Winter is Coming – Is Your Irrigation Ready?

Summer is over, and we’re in the middle of fall. But in Kansas, you can never enjoy the current season without planning for the next. That’s why Divine is talking about getting ready for winter.

As you prepare for winter, there are probably many tasks on your to-do list: Check your tire pressure and maybe get a new winter coat. But have you thought about your lawn maintenance? Specifically, have you planned for irrigation winterization?

We’ve expounded on the advantages of irrigation in our blog before, but irrigation is just like everything else- if you take care of it, it takes care of you. And while the rest of the year is the time it takes care of you, it’s your turn to take care of it in the winter. So here’s how Divine helps you do that.

Irrigation

First of all, do you have irrigation? Because you really should. Irrigation makes taking care of your yard much easier while also doing a better job of consistently getting your lawn and other plants the correct amount of water they need when and where they need it.

Irrigation systems can be programmed to water at a specific time or particular dryness levels. And because professionals set up your irrigation system, you know the amount of water they put in will be the right amount. But, unfortunately, when we water manually, we tend to over or underdo it.

Finally, irrigation saves water and money. Again, this is because when we eyeball it, we tend not to get it right.

Irrigation Winterization

Not to get to the more timely matter at hand – irrigation winterization. Any time you are dealing with water, you need to be careful when the weather gets cold. For example, you may know to turn off your outdoor spigots and empty your hoses or to leave a faucet dripping so your pipes don’t freeze.

Winterizing your irrigation system is a similar concept.

Don’t Winterize Yourself

Every system is different. So if you follow a general online how-to on irrigation winterization, you may not have all the information you need. And the hardest things to do are the tasks we only do every once in a while.

We tend to forget details and get procedures wrong when they’re something we only do seasonally. And winterization is more complex than changing the pressure on your tires.

As we mentioned, every insulation system is different, but here are some tasks we perform to ensure that your irrigation is safe and protected over the winter.

Shut off

The most obvious task to keep your irrigation from freezing over the winter is shutting it off! We need to turn off the timer and, of course, keep the water from flowing to it.

Draining

Because your irrigation system has faithfully watered your lawn all year, it still has water in its components. And as you remember from high school biology, water is one of the only forms of matter that expands when it freezes. That means if the water turns to ice inside your irrigation components, they can crack.

That’s why we must get all the water out of your irrigation before the first freeze. Some systems have a feature that does that for you. Others require tools to do it manually. If you get it wrong, you can ruin your system.

Insulation

Some parts of your irrigation system need insulation. We insulate parts of your irrigation that are above the ground for you. Again, systems vary.

Other Winter Preparation

Of course, your irrigation system isn’t the only part of your yard that needs to get ready for winter. The lawn it waters needs some help too.

Aeration/Overseeding

We are getting into the final weeks of aeration and overseeding. Make sure your lawn gets taken care of. Now is still the best time to aerate and overseed to give your seeds an extra season to establish before the weather gets warm.

Snow Removal

We’ll discuss snow and ice removal services in the coming weeks, but it’s not too early to start booking with us! The key to a good snow removal plan is thinking ahead!

Booking today for snow removal will mean you don’t get stuck in your driveway because you wait until the first snow to arrange help!

Brrr, It’s Gonna Get Chilly

We hope as fall comes to a close and winter begins, you will keep Divine in mind for irrigation winterization of all your winter outdoor needs. Our winter work is as high-quality as the rest of the year, and we want to be your year-round landscaping partner!