To help residents and businesses intending to install new lawn or shrubbery, Citrus County Water Resources officials have created a program to help take any confusion out of how watering rules apply to new plants.

The “Call Before You Install” program can save problems and money.

Whether the residents are planning to do it themselves or hiring a professional to install new lawn or shrubbery, the Water Resources division is urging them to call and discuss what they are planning so they understand what is allowable and what isn’t under the current watering rules.

Some new plantings qualify for exemptions from existing watering rules, for example, while others do not. With watering restrictions being enforced by fines, home and business owners should not make risky assumptions about allowable watering times and days regarding new plantings.

That is why Water Resources created the Call Before You Install program that is designed to take any guess work out of watering new plants or lawn.

Residents can call Water Conservation Specialist Debbe Hooper at (352) 527-5543 to inform her of any new plant material they plan to install, and she will explain allowable watering practices for that project. In addition, projects that qualify for exemptions are noted by the division and will not receive fines from county code compliance officials for watering outside normal watering days during their exemption.

If the choice of plants and their water needs is confusing, residents can learn about Florida-Friendly Landscaping, at http://www.floridayards.org, or call Audrey Durr at 527-5708 at the Extension Office and take advantage of a large data base of information about Florida plants.

For watering restriction details, visit Water Resources website at www.bocc.citrus.fl.us (click “Water Resources” under “Departments” at the top) or call 352-527-5543.