Florida Waterwise Landscapes - Alliance for Water Efficiency

• OBSERVE WATER RESTRICTIONS IN YOUR AREA. Under
Florida law, the water management districts have
established water conservation rules. Where there is a
year-round watering rule, it applies to everyone who
uses water outdoors — homes, businesses, nurseries,
golf courses — regardless of the water source, whether
private well, public utility or surface water. There are
some exceptions to the water restrictions, such as
when reclaimed or reuse water is being used. Any local
water restrictions that are more strict than the water
management districts’ must be followed. Violating
Florida’s water restrictions is punishable with penalties
of up to $500, with additional fees as applicable.
• SWEEP SIDEWALKS OR DRIVEWAYS INSTEAD OF HOSING
THEM DOWN. If your chore requires water, use an
automatic shut-off nozzle at the end of a
hand-held hose.
• INSPECT YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM REGULARLY. Check
all hoses, pipes and fittings for leaks, which can waste
hundreds or thousands of gallons of water every
week. Repair broken or clogged spray heads and
emitters and adjust them to keep from watering the
pavement. Clean microirrigation filters regularly and
change as needed. Also, use a rain gauge in the yard
to make sure the rain shut-off switch is working.
Mulch helps hold moisture in the soil.
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6. Use Mulches
If you already use mulches in your yard, you’re
ahead of the game. Placing a layer of mulch directly
around shrubs and trees and on flower beds helps to
conserve water. In fact, mulch
• Helps retain moisture in the soil
• Decomposes slowly, adding nutrients
to the soil
• Provides habitat or cover for beneficial
soil organisms
• Shades soil from the baking sun, reducing
the need for water
• Protects against soil erosion and
compaction caused by rain
• Reduces weed growth
• Reduces maintenance chores; keeps lawn
mowers and weed trimmers from
damaging trees and other plants
• Looks good in the landscape
Mulch can include bark chips, pine needles or
leaves. Using leaves for mulch eliminates having to
burn or bag the leaves for landfill disposal. Cypress
mulch, although widely available, is not a good
environmental choice because cypress are slow-
growing native wetland trees that are often taken as
whole, mature trees and chipped into mulch just to
help meet market demand. Cypress are far more
valuable to us in their environment than as mulch in
the landscape. Alternative sources of mulch, such as
melaleuca, eucalyptus, Australian pine and recycled
matter from yard cuttings, are suggested instead.
Some of these environmentally friendly alternatives
are obtained from nonnative pest trees and are
becoming increasingly available.
For best results, spread 2–4 inches of mulch on
plant beds. Keep the mulch several inches away from
the plant stems to protect the stems from rotting.
Gradually increase the thickness of the mulch layer