Did you know that half of all potable (drinking) water in Florida is used for irrigation?

Did you know that half of all potable (drinking) water in Florida is used for outdoor irrigation? You can cut outdoor water use substantially by installing water-conserving plants and applying Florida-friendly landscaping principles in your outdoor spaces. Florida-friendly landscaping conserves water and protects the environment through the use of native and drought-tolerant landscaping, with proper maintenance and water-wise irrigation. Follow the nine principles of Florida-friendly landscaping, and you’ll be well on your way to saving water and enjoying your beautiful Florida yard!

Florida-friendly landscaping is vibrant, alive and colorful. Many lush and tropical-looking plants are among the list of native or drought-tolerant plants appropriate for Florida’s unique climate. They will add to the beauty of your landscape while conserving water. Consult your nursery professional for information on which of these plants are appropriate for our region.

Florida-friendly landscaping saves time, money, water and our environment!

Model Language for Community Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions can be found at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/docs/nonpoint/ffl-mo-ccr-1-09.pdf

Managing Landscapes using Reclaimed Water

Reclaimed water from a water treatment facility can hold high salt levels. To help reclaimed water recipients manage their landscape, here is a list of common landscape plants grouped by their chloride salt tolerance level. When referring to the plant list, please note the list is intended as a general guide and the chloride salt tolerance level for many landscape plants has not been documented. A more comprehensive listing of Florida-friendly plants that includes information on salt tolerances is located in the Florida-friendly plant listing developed by the University of Florida or at www.FloridaYards.org. For other specific lawn and gardening information, contact a Master Gardener at the Manatee County Extension Office by calling 941-722-4524.

Landscapes irrigated with reclaimed water should be monitored to determine what, if any, modifications to fertilizer and irrigation practices may be needed. While the reclaimed water treatment process retains usable levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that work as fertilizer, micro-nutrient corrections may be necessary for some acid-loving plants. Reclaimed water also contains higher levels of chloride salts than potable (drinking) water. These salt levels vary due to the time of year, time of day and other factors.

Leaf burn and wilting, commonly mistaken for leaf damage associated with chloride salts in reclaimed water, are also well-known indications of over watering. Allowing water to pool on foliage in direct sunlight, regardless of the water source (rain water, potable water or reclaimed water), may also cause foliage to yellow.

Poor drainage and pooling water may also allow accumulation of salts in the soil. Adjust slopes, eliminate compacted soil and amend soil structure to help improve landscape drainage problems. If leaf yellowing occurs, sprinkler heads may need to be adjusted so the spray pattern avoids direct contact with plant foliage. If leaf yellowing persists, it may be necessary to use drip irrigation to water the more sensitive plant varieties.

Perico Bay Club Bldg C is Florida Friendly

Congratulations to Perico Bay Building C! Thanks to Heather, Jackie and Vivian for their hard work and perseverance in acheiving a Florida Friendly Landscape.

This landscape was orginially dominated by turf. The three ladies mentioned above felt this landscape could be more water efficient and require less maintenance so they went to work designing a Florida Friendly Landscape. They have since noticed the maintenance crew visits them 1/3 as often as the neighboring buildings. Great Job Ladies!!

Nestled next to Palma Sola Bay this landscape demonstates lots of salt tolerant species. Geiger trees, Sea Lavendar, Silver Sea Oxeye Daisies and Tropical Salvia give lots of color while the Cocoplum Horizontal provides a deep green ground cover. Sea Grapes, Beauty Berries, Gumbo Limbo and Sugarberries provide food and shelter for wildlife. The Bromilads hold water for visiting amphibians.

Should you wish to convert your landscape into a Florida Friendly Landscape please contact MichelleAtkinson@ufl.edu for more information or check out http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/fyn/index.shtml

Create Your Fabulous Florida Friendly Landscape

Create Your Fabulous Florida Friendly Landscape Series to start August 27th.

With the signing of S.B 2080 by Governor Crist many homeowners are looking for direction on Florida Friendly Landscaping™ practices.

Senate Bill 2080 states that a deed restriction or covenant may not prohibit or be enforce to prohibit any property owner from implementing FFL on his or her land; a local government ordinance may not prohibit or be enforced so as to prohibit any property owner from implementing FFL on his or her land; local governments shall use the standards and guidelines when developing landscape irrigation and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ ordinances.

To help you develop your Florida Friendly Landscape we are offering a 5 step series. As a participant you will learn how to save water, time & money all while creating your Fabulous Florida Friendly Landscape.

