Winterizing lawn sprinklers saves water

Ways to set your sprinkler system timer for Arizona's winter

Picture courtesy of: AZ Sprinkler

Grass is difficult enough to grow in Arizona because of the unique climate. We deal with cracked mud, intense hot temperatures, and so much more that is a killer on your backyard landscape. Then when winter comes it is a whole other issue. Many people have to plant a different type of grass for the winter season. If you are planning on tackling winter grass this year at your Arizona home, here are ways to set your sprinkler timer.

It seems like common sense to think that in the winter months your sprinklers will use less water, less often and help avoid freezing or root rot. In the summer months you also have to set your set the timer to be reoccurring, but on a much more frequent basis. The less water used, the more efficient you are.

The first way to prep the system for winter is to turn off the water supply. This can be done by turning off the water supply to the main valve. Usually for anti-freezing purposes, the main valve is buried a bit into the ground or soil. This will keep water from remaining in the pipe as well, which will easily freeze. 

Timers can be extremely confusing when it comes to sprinkler systems, so knowing you can worry less about configuring it in the winter is a big relief. If you are lucky enough to have a “smart” timer then it can set itself based on the current weather at that time. The winter grass in Arizona, also called Rye grass, can be watered much less frequently than summer or spring grass in this climate. From the months between December and March, you can get away with not watering Rye grass anywhere between 7 and 14 days. Even in the months before that, like October and November, you can go nearly two weeks without watering.

It is not just grass being watered either. You have to think about the timing set up for the trees, shrubs and maybe even cacti. Cacti, which are prevalent in Arizona, do not even need watering in the winter months, and this can save you a lot of money. The timer should be set on the first date of the beginning of the season. In Arizona that can be March, May, October and December. Even though setting up the timer can be a pain, it is a necessity for landscape in all seasons that Arizona faces.

If your attempt at timer set up did not go well, consider reaching out to a local sprinkler repair company in Arizona. AZ Sprinkler is one of the most known sprinkler repair specialists in Arizona and specializes in setting up your timer system for the appropriate climates. 

FTC disclosure: today's post has been brought to you by a sponsor 

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