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Faith Haven Christian Retreat Center

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Our retreat center facilitates community, team building, and education in a Christian environment. Enjoy our challenge course with zip lines, horse stables, and more. It’s the new thing to do in Crystal River!
— Read on faithhavencrc.org/

Water news

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February 2020

Nights seem to be staying below 50 to 60 degrees and grass water needs are mostly being met by rainfall. But, once nighttime temperatures consistently stay above that 50 to 60 degree threshold, it is time to schedule weekly irrigation. Until then, below are some options for irrigation scheduling. Keep in mind that if you have a Water Sense labeled controller that automatically adjusts irrigation seasonally, there is no need to adjust your controller.
February: Continue to irrigate about once every 14 days while nightly temperatures remain below 50-60 degrees. A couple nights of higher temperatures typically will not trigger spring growth. Only after extended periods of warm nights will the soil temperature rise, prompting grass to come out of dormancy.
March: One scheduled irrigation of 1/2” to 3/4” per week. That is about 30 to 45 minutes per rotor head zone and 15 to 20 minutes per spray head zones.
As always, if grass shows signs it wants water, like blades folded in half lengthwise or footprints lingering in the lawn, schedule irrigation on your next allowable watering day.

Call to report new plantings that require additional irrigation (352) 527-7669.
Water Restrictions
Irrigation may occur before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., as follows:
ODD addresses on Wed. & Sat. / EVEN addresses on Thurs. & Sun.

Celebrate Fix a Leak Week with us!Pro conducting a irrigation checkup
We are gearing of for Fix a Leak Week. Take advantage of the utility’s free irrigation system checkup and training to learn if you have indoor or outdoor leaks. This is what we cover:
Use meter to check for leaks
Provide toilet leak detection dye tablets
Offer free Water Sense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators
Assist scheduling irrigation controller
Zone-by-zone irrigation efficiency review
Test rain sensor
And… we can answer most landscape or irrigation questions
Limited to one per customer. Call (352) 527-7669 to schedule an appointment.

Customer feedback: “This is our first irrigation system, so the info provided was enormously helpful. We were able to cut watering time in half! Plus, we now know how to monitor and adjust the system as needed! Great program!!” Shelly, Sugarmill Woods

Does your toilet have a silent leak? Drop a dye tablet (or 10 drops of food coloring) into your toilet’s tank and wait 10 minutes. If the color shows up in the bowl, you have a leak that can probably be fixed by replacing a worn toilet flapper. Don’t forget to flush afterwards to remove any leftover dye.
Dye tablets available at the utility conservation office, the water conservation expo, or the Cypress & Oak Village association offices.
Learn how to get a handle on leaks at http://www.epa.gov/watersense.
Winter Reminders

No Nitrogen Fertilizers
No fertilizer should be applied until April when roots are re-established. This is best for your turf and adheres to Citrus County’s fertilizer ordinance.

Mowing
Grass still isn’t actively growing. For greatest freeze and drought tolerance, most Bahia and St. Augustine grass varieties should stay at least 3.5” to 4” high. This is the recommended height ALL year to help grass survive both high and low temperatures.
grass

Click HERE to learn more and apply.

Class: 9 Florida-Friendly Principles
Tuesday, 2/18/2020, 2:00 PM
Click HERE to register.

March (and a few February reminders)

Bedding Plants: Consider planting warm-season annuals such as angelonia, wax begonia, and zinnia at the end of the month. See Annuals: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_annual_landscape_plants

Azaleas: With many azaleas in full bloom in February, it is a great time to select varieties to add to the landscape. Prune azaleas when they have finished blooming to reduce their size and improve their form.
See Azalea: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_azalea

Bulbs: Plant dahlia, canna, and gloriosa bulbs for spring and summer flowering. Provide stakes as needed to support growth. See Bulbs for Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_bulbous_flowers

Crapemyrtle: In February, remove seed pods, crossing branches, and small twiggy growth to improve the appearance and form of the plant, if desired. Hard pruning is not required. See Crapemyrtle: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_crapemyrtle

