With lawns crisping up around the region, the City of Tampa is stepping in tomorrow with a drought‑friendly assist: free Florida‑native plants and a crash course in how to keep yards alive while using a lot less water. The morning workshop packs in practical how‑tos on irrigation, plant choices and soil care so residents can protect both their landscaping and their water bills.
Workshop Details
The Florida‑Friendly Landscaping workshop, titled “Your Best Tampa Garden Starts Here,” will run from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow at the City Center at Hanna Avenue (2555 East Hanna Avenue). Registration and the official event listing are available on the city’s events calendar, as detailed by City of Tampa.
Who You'll Hear From
The panel lineup features Lynn Barber, the Florida‑Friendly Landscaping agent with UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, Anita Camacho of Little Red Wagon Native Plant Nursery, and Julia Palaschak, who leads the Water Conservation and Efficiency team for the City of Tampa. According to Tampa Free Press, everyone who shows up will leave with a free Florida‑native plant, and organizers will sweeten the deal with raffles for gardening books and tools throughout the morning.
Why This Matters
Tampa and much of the surrounding area remain under a Modified Phase III “Extreme” water shortage order, and mandatory once‑a‑week watering limits are now in place to protect shrinking supplies. The restrictions, which took effect April 3, clamp down on daytime irrigation and limit the operation of decorative fountains, since outdoor watering can account for roughly half of some households’ monthly water use. The tougher rules come with stepped‑up enforcement and the potential for fines, as reported by Tampa Bay Observer.
Quick Tips From The Pros
Speakers will run through core Florida‑Friendly principles such as “right plant, right place,” mulching and micro‑irrigation, then show how a few tweaks can significantly cut outdoor water use. The University of Florida’s gardening resources highlight simple steps like calibrating irrigation controllers and adding rain barrels, as outlined by UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. On top of that, the city offers rebates and a free rain‑sensor program to help households dial back irrigation, as detailed by City of Tampa.
