• In ground sprinkler systems use more water than above ground systems?

• Watering midday loses as much as 65% of water to evaporation?

Landscaping Tips

Here are a few tips to help you create and maintain a healthy yard, lower your water bill, and even reduce your energy use.

• Prepare your soil and plan your landscaping following the “Nine Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping” guidelines BEFORE you purchase plants.

• Landscape with native and drought tolerant plants. They require less water, will reduce the need to irrigate your yard as much, and will help you save money on your water bill.

• Limit grass or turf for areas where children or pets play.

• Group plants by their soil and watering requirements and then mulch them to retain moisture.

• Plant in early spring and fall, when watering needs are less.

• Consider purchasing younger or smaller plants as they take less water to become established (even for large varieties).

• Carefully read the directions prior to applying fertilizer. Over fertilizing your yard can lead to more problems for the plants as well as higher levels of those nutrients in our creeks, streams and lakes.

• Keep a lawn height of 2½ to 3 inches and leave the grass clippings where they fall to help mulch and fertilize the lawn.

• Keep your grass cutting and pruning tools sharp to reduce plant stress. Stressed plants usually require more water and fertilizer to survive and thrive.

Avoid utility service lines.

If you are planting trees and/or shrubs near utility lines or transformers, check out the utility clearance details in GRU’s Energy Delivery Service Guide (pages 23-26)

• Do not plant large trees under power lines.

• Do not plant trees and shrubs on top of underground utility lines.

• Call Sunshine 811 at least 48 hours before digging to have underground utility lines, pipes and cables marked for FREE.

For more information:

• Check out our Irrigation Systems FAQ page (imbed link to FAQ page)

• Follow a few Florida Friendly Landscaping tips when changing or adding plants to your landscaping.

• Visit the Alachua County Cooperative Extension Office for assistance with planning and plant selection for your landscaping needs.