Devil Grass

Sunflower thanks for the article.

I think we should petition the Commissioners to require the developments (residential or business) going through the planning stages. Have some type restrictions put in place to make it a requirement that these developments put in something else beside St. Augustine grass.

Businesses are some of the largest consumption users of water. They run sprinkler daily and should have some type restrictions put in place at the concept of the plan.

Clay County Utility Authority's parking lot is an excellent example of planting native plants that look good too.

Another article coming out of Tallahassee.

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/BREAKINGNEWS/71126009/-1/

Go Native

It would be nice if all this were real. However, despite water shortages, drought, overpopulation etc... I would be more inclined to take part if golf courses were banned. I notice a tremendous boom of silence whenever that topic comes up. Just how much water is used on a daily basis on golf courses and how much fertilizer is spread about? Fortunately, I am just as happy cutting my weeds short to simulate grass. If it's green, that's all that matters any more. I couldn't grow a lawn if I sewed the Jolly Green Giant's thumb to my forehead.  

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

I agree with the statements about golf courses and the huge amount of water waste there. They should require all golf courses to use only reclaimed water. Reclaimed water is treated wastewater and can be used for irrigation and other nonpotable uses to extend our water supplies. Next they should take that huge charge off our water bills for water coming out of our home and require those places to pay for that water instead of the citizens. It reduces fertilizer use, as some nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus remain . It reduces disposal into waterways, which can help reduce nutrient loads in rivers.

That wastewater coming out of the seat of county government has to be full of natural nutrients.

The issue with using reclaimed water for golf courses (and developments) is not that simple. Any solution that has the statement 'Get rid of all the golf courses' is a non starter. That just isn't going to happen. Just like getting rid of all the football, soccer and baseball fields isn't going to happen.

I don't think that golf courses waste water per se. They, like every other business try to keep overhead down. If the course is dried out and brown no one will pay to play there. In addition to being too expensive, if they pump too much water the course gets sloppy wet and people won't pay to play there.

I'm pretty sure that any golf course would love to use reclaimed water. It's cheaper for one thing. The problem is how do we get the purple pipe to the area? Someone has to pay for that. Yes, it is a great idea in the philosophical; it's the execution that gets problematic. Can we produce enough grey water? Right now, we are just about at capacity of production and usage. Where do we get the money to increase production capability?

Yes it is a waste to have the sprinklers running in the rain or trying to grow new asphalt (watering the road), but something to keep in mind is that the water you see running is not always potable.

Getting rid of a weed we call grass (St Augustine) is a great idea and I'd love to see the County come out and say everyone has to get rid of it in the next 5 years. I'd also like to see a plan in place to make grey water available to eveyone. Is this going to cost money? Yes, but I think in the long run it would be worth it.

Finder

A subject near and dear to my heart (or my aching back and wallet).  Having started my new home several years ago with St. Augustine, I learned to hate the water and time intensive weed.  After replacing the lawn in portions over the first few years as it died due to frost or drought and while the my HOA was still in its infancy, I had all the St. Augustine "scraped" off my approx. 14,000 sq. ft yard and "sprayed" with several types of Bahia and rye grasses that were more cold and drought resistant.  While I don't have that "perfect" lawn look that most HOAs demand, I do have a green yard filled with some sort of vegetation.  It does what yards do in the winter up north.....turn brown and go dormant.  I spend comsiderably less time working to keep it alive, only use organic fertilizer and alot less money on watering.  If my HOA hadn't created a rule to prevent it, I would have covered the whole front yard with rock and just left the back yard green for my pets.  Some of my subdivision neighbors did that (rock or mulch) before the HOA put an end to it.  As long as it is clean, neat and well kept, HOAs should get out of the business of what we do within our own property lines.

 As additional info, I've added a link to what the people in Nevada are allowed to do and the rebates that their Water Management Authorities allow.  I've seen some great looking yards that don't involve any grass at all.  We should be allowed to do that sort of thing to help cut back on water usage.  It's a finite resource.

 http://www.snwa.com/html/cons_index.html

Link to story about wastewater

http://www.miamiherald.com/573/story/309685.html

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/yards/

This link has a lot of information about conservation, alternatives, etc. plus some pretty pictures! 

When we bought our home (built in 1986) it had 5 large trees, a chain link fence around the entire side and back yard - it's a corner lot of .5 acres - and very well-kept St. Augustine grass.  Being from the north, we had no idea of the need for upkeep and care of this plant.  One year, thanks to our neglect (not caring), the chinch bugs got it all in about 3-4 weeks.  We consulted with our friend who was/is the education director for the American Garden Club and she gave us some ideas.  I also frequented the Gardenweb Florida gardening forum and learned that many people who care about the environment just mow their growth and call it Florida Yard.  That seemed to me to be the perfect solution.  So, we have stone paths, decks, mulch, and native plants/trees and our yard is now free of the 'devil weed' and very interesting.  In the beginning, it is a lot of work, but over the years, our yard is fairly maintenance free and only takes a little effort and creativity.

I also cultivated the attitude that if a plant in the ground can't make it on little water and organic food, then so be it!  Live or let die. (McCartney)