As autumn approaches with its cooler temperatures and shorter days, it’s important to adjust your sprinkler system to accommodate the seasonal change. By doing so, you’ll help your lawn and plants receive the correct amount of hydration, and you’ll keep your sprinkler system efficient, effective, and properly calibrated. Explore why it’s crucial to adjust your sprinkler system in the fall and discover the steps to doing so correctly!
Why You Should Adjust Your Sprinkler System for Fall
Adjusting your sprinkler system in the fall is crucial for the overall health and longevity of both your landscape and the system itself. As temperatures drop in the fall, many plants will naturally begin to enter a period of dormancy and will require less water to thrive. Reducing your watering schedule will prevent excessive moisture that can otherwise lead to issues like root rot or mildew buildup. Additionally, adjusting your spray patterns ensures that water is directed where it is needed most, which helps optimize water usage and prevents it from being wasted. Furthermore, if fall brings increased rainfall, adjusting your sprinkler system helps avoid overwatering and maintains a balanced moisture level in the soil so your plants and lawn don’t become oversaturated.
Preparing your sprinkler system for winter is also essential to prevent it from freezing, which can cause extensive damage to pipes and valves. Draining the system and properly storing any removable components will help maintain its function for the long term. To help you maintain a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to irrigation in the fall, making appropriate changes to your garden watering routine and sprinkler system is highly beneficial and necessary.
How to Adjust Your Sprinkler System for Fall
There are several steps you can take to properly adjust your sprinkler system for fall. Following through with each will help keep your plants and property in tip-top shape for the cooler months ahead!
Step 1. Change the Watering Schedule
As temperatures drop below the mid-70s and evaporation rates slow down, start changing how much water you provide your garden and lawn. If you’re located in a region that receives continuous snowfall throughout winter, aim to stop watering your lawn by the end of October, as it will start going into dormancy around this time and won’t require as much hydration. If you reside in a humid and warmer region with more sunshine throughout winter, continue watering your lawn twice a week.
If you’re aiming for a fall fruit or vegetable harvest, remember those specific plants have other watering requirements you may need to follow! The same applies to certain late-blooming flowers and foliage-rich plants like hostas that you may have growing in your garden.
Step 2. Update Your Spray Patterns
Because your plants have grown and changed over the summer, reviewing your sprinkler’s settings and spray patterns is helpful to ensure they are reaching the intended areas. Adjust the direction, pressure, and distance of the spray where needed, and aim to avoid over-spraying onto non-landscaped areas like driveways or sidewalks to save water and prevent unnecessary runoff. This is especially crucial because a powerful and consistent stream of runoff can lead to topsoil erosion, essentially exposing and weakening the root systems of any plants growing nearby.
If you have a sprinkler head that rotates or pulses, it’s more likely to send water into areas it may not need to be. Instead, use a stationary head for better control!
Step 3. Inspect for Damage Before Winterizing
You should thoroughly inspect your sprinkler system seasonally to check for leaks, clogged heads and nozzles, or any damaged valves or pipes. If you notice anything that needs a tune-up in the fall, make any necessary repairs or replacements before the onset of freezing temperatures. Check your area's first fall frost date to find out how much time you have before you fully winterize your sprinkler system.
4. Remove the Water From Your System
Once temperatures below 42 degrees Fahrenheit show up, ensure your hose, pipes, valves, and sprinkler head have each been fully drained from water. Doing this will help prevent them from freezing, which can lead to cracks or even valves bursting from extreme water pressure buildup. You can drain your sprinkler system by three methods: manual, automated, and blow out.
No matter which drainage method you choose, the first step to properly draining your sprinkler system is to shut off your water supply. Locate the shut-off valve, usually near your water meter, and close it tightly to stop water from flowing into the system. Next, flush out the water in the system. The process for doing this varies depending on which method you use.
- Manual: Open your system's drain valves and remove the drain plugs to release any water. Next, manually open each zone valve individually to release any remaining water. Activate each sprinkler zone briefly to clear water from the sprinkler heads.
- Automated: Use the automated controller to manually activate each zone separately and allow the sprinklers to run until no water or mist is visible. Once each zone is clear, open all zone valves simultaneously briefly to flush out any remaining water.
- Blow Out: Prepare an air compressor, connect it to the main water line, and set the pressure between 50 and 80 pounds per square inch (psi). Use a compressor with a moisture filter to help eliminate excess water. Open one zone at a time to allow compressed air to blow through the sprinklers until no water or mist is visible. Repeat for all zones and then open all zone valves simultaneously to flush out any remaining water.
Once you've flushed out the system, cover the backflow preventer, valves, and other components with insulation material for the winter. It's also beneficial to hide all of the removable parts of your sprinkler system in a safe location away from the direct cold, such as a shed or garage. If you live in a region that doesn’t experience freezing temperatures throughout the fall or winter, you won’t need to put your hose away or drain out your system. Just be sure to continue inspecting its function on a seasonal basis so you can keep it in excellent condition.
Sprinkler System Success
Adjusting your sprinkler system in the fall is crucial in preparing your garden and sprinkler equipment for the winter! By reducing watering frequency, adjusting spray patterns, checking for leaks and damages, and properly storing your sprinkler system during freezing temperatures, you can ensure that it continues to function with optimal performance and helps you maintain a thriving and sustainable landscape.
Do you have any additional tips for adjusting your sprinkler system in the fall? Share yours in the comment section below!