Is Watering Your Grass Necessary in Lake Nona?

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If you call Florida home, you know the rainy season is upon us – and with that comes the infamous saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” So, with all of the rain that Mother Nature brings this time of year, should you still water your grass? Christopher Regis, CEO of Suntek Lawn Care, is here to help!

“In Florida, there are many different types of soils – from sandy to clay. Here in Lake Nona, we have a unique soil that has high organic matter, so it is slower to drain.” 

Regis explains below the few things to do to keep your grass happy and alleviate your muddy issues with the type of soil we find in our yards.

How Much Water Should You Use?

Regis states that you don’t need to worry about watering every day because your grass only needs about an inch to an inch-and-a-half of water each week, either from rainfall or irrigation: “Water the lawn until the top six or eight inches of soil is wet, which should give the grass the inch of water it needs.”

What Happens If You Don’t Water Your Grass? 

Consequently, if your lawn doesn’t get two inches of water each week for four weeks consecutively, permanent damage can occur. Root systems can be damaged to the point where grass blades stay brown and will be thin or completely dead, according to Regis.

How Long Should Sprinklers Run?

Regis also described that overwatering your lawn can be just as harmful to your grass as not watering it enough. “The general rule is to set up your system to only run two days a week during Daylight Saving Time (March through November) and one day a week (November through March), per City of Orlando ordinance,” he explained. “Here in Laureate Park, instead of running 20 minutes per station, it’s recommended to run five minutes per station with four start times. It is also important to make sure that your rain sensor is active and properly working. This not only saves you water but reduces the amount of runoff of reclaimed water that goes down our storm drains.”

What Is the Best Time to Water Your Grass? 

According to Regis, the best time to water your grass is early in the morning when it’s cooler. If you’re not a morning person, just set the timer on your irrigation system and let your grass get watered while you sleep.

Which Days Should You Water Your Grass?

“In Orange County, there are mandatory lawn watering restrictions that specify the days when you may water. These days depend on whether you have an odd- or even-numbered address and the time of year,” Regis described. “Per county ordinance, the following restrictions apply to landscape irrigation regardless of whether the water comes from groundwater or surface water, from a private well or pump, or from a public or private utility.”

• Outdoor irrigation is limited to one day a week during Eastern Standard Time (from the first Sunday in November until the second Sunday in March) and two days a week during Daylight Saving Time (from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November).
• Water only when necessary and avoid watering from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Don’t water a zone for more than one hour.

Time of Year	Homes With Odd-Numbered or No Addresses	Homes With Even-Numbered Addresses	Non-Residential Properties
Nov. 1, 2020 to March 13, 2021	Saturday	Sunday	Tuesday
March 14 to Nov. 6, 2021	Wednesday/ Saturday	Thursday/ Sunday	Tuesday/ Friday

For more on watering restrictions, visit: https://nona.link/wateringrestrictions.

Are There Any Exceptions to the Restrictions?

Restrictions include the following:

• Residents are allowed to water new sod/landscaping any day or time for the first 30 days after installation and then every other day for the next 30 days.
• Watering is limited to the amount necessary for the sod/landscape to become established.
  • This exception only applies to those specific areas where the new sod/landscaping is located.

• To avoid receiving a watering violation during sod/landscape establishment, residents must provide Orange County Utilities with their name, phone number, address, and any receipts for sod and/or landscape purchases.
• Even though residents are exempt from watering restrictions during sod/landscaping installation, they are not exempt from the applicable water rates.

“If you are feeling unhappy or even slightly embarrassed by the way your yard looks, feel free to reach out to me directly – (754) 265-6608. I’ll be happy to give you some free guidance and recommendations to help you get a yard you can feel proud of,” said Regis.

Suntek is now offering maintenance, repairs, and installation of irrigation systems. They also offer a very affordable quarterly maintenance program, which includes an inspection of the irrigation system and sprinklers to ensure there is proper irrigation of the grass and no water waste. Remember, wasted water means higher water bills!

So, if you are in the market for a new lawn care service company that cares about the environment and lets you live your busy day with one fewer distraction, consider Suntek Lawn Care. Suntek offers 50% off the first mow for Lake Nona residents when they sign up. For more information, visit www.sunteklawncare.com or call (321) 396-2425 for a free quote today. 

Photos Courtesy of Suntek Lawn Care