Waterwise Landscaping
Plant wisely with Florida-friendly vegetation to reduce irrigation needs.

OUC wants to help you reduce your water usage and save money on your water bill. Since irrigation accounts for the bulk of water consumption in Central Florida, your yard’s a great place to start conserving. By selecting the right plants for your landscape, you can limit the amount of water and maintenance they will need.

Waterwise landscaping conserves water and protects the environment by matching the right plants with existing site conditions to minimize the need for additional resources such as water, fertilizer, pesticides and labor.

Creating a natural landscape with Florida-friendly vegetation will:

• Minimize the amount of work needed to maintain a beautiful yard so that you can spend more time enjoying it,
  
• Help lower your water bill even during the dry season,
  
• Reduce the contamination caused by storm runoff of nearby lakes and streams,
  
• And help protect Florida’s valuable water supply.

So remember these basic principles when choosing plants for your yard:

• Try to keep as much of the existing vegetation as possible. If a plant grew in an area without your help, then conditions there are obviously right for it.
• Choose plants that can survive on normal rainfall in your area or that require minimal irrigation.

Next: Landscaping Your Waterwise Yard