Drip irrigation - the most efficient way to water your plants

Watering plants such as shrubs and trees with sprays and rotors is not efficient and it is not good for the plant.  A good portion of the water through these types of sprinklers is lost to wind drift or evaporation before it ever touches the plants (see picture below).

Repeatedly wetting the leaves of a shrub can cause leaf spot disease and watering too often with too much water can cause fungus. In the picture below is a shrub that was killed with too much love (water).

What is the answer? Switch your sprays and rotors that are irrigating shrubs with drip irrigation.  This type of irrigation uses the least amount of water and will keep your plants beautiful!

Check out this video of a site here in Miami that traded their outdated irrigation system for drip!

Mary McCready

mlshedd@ufl.edu

305-248-3311 ext. 230

Fix a Leak Week

March 14th to 20th is Fix a Leak Week.

Did you know......The average American household wastes 10,000 gallons of water per year because of leaks and most of the leaks are easy to fix. So this week the challenge is to check your home for leaks and get them fixed. This will save money and water!

Leaks can be inside the home or outside (irrigation).  We usually talk about the outdoor water so for this blog we will look at the indoor leaks.  

Determine if there is a leak:

1a. Check your water meter - turn off all water fixtures inside and check the water meter. If the flow indicator is moving then there is a leak somewhere in or outside the home.  

1b. If you do not have a flow indicator on your water meter. Take a reading from the meter wait for two hours (without using water) and then take another reading.  If the number has gone up then there is a leak.

Pinpoint the leak:

1. Check the toilets - One leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day.  Here is a link on how to check your toilet for leaks.

http://www.miamidade.gov/conservation/leaks_toilet.asp

2. Check the faucets and shower heads - The drip drip drip coming from the faucet may not just be annoying to listen to and it may be putting a pretty large dent in your wallet. Many times replacing worn o-rings is all that is required to stop that pesky drip drip drip.

http://www.miamidade.gov/conservation/leaks_faucet.asp

Replace those which can not be fixed:

Some things are beyond repair so it is time to replace.  Make sure you are replacing them with the most efficient models on the market. In the long run this will save a lot of water and money. Miami-Dade Water and Sewer has a rebate program for both showerheads and toilets to help get you on the way to a more efficient home.

The EPA WaterSense program has lists of products that have been third party tested and certified. 

Low-maintenance plant of the Month

The plant of the month for March is a shrub native to Southern Mexico and Central America. Ruch Pentas aka Panama Rose (Arachnothryx leucophylla) thrives on local limestone based soils ans is non-invasive. This shrub grows to about 10 feet in our environment. It is an airy somewhat willowy shrub with linear lanceolate, grayish green leaves with a silvery underside. Tight clusters of rosy pink flowers are produced continuously from December into early June. AS flowering ceases the shrub can be pruned as required. Four to five shrubs planted 3 to 4 feet apart make a very attractive medium density flowering screen. Plants can readily be propagated from air layers or more readily using semi -hardened cuttings. No pests or diseases of note have been reported. This plant is tolerant of near freezing temperatures, bu tsome discoloration (reddening) of foliage has been observed.

Got Plant Questions?

Dr. John McLaughlin

305-248-3311 ext. 228

johnmcl@ufl.edu

Open House a Success!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Extension Open House. We had a blast and the event was a success. Over 300 people came out to participate in the free seminars, guided tours, demonstrations and kids activities.
Here are some pictures from the event.