Step 1 - Dazzling Designs on August 27th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Step 2 - Wise Watering on September 24th from 6:00pm yo 8:00pm

Step 3 - Magnificent Maintenance on Oct. 22nd from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Step 4 - Recycle the Rain on Nov. 19th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Step 5 - Compost Happens on Dec. 10th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

To inquire or register for this series contact the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Manage Yard Pest Responsibly

Due to concerns about health, the environment, and pesticide resistance, pest control practices once taken for granted are now under scrutiny. Regular preventive pesticide applications are still common for some pests but are often unnecessary. Healthy plants can usually defend against or tolerate pest attacks, while beneficial insects, birds and other natural controls often suppress undesirable insects — which makes the preventive and indiscriminate use of pesticides ill-advised.

A better approach to managing pests — Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — emphasizes using a combination of environmentally friendly methods that focus on preventing pest problems.
What are the basic building blocks of IPM?

• IPM begins at planting time, with pest-free and pest-resistant plants and a landscape design that encourages natural controls.

Keeping your plants healthy is the best defense against pests.

Regular scouting, or keeping an eye on your yard’s plants, helps detect pest problems early, before significant damage occurs.

Plants with aesthetic damage don’t necessarily need to be treated.Consider the amount of aesthetic damage you are willing to accept.

If you see a pest outbreak, determine if a problem really exists or if natural enemies are already present and are working on your behalf.

If pest control proves necessary, try the safest alternatives first, such as handpicking insects or pruning infected parts of a plant. If pesticides become necessary, choose the least harmful materials. The “softest” insecticides on beneficials and other non-target organisms (people, pets and wildlife) include insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and microbials (e.g., spinosad, abamectin, Bacillus thuringiensis ‘Kurstaki’).

Use pesticides only to spot-treat affected plants or lawn, not in blanket applications.

Also check out

http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/community/home_gardening/index.shtml http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/community/landscape/design/index.shtml http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_BOOK_Florida_Weeds

Consult the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office with questions at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Get in the Know

Learn the Dirt on Summer Turf

July 8th 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Manatee County Extension Office

Workshop topics include summer lawn pests, diseases, and maintenance. Register online for this free workshop at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call the Manatee Office at 722‐4524.

Smart Landscape - Planning & Care

July 15th 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Manatee County Extension Office

The key to smart landscaping is to develop the Florida‐Friendly Landscaping™ plan to save water, time, & money. We’ll think through and solve intended uses of your landscapes plus the care required to maintain healthy plants. Register online for this free workshop at http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu or call 722‐4524. This class will satisfy the educational requirements for the Landscape Retrofit portion of the Manatee County Water Conservation Rebate Program.

Consult the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office with questions at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.

Fertilize Appropriately Part 2 (Landscape Plants)

In the soil, roots of trees, shrubs, turfgrass and bedding plants intermingle and compete for water and nutrients. In fact, the roots of a single mature tree may extend 60 feet or more out into your lawn or flowerbeds. Fertilizer applied to one plant is often absorbed by the roots of a nearby plant. Every treatment you apply to your lawn (fertilizer and herbicide, for example) can impact your trees and shrubs. Conversely, treatments applied to a tree, such as pruning and fertilizing, can influence the appearance and health of underlying turfgrass.

In areas where tree or shrub fertilization zones overlap with lawn fertilization zones, fertilize for one or the other of the plant types, but not both. If trees and shrubs are not located near fertilized turfgrass, you can apply additional nitrogen to enhance growth of established trees and shrubs.

Broadcast fertilizer uniformly over the desired areas of the landscape. Apply watersoluble fertilizers at no more than ½ pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application. Application rates of controlled-release fertilizers depend on release rates of the product.

Palms have different nutritional requirements than other landscape plants. Fertilize landscaped areas within 30 feet of large established palms with a 4-1-6-2 Mg (N-P2O5-K20-Mg) ratio fertilizer (an 8-2-12-4 Mg is an example of a fertilizer using this ratio). Nitrogen, potassium and magnesium should have equivalent percentages of each nutrient in controlled-release form. If you use a
fertilizer with a ratio other than specifi ed, you may bring about or intensify nutrient deficiencies in palms.

Fertilize lawns, trees and plants only to maintain health. Over fertilizing aggravates pest problems and stimulates excessive growth. When excessive fertilizer is applied, it can leach past the root zone and into the groundwater, the source of our drinking water. Excessive fertilizer application also contributes to pollution in Florida's springs, rivers, streams, lakes and bays. Consult the Manatee County UF/IFAS Extension office with questions at 941-722-4524 or email michelleatkinson@ufl.edu.