No permanent irrigation in landscape beds

Background

Many plants used in landscape beds in Florida do not require supplemental irrigation beyond establishment and outside of drought conditions. As a result, Florida Water Star recognizes that great conservation potential exists for the following: (1) not installing irrigation in landscape beds, or (2) disconnecting landscape bed irrigation after plant establishment.

Requirements and certification

Landscape beds are designed to have no permanent irrigation system. (All extensions/lateral lines to these areas from an existing irrigation system are permanently disabled.)

If 100% of the landscape beds are unirrigated, the full point value is awarded. Partial points are awarded for having less than 100% unirrigated beds. For example, if 1,500 square feet (ft²) of landscape beds are unirrigated and 1,000 ft² of landscape beds are irrigated, 13 points will be awarded. Points are given if irrigation equipment is still in place, but permanently disabled. The Inspector must receive a written guarantee from the irrigation installer or applicant that any temporary irrigation system is removed after establishment of plants, no longer than 60 days after planting.