Tips for Adjusting Your Landscape Irrigation System in Late Fall

Northwest Florida property owners rely on their underground irrigation systems to keep their lawns and landscapes well irrigated all year long. Now that we’ve gone off of daylight savings time, it’s important to adjust the timers on your irrigation system to ensure that you're not overwatering your lawn and landscape and that you set the timers to comply with any city, county, and state watering restrictions.

Florida law requires that all irrigation systems installed on property anywhere in the state include a built-in rain sensor or add-on soil moisture monitor. These devices will alleviate any concerns that your sprinklers might run while it’s raining.

It’s important to understand that irrigation needs change with seasons, what those changes are, and why it is so important that you adjust those settings. This information will not only benefit the health of your lawn and landscape but also ensure your irrigation system runs effectively and efficiently. 

Adjust Your Winter Irrigation System as You Adjust Your Winter Lawn Care Regimen

Winter is the time when many plants go into a period of dormancy. Your lawn is no exception. Dormant grass often loses its pigmentation and resembles the color of straw or wheat. It’s important to adjust the way you care for it during this season. Proper care includes changing the frequency you mow the lawn and how often you fertilize it. You’ll also need to adjust the irrigation intervals and the length of time you allow the sprinklers to run.

Be Mindful of How Long You Water Your Landscape

The University of Florida IFAS Living Green Solutions for Your Life Initiative is a helpful resource if you’re unsure how long or how often to water your lawn. Their lawn care and irrigation resource will show you how to taper the amount of time you water your lawn between November and February and the month your grass needs the least amount water. Starting in November, your lawn will need less water each month until you begin increasing your irrigation schedule in March.

Keep in mind, while your lawn may be dormant during the winter months, it is still important to provide appropriate seasonal care. If you overwater your grass or landscape, the excessive soil moisture and prolonged wetness on grass blades can lead to fungal diseases such as the unsightly large patch fungal disease, a common winter problem for St. Augustine grass in particular. Also, when foliage and soil do not dry fast enough; the conditions are ideal for the development and proliferation of insect and pest infestations.

Let GreenEarth’s  Lawn and Landscape Irrigation Specialists Adjust Your Irrigation System for Winter Watering and Frost Protection.

To make sure that grass blades won’t retain excess moisture, the best time to water is right after sunrise. Pay attention to local watering restrictions or schedules, to not violate any city or county regulations. Following these protocols, you can comply with local ordinances and ensure your irrigation system operates correctly. Our experts can help prepare your irrigation system for any weather scenario that Northwest Florida property owners may have to face this year.

If you have questions about when to adjust your irrigation system for the winter, or how to do it, let the professionals at GreenEarth Landscape Services help you. Call our Panama City Beach office at (850) 236-1959, or our Santa Rosa Beach office at (850) 267-0010 to set up an appointment. You can also fill out the online form on our website to schedule a consultation.