Our Cape Coral neighbors who are on well water have been told to limit watering their yards to once per week. This serves as a warning to all of us, that water is not an unlimited resource, even when we are surrounded by water.

Most residents get their well water from the Mid-Hawthorn aquifer, about 125 feet underground. This year we have had a foot less rain than an average year so, aquifer levels are lower than normal. On average, half the water used by a household is used to water the yard.

Although we cannot control rainfall, we can be frugal with our own water use. Here are some tips to use less:

• Plants respond to less rain and lower daylight hours during the winter by growing slower. Some plants go dormant and revive when summer rains begin. Allow this natural process by not fertilizing now and lowering the amount of water given.

During these relatively cool months of January and February, turfgrass will need about 1 inch per week. Put several tuna cans around your yard before your sprinklers turn on to measure how much water is being applied. Check them after watering to see if you are getting enough water but not using too much. If you water twice per week, make that 1/2-inch each time.

Watering every day keeps grass roots near the surface. But watering once per week encourages deep roots.

• Recognize water stress. I know my grass is dry when I see the leaf blades curl inward and it turns a darker blue green. I may only notice this in my grass near the street, where it is hotter and the sprinkler does not cover as well. We are allowed to hand water problem areas for 10 minutes to relieve stress.

• Skip watering when 1/2 inch of rain is expected or just happened. This would save homeowners about half of the water used for irrigation. If you don’t have a rain sensor, you can manually turn off your water system when 1/2 inch of rain or more is expected. If you use a manual sprinkler, set a timer on your phone as a reminder to turn the water off. I have forgotten enough times to know – don’t count on remembering!

• Mow high. Research shows that raising the mower blade during dry weather and cutting the grass higher encourages deeper rooting, increases turf survival during drought and reduces water demand. For St. Augustine-type grass, the blade can be 3.5 inches high.

• Grass really guzzles water. Think about making the grassy areas smaller.

• How about a patio in the front?

• Add a mulch or paver path from one area to another.

• Plant a drought tolerant ground cover.

• Mulch. Put 2-3 inches of mulch under trees and bushes to help retain moisture. Do not let the mulch touch the tree bark.

• Established bushes and trees require less water than lawns. Native Florida plants, planted in the right place, are generally happy with just the rain that falls in the dry season. They have grown in this environment for thousands of years without human assistance. Let the plants slow down and take a break in the winter.

We can be water-wise in the winter knowing that our plants will wake up when the rains return and grow vigorously all summer.

For more information, see:

– South Florida Water Management

– Florida Friendly Landscaping Guide

Sherie Bleiler volunteers at the Cape Coral Library Butterfly Garden and is a member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral. Visit gardenclubofcapecoral.com. Like us on our Facebook page.