Lawn Disease: Continue to watch for brown patch and large patch, fungal diseases that cause areas of grass to turn brown. Since treatment is difficult, prevention with proper cultural practices is key. These diseases become active when the soil temperature, measured 2–4 in. deep, is between 65°F and 75°F and go dormant when the weather warms in May. See Turf Diseases: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_turf_diseases

Shrubs and trees: Prune when the dormant season ends and new growth begins. See Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_tree_pruning

Vegetables: Begin planting warm-season crops, such as beans, tomatoes, squash, and corn, early in the month for late spring harvest. Protect from frost. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening

For more details or to see another month’s calendar, visit: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/florida-gardening-calendar/
Citrus Link Newsletter
The Citrus County Public Information Officer also sends a monthly email newsletter highlighting the latest construction projects, meeting highlights, staff and more. If you would like to receive this once a month newsletter, register at http://www.citrusbocc.com/pio/pio.

Copyright © 2020 Citrus County Department of Water Resources, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are a Citrus County Utilities customer. We send Newsletters in our mailed bills. However, if you do not receive a paper bill, you may be missing this important information.

Our mailing address is:
Citrus County Department of Water Resources
3600 W Sovereign Path Ste 202
Lecanto, FL 34461-7726

Add us to your address book

Phone: (352) 527-7669 Email: WaterConservation@Citrusbocc.com

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Citrus County real informative

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Click HERE for Your CITRUS LINK! Connect with us ‌ ‌ ‌

Board of County Commissioners110 N. Apopka AvenueInverness, FL 34450Unsubscribe groganmanor@yahoo.comUpdate Profile | About Constant ContactSent by cynthia.oswald@citrusbocc.comin collaboration with

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Clean and Simple

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Hello to our VALUED clients!!
 
We have a special going on for the month of February. We are offering a distribution of the infamous 3-in-1 WEED and FEED for only $65!! Call our office today and we can set you up with this extraordinary product to fertilize, nourish and protect your lawn as well as prevent weeds from germinating for up to SIX MONTHS!
 
A weed and feed that does more, specially formulated for southern lawns.

  • Weed and feed 3-in-1 for southern lawns plus prevents weeds and crabgrass up to 6 months
  • Make one application, instead of buying and applying multiple products throughout the season
  • Kills weeds including dollar weed, dandelion and clover
  • Prevents broad leaf and grassy weeds plus crabgrass up to 6 months
  • Feeds greens and strengthens your lawn
  • Won’t harm lawns when used as directed
  • For use on southern turfs: Bermuda Grass, St Augustine Grass, centipede Grass and Zoysia grass

 
 Call and book today for the month of February to receive the $65/lawn rate!!

Ann Hammons (Owner)
Clean & Simple Services, Inc.
352-364-1777Copyright © 2020 Clean & Simple Services Inc., All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email, because you subscribed to our product. 

Our mailing address is:
Clean & Simple Services Inc.8539 W Kimberly CourtHomosassa , FL34448
Add us to your address book

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Citrus County Fl: Yard Pest: THE POCKET GOPHER AND Winter Events | Linda Thomas

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CITRUS COUNTY FL: YARD PEST: THE POCKET GOPHER AND WINTER EVENTS
January 11th, 2020 By Linda Thomas in Blog,Gardening

Each year as residents we look around and say…those pocket gophers are worse than ever!  Fortunately, most gophers stay on the vacant land tunneling away…but every so often they make it into a yard. Pocket gophers leave huge mounds (some realty customers new to the area have asked, “Are those ant hills?”)  They are not hills full of fire ants! They are pocket gophers…messing up that beautiful landscape!   SO what to do about gophers?  See control methods below…

I had heard that if you are taking care of your lawn and treating it with chemicals for routine maintenance…you won’t get them—not so!  This blog’s information came from various resources- listed at the end of the article.

