During the hottest months in Florida, which irrigation scheduling approach is recommended?

• A. ET-based scheduling or soil moisture checks
• B. Water deeply but less often to encourage deep roots
• C. Irrigate only when leaves wilt
• D. Use fixed daily irrigation regardless of conditions

Answer: (A)

In the hottest months in Florida, plant water demand jumps because of high evapotranspiration. Irrigation should be matched to actual plant water loss rather than sprayed on a fixed schedule. That’s exactly what ET-based scheduling or soil moisture checks do: they guide watering based on real needs.

ET-based scheduling uses weather data to estimate how much water is being lost from the landscape, so you apply water to replace that amount. Soil moisture checks measure the water present in the root zone, so you irrigate when moisture falls to a target level. Both approaches prevent underwatering during intense heat and avoid wasting water when conditions are cooler or rainy, which is especially important in Florida’s sandy, fast-draining soils.

Relying on a fixed daily schedule ignores weather and plant demand, leading to waste or stress. Waiting until leaves wilt is a late signal of stress and means plants have already suffered. Deeply watering less often can be beneficial in some contexts, but without tying it to actual moisture loss, you risk overwatering when rain or cool spells occur, or underwatering during peak heat.