June - November: One scheduled irrigation of 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch each week. That is about 30-45 minutes per rotor head zone and 15-20 minutes per spray head zone.
Per ordinance, watering is limited to one day per week according to the last digit of your home address. Irrigation may occur either before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. (not both), as follows:
Addresses Ending in:
0 or 1 -- Monday
2 or 3 -- Tuesday
4 or 5 -- Wednesday
6 or 7 -- Thursday
8 or 9 and locations with a mix of addresses or no address -- Friday
Irrigation System & Controller Help
Our water conservation specialists can conduct a FREE one-time irrigation system checkup & training that includes how to use your meter to check for leaks, operating the irrigation controller, testing the rain sensor, and offering toilet leak detection tablets. Call 352-527-7669 to schedule.
Meet Your Instructor: Steven Davis, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Expert
Citrus County’s Department of Water Resources offers free classes each month to help residents create and maintain water-efficient, Florida-friendly landscapes. These informative workshops are led by Steven Davis, the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program Coordinator. With a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and decades of hands-on experience as a horticulturist, landscape planner, and certified Pest Control Operator, Steven brings both practical and research-based knowledge to every session. Steven is passionate about helping new residents, HOA boards, and landscape professionals understand how to design landscapes that thrive in Florida’s unique climate while protecting natural resources. Each year, his program reaches over 3,000 citizens with guidance based on University of Florida research. As a GIBMP-certified instructor, Steven has helped train hundreds of professionals and residents in responsible fertilizer use. Classes are held Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Extension Building, 3650 W. Sovereign Path in Lecanto. Register at https://ccufflprogram.eventbrite.com or call (352) 527-5708 for more information.
Why Overwatering After Rainfall Hurts Central Florida Lawns
Understanding the Impact of Sandy Soils and Proper Irrigation
In Central Florida, sandy soils dominate the landscape. Their large particle size allows water to drain quickly, which helps prevent waterlogging—but also means they hold very little moisture, typically no more than 0.75 inches per foot, according to UF/IFAS. This low water-holding capacity makes it easy to overwater, especially after heavy rain. Unfortunately, many homeowners continue to irrigate even when the ground is already saturated. This wastes water and creates an unhealthy environment for plant roots. Nutrients are easily leached from sandy soils, leaving plants starved despite appearing well-watered. Too much moisture also displaces oxygen in the soil, suffocating roots and weakening turf. Lawns become more prone to root rot, brown patch fungus, and pests like grubs and mosquitoes. Constantly wet conditions also cause shallow root growth, reducing drought resilience and increasing long-term irrigation needs. The solution? Install a rain sensor or upgrade to a smart irrigation controller. These tools help prevent unnecessary watering and support a healthier, more drought-tolerant landscape in Florida’s unique climate.
Want to add new plants to the landscape? The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design offers color images, zone hardiness, drought tolerance, light requirements and more: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/
June
Annuals/Bedding Plants: Annuals that can take full sun during hot summer months include celosia, portulaca, vinca, and some coleus. Vegetables: Plant okra, southern pea, calabaza, Malabar spinach, and sweet potato. It is too late to plant tomatoes. Summer-flowering shrubs: Prune lightly during the warmer months to encourage more branching and blooming. Azaleas can still be pruned in June without removing next spring's flower buds. Herbs: Plant heat-loving herbs, including basil, Mexican tarragon, and rosemary. Pinch back regularly to prevent flowering and enhance branching. Propagation: Produce more plants by air layering, grafting, division, or cuttings.
Water Sense Labeled Irrigation Controller — $100 (auto-adjusting controller)
Water Sense Labeled Toilet* -- $100, 1st toilet / $75, 2nd toilet if replacing a toilet that flushes more than3.5+ gallon per flush with 1.28 gpf or less (old toilet typically installed before1995. Pre-approval & photos required.)
Water Sense Labeled Toilet* -- $25 per toilet if replacing a 1.6 gallon per flush with 1.28 gpf or less Water Sense labeled toilet. (old toilet typically installed after 1995. Pre-approval & photos required.)