Pocket gophers, often called gophers are burrowing rodents that get their name from the fur-lined, external cheek pouches, or pockets, they use for carrying food and nesting materials. Pocket gophers are well equipped for a digging, tunneling lifestyle with their powerfully built forequarters; large-clawed front paws; fine, short fur that doesn’t cake in wet soils; small eyes and ears; and highly sensitive facial whiskers that assist with moving about in the dark. A gopher’s lips also are unusually adapted for their lifestyle; they can close them behind their four large incisor teeth to keep dirt out of their mouths when using their teeth for digging. Gophers are only 10-12 inches long but are capable of digging a tunnel system that may extend for 500 feet or more, although 145 feet is normal.  As they dig, they push =piles of loose dirt to the surface, characteristic that has earned them the name “sandy mounters.” or salamander. They plug the hills to prevent snakes and other predators from entering.—Judging the mounds we have around Black Diamond, it appears they have no natural enemy to kill them!  ( I have learned at that coyotes and owls go after them—but not many of them here!)  Gophers don’t hibernate and are active year-round, although you might not see any fresh mounding. They also can be active at all hours of the day.

Gophers usually live alone within their burrow system, except when females are caring for their young or during breeding season. Gopher densities can be as high as 60 or more per acre. Gophers reach sexual maturity at about 1 year of age and can live up to 3 years. In non-irrigated areas, breeding usually occurs in late winter and early spring, resulting in 1 litter per year; in irrigated sites, gophers can produce up to 3 litters per year. Litters usually average 5 to 6 young.

Pocket gophers often invade yards and gardens, feeding on many garden crops, ornamental plants, vines, shrubs, and trees. A single gopher moving down a garden row can inflict considerable damage in a very short time. Gophers also gnaw and damage plastic water lines and lawn sprinkler systems. Their tunnels can divert and carry off irrigation water, which leads to soil erosion. Mounds on lawns interfere with mowing equipment and ruin the aesthetics of well-kept turf grass.

So what do you do if they invade your land?  Which method do you prefer to get rid of them? Poison them? Trap them?  Put a repellant down?  Gas them? There are many opinions and options… I used several sources for information. To successfully control gophers, the sooner you detect their presence and take control measures the better.

Newest device I have seen is by Thanos (available through Amazon…but not good reviews). Thanos 8X Solar Mole Groundhog Repellent Repeller Spikes Gopher Deterrent Chaser Vole Away No Killing Traps

Trapping is a safe and effective method for controlling pocket gophers. Several types and brands of gopher traps are available.  UKill‘Em in Inverness 352-860-1183 has supplies and trapping services available.  https://www.facebook.com/UKillem/.  Trapping requires patience and effort and is successful is placed correctly.  See detailed directions:

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/

Poison baits can be very effective in killing and controlling gophers on your property.  Once applied, you have to keep applying the bait.  You have to find the main tunnels by using a probe, checking about a foot away from a fresh mound soil plug.

Gassing gopher holes can work if you know where the active tunnels are established and the tunnels and mounds are not under construction.

Safety tips:

Be sure all children and non-target animals are out of the area prior to using a gasser.
Do not use gassers indoors or under any type of building, porch, fence or any other structure
Avoid breathing in gasser cartridge smoke
Do not use gasser cartridges in areas where grass or other vegetation is very dry as it can catch fire with this method.
Resources:

Home

http://www.ukillem.com/gophers-moles.html

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/how-to-get-rid-of-gophers-a-605.html

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7433.html

CC EVENTS 2020

Valerie Theater:

We invite you to join us for our next LIVE EVENT on Saturday January 18. 

Two performances of FLASHBACK FOUR.

Showtimes are at 3:00pm and 7:30pm.

The Flashback Four are four dynamic lead singers who have wowed audiences in Las Vegas, Walt Disney World, Atlantic City, and around the world at countless special events.

Their show is an exciting mix of world class vocals and interactive comedy featuring the rock-n-roll harmonies of the Billy Joel, the Beach Boys, BeeGees, The Temptations, and Huey Lewis.

Tickets are available online at http://www.valerietheatre.org or at our Box Office on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Noon til 4pm and on Sundays from 1:30pm til 3:30pm.

— Read on ilovecitruscountyflorida.com/citrus-county-fl-yard-pest-the-pocket-gopher/