Fall and Winter Irrigation: Keep Your Lawn Healthy Year-Round
Some homeowners are under the impression that you only need to water your yard during the hot summer months. However, even dormant grass needs to have occasional water to maintain healthy roots and eventually grow back in spring.
In Austin, Texas, winters are fairly mild, and snowfall is pretty rare, even though winter temperatures can reach sub-freezing for a few nights.
To water your yard during Austin’s winter, you should reduce the amount of watering you do, as grass grows slower during the winter. This means adjusting your watering schedule to maybe water only once every two to three weeks. When changing the schedule, you should always run a quick test cycle to check for any broken sprinkler heads or obvious leaks.
It’s also best to water your lawn in the late morning or early afternoon to reduce the possibility of the water freezing overnight. On that note, pay attention to forecasts and weather patterns before you irrigate so you avoid watering before or during a freeze.
If you have an irrigation controller, take advantage of the “seasonal adjust” feature. This handy tool lets you reduce the run times for each zone to a percentage of what you’d use in summer, so you’re not overwatering during cooler months.
Don’t forget about your sensors! Rain and freeze sensors can save you from unnecessary watering by automatically shutting the system down when it starts to rain or when the temperature drops to freezing or near freezing temps.
Once your lawn goes dormant, aim to water about once or twice a month. This keeps the root cells hydrated, which acts like a natural insulator and helps them survive freezing temperatures. Plus, moist soil stays warmer than dry soil, offering even more protection to those roots. A little care now means a healthier, greener lawn when spring arrives!
To make sure your irrigation schedule is aligned with city regulations, check out the official Austin watering schedule here.
Troubleshooting Dry Spots
Dry spots in your yard can indicate a problem with your irrigation system. While there are other reasons for dry spots to develop, such as poor soil conditions and overexposure to the sun, the team at Smart Earth Sprinklers has found that the most common cause is a lack of irrigation system efficiency.
Uneven watering is a common problem with many irrigation systems, where water fails to reach all areas of your yard. This is often due to issues like misaligned nozzles, blocked sprinkler heads, or a poorly designed system.
By making a few key adjustments to your sprinklers, you can resolve your dry spots and achieve a lush, green yard all year round.
Why Your Sprinklers Aren’t Providing Enough Coverage
It’s crucial to investigate why your system is falling short so that you can begin to resolve the issue. One of the most common causes is misaligned sprinkler heads. When the heads are tilted and positioned incorrectly, they may fail to water the intended area.
Clogged nozzles can also be the culprit. It’s normal for nozzles to become clogged with dirt, debris, or mineral buildup over time. When the nozzles are blocked, proper water flow is prevented, and so the spray doesn’t reach where it needs to.
Low water pressure is also a problem in many people’s yards, resulting in the sprinkler not spraying far enough. A decrease in water pressure could be the result of a number of issues, some of which could point towards leaks or other inefficiencies in your system.
If your sprinklers are incorrectly placed, you may have less than ideal water coverage. Sprinklers that were installed without overlapping spray patterns, for example, could result in some areas receiving little to no water while other areas receive too much.
In some cases, your sprinkler system might be well set up and functioning normally, but an overgrown plant, fence, or other landscaping feature obstructs the water from reaching parts of the yard. This is one of the simpler problems to solve, as you can either move the sprinkler head to a different position or remove the obstacle.
Fixing Sprinkler Coverage Issues
Thankfully, fixing your sprinkler system to ensure it covers the yard adequately is a fairly straightforward task. If you’re unable to resolve any issues on your own, you can call in the sprinkler system repair professionals. Winter is a great time to take care of sprinkler repairs and coverage issues. The lawn is dormant and less likely to stress the lawn. When the Spring growing season arrives your irrigation will already be in tip top shape.
Here are some of the steps you should take:
Inspect the System
The first thing you need to do if you notice dry spots and suspect that your sprinklers are to blame is to inspect the system for things like clogged nozzles, misaligned heads, or broken parts. Clean and replace those components as needed.
Adjust the Coverage
If you have inspected your sprinkler system and everything seems in working order, then perhaps a realignment is necessary. Realigning your sprinkler heads can help ensure more even watering across your yard.
Increase the Water Pressure
If water pressure is the reason why your yard is not receiving adequate watering, then you need to address the water pressure issue by checking for leaks or adjusting or replacing the pressure regulator.
Upgrade Your System
If adjustments and repairs don’t resolve the issue, you might need a some upgrades. Consider installing a more modern sprinkler system with adjustable sprinkler heads or a smart irrigation controller. These improvements can help you optimize your water coverage and improve your system’s overall efficiency.
Run a Test
If you want to make sure that your yard is being evenly watered, place empty containers around your yard, paying particular attention to problematic dry spots, and run the sprinklers for 15 minutes to test water distribution. If all of the containers are receiving the same amount of water, you know that your system is well-optimized.
If you’re having problems getting your yard evenly watered, contact Smart Earth Sprinklers today. We can help you maximize your irrigation system efficiency to ensure a healthy landscape.
