10 Reasons to Prepare Your Lawn and Garden Irrigation for Winter

Fall is a little like Nature holding its breath. She blows a little frosty air, and almost like magic, the trees are flaming with color. If we wait a little longer, the grass and plants shimmer with frost as the sun rises. As the air warms a little more, the frost turns into a misty veil, and then, poof, just like that, it’s gone. The leaves that, a few days before, enchanted us are now lying scattered on our lawns and flower beds or blown into piles by the chilly winds of the season. These conditions can lead to fall preparation for winter steps that we may not have considered before, including irrigation. 1. Water expands as it freezes. That means that any water left in hoses, irrigation pipes, containers, or tanks should be drained entirely before freezing weather comes to stay for the rest of the year. It’s easy enough to empty hoses and open containers. But, first, the hoses will have to be lifted in sections. This way, water moves to the next length until it all comes rushing out of the end. After it’s empty, the hose can be coiled and stored. Small containers, like buckets and watering cans, can be turned over and left to dry. Larger ones sometimes have a fixture that can be opened until the container is empty

2. Irrigation pipes and tubing present a different problem.

Most of it, except the spouts and heads, is usually underground. The soil and ground cover will insulate them somewhat, but they will still freeze as the cold penetrates deeper and deeper below the surface. If the pipes and tubing have any water left in them, replacing them would be expensive and would require tearing up your landscaping to find all the cracks and leaks.

3. Winter drought has another set of problems entirely.

Watering could be left to the irrigation or sprinkler system if their pipes and hoses haven’t frozen. In addition, the earth and ground cover over the underground parts of the system may provide some insulation from damage. But, again, consult your green professional for advice. Your Divine Lawn team can explain what needs to be done to protect your sprinkler and irrigation systems.

4. Fall is also a great time to prepare your plants, bushes, hedges, flowers, lawn, and trees for the winter.

Flowering bushes, for instance, seem to enjoy being pruned to prepare them for the winter months. Bulb plants should be checked for splitting, rot, sogginess, and other damage. You and your landscape professionals should sort the bulbs and store them in a cool, dry place for the winter. Then, you’ll have the chance to go through the garden catalogs if you enjoy that activity to select and order the new plants and bulbs you want for spring.

5. Some bushes and hedges benefit from being covered during cold months, especially if you get snow.

They should be trimmed and mulched during preparation, removing dead branches or sections to be replaced in the spring. Irrigation systems for hedges and bushes should be evaluated, and replacement or new parts ordered for spring installation.

6. Trees!

They add so much to a property, don’t they? If you are fortunate enough to have fruit trees, some of them will need to be harvested during the fall season. The fruit should be stored in a dry environment and regularly sorted to look for spoilage or pest invasions. Tree roots should get some attention, too. Of course, mulching is always good, but some trees need aeration or extra fertilizers around their roots to get them through the cold weather. Suppose your irrigation system doesn’t yet include the root systems of your trees. In that case, you and your landscaping professionals can consult about filling that need over the cold months so that the systems can be purchased and ready for installation as soon as the frozen ground has thawed.

7. Fertilizers should also be considered.

Your Divine Team can help you with this activity, pointing out the plants that would most benefit from cold weather fertilization. Irrigation will help the fertilizers spread across the entire root systems and plant beds, so your spring plants spring from the ground when the time comes.

8. Leaves, and lots of them!

By now, you might have left in piles where they have been raked and readied for bagging. Or maybe they are still spread out in a solid layer of color over your lawns and flower beds. Again, leaves should be raked and removed. Some can go into the compost, but they don’t add much nutritional value. Irrigation systems spray the leaves, causing water to puddle either on the layers of leaves or under them. Getting rid of the leaves takes some effort, an excellent job for your Divine professionals. They will also know the local and county laws for the disposal of the leaves.

9. Water quality is another big concern.

It will affect your yard, the area outside your yard, your household, community, and local county. There are usually laws at the county, city, and community levels. For instance, leaves and grass clippings are not swept or blown into the storm drains. These could clog the drains, and the thought of backups in the storm and sewage system are just too horrible to think about. In addition, over-fertilizing can cause chemicals to be added to the storm and sewage systems and should be applied with care. Taking care of the water quality not only affects us personally, but it also affects local lakes and ponds, streams where we fish, wildlife, and almost everything we see and experience in the outdoors every day.

10. Last, but certainly not least, ice.

If you haven’t had your first fall frost yet, you know it’s coming soon. If you live in an area that gets snow, that’s also not too far away. Ice can cause damage to pipes, hoses, and irrigation, not to mention grass, pavement, trees and plants, and drainage. Natural ways to melt it or make it manageable in small areas include salt, sand, or even cat litter. There are chemical agents, but those are not as kind to living or dormant plants, lawns, and other live things. When the ice melts, it will carry those chemicals into the storm drains and the soils it touches. You have alternative – and Divine – solutions to each of the problems outlined here. And you have partners in Divine Lawns who will help you navigate your lawn and garden options. Happy Growing!