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It’s September, which means autumn isn’t far off. Some parts of northern Nevada are already seeing changing colors. And while your landscaping still needs to be watered for another month or two, it won’t be long before it’s time to shut off your sprinklers for the year. If this is a schedule you prefer to schedule with a professional, don’t wait! Plan ahead now for irrigation shut-off, or read on for tips from Harris Landscape Construction if you plan to do it yourself.

Winterizing Residential Irrigation Systems

Water needs for your annual plants, trees and shrubs decline as they respond to the cooler nights and shorter days and shift into dormancy. What’s more, temperatures that dip low enough can damage irrigation systems if they haven’t been shut down properly. Here in Reno and Sparks, the rule of thumb is to shut off residential irrigation systems no later than Halloween, but that can vary from year to year. Autumns that are warmer and slower extend our watering season. The best approach if you’re planning to winterize your irrigation system yourself is to pay attention to the weather and the forecast. Otherwise, contact Harris Landscape Construction today to get on our schedule for professional service in October.

Tips for DIY Winterizing Irrigation

Before starting the process, make sure your trees and shrubs are soaked to about 18 inches in depth. Irrigate the outer tips of the branches on your plants with a sprinkler or soaker hose to ensure that everything is properly prepped for the winter’s nap to come.

Then, follow these four steps:

• Shut down the controller. If you’re not sure how to do this, check the owner’s manual or search online for your model.
• Shut off the water supply. Make sure to wrap the main shut-off valve with insulation or pack it in pine straw. This will help insulate it against freezing temperatures. If your system has any above-ground piping, you’ll want to insulate that as well.
• Drain the water from your system’s pipes. Don’t skip this step! Water that remains in the pipes may freeze and cause cracking. Depending on your system, you might use a manual drain valve, an automatic drain valve, or a compressor blow-out method.
• Double check that back flow preventers and valves are also insulated if they’re also above ground

Winterizing your irrigation system isn’t particularly challenging, but there can be room for error, particularly during the pipe draining step. If you don’t want winterizing your system yourself, leave it to the pros! Contact Harris Landscape Construction today to schedule an appointment.

Don’t Forget!

Some trees and plants still need water over the winter months, particularly if we aren’t getting regular precipitation. If we go longer than three or four weeks pass without anything falling from the sky, it’s a good idea to use a hose to water the trees and plants that need it. This will ensure healthier plants in the spring.

In the meantime, enjoy these beautiful fall days!