Run Your System in the Winter
The most common question that I get asked is "should I water my landscape in the winter" and the answer is Yes! Of course, certain plants are not freeze tolerant and will die if the are not freeze protected. Your lawn may go dormant, but the roots are still alive. They still get thirsty. Of course this demand is less than in July, but the living roots are still thirsty for water, does that make sense?
So, depending on different factors such as soil conditions, landscape material, geographical location, lawn sprinkler system design, your need to water will vary. But a good rule of thumb for the common southern lawn is at least once to twice per week during the winter or "cold" months. Which could be really only 2 months in certain areas in the south. Try to water on days where it does not get below freezing at night. If it does consistently, then try to water later in the morning after the temperature gets above freezing. There a lot of days in this part of Florida where it is common to get down to 29 Fahrenheit degrees at night and up to 65 or 70 during the day. This is great growing conditions for different types of plants and grasses.
Another benefit of running your sprinkler system at least once to twice per week is to keep the parts moving. A system is like a car in the way that letting it just sit is the worst thing you can do to it. What happens to a car if you let it sit? The battery dies, the tires go flat, electrical systems can start to rot, interior can degrade, etc... you get the point. An automatic lawn sprinkler system has many working parts. Especially if you have a well & pump setup. If you have a foot valve, all that sediment sitting inside the drop-pipe, which is inside the well will build up and actually cause the foot valve to stick.
Also pumps can seize or "freeze" up do to rust or other sediment settling over time. Valves have a tendency to stick when not used for a long time. When you use your system regularly these kings of things usually do not happen. Remember the expression "If you don't use it, you loose it".
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
So, depending on different factors such as soil conditions, landscape material, geographical location, lawn sprinkler system design, your need to water will vary. But a good rule of thumb for the common southern lawn is at least once to twice per week during the winter or "cold" months. Which could be really only 2 months in certain areas in the south. Try to water on days where it does not get below freezing at night. If it does consistently, then try to water later in the morning after the temperature gets above freezing. There a lot of days in this part of Florida where it is common to get down to 29 Fahrenheit degrees at night and up to 65 or 70 during the day. This is great growing conditions for different types of plants and grasses.
Another benefit of running your sprinkler system at least once to twice per week is to keep the parts moving. A system is like a car in the way that letting it just sit is the worst thing you can do to it. What happens to a car if you let it sit? The battery dies, the tires go flat, electrical systems can start to rot, interior can degrade, etc... you get the point. An automatic lawn sprinkler system has many working parts. Especially if you have a well & pump setup. If you have a foot valve, all that sediment sitting inside the drop-pipe, which is inside the well will build up and actually cause the foot valve to stick.
Also pumps can seize or "freeze" up do to rust or other sediment settling over time. Valves have a tendency to stick when not used for a long time. When you use your system regularly these kings of things usually do not happen. Remember the expression "If you don't use it, you loose it".
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
posted by Irrigationman at
8:17 PM
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