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When to winterize sprinklers
In October where winters are cold, and in November where they are mild, together with the garden hoses. Turn the sprinklers back on in May in cold climates and in April in mild ones.
3 jobs a year, timed for cold winters. Tick them off as you go.
May
October
"Add these to my calendar" opens the free planner with this already ticked. Tick the rest of your house there, and it saves one calendar file that repeats every year.
The numbers, worked
A cold-winter yard has three jobs a year here: shut off and drain the sprinklers in October, disconnect the hoses and cover the faucets in October, and turn the sprinklers on and check them in May. That leaves them off for about seven months.
In a mild climate the same three jobs move a month: November off, April on, so they are off for about five months. In the hot bands nothing freezes on this schedule, so there is no shut-off: the sprinklers start in March and the watering schedule is cut back in October (hot and dry) or November (hot and humid).
Questions
Do I need to winterize sprinklers in a hot climate?
Not on this schedule. Pick "Hot and humid" or "Hot and dry" above and the shut-off drops away; what is left is a spring start-up in March and cutting the watering schedule back for the cooler months.
When should I turn the sprinklers back on?
In May where winters are cold, April where they are mild, and March in the hot bands. Pick your climate above to see it.
Should the hoses come off at the same time?
Yes, in the cold and mild bands the hoses come off and the outdoor faucets get covered in the same month the sprinklers are shut off.
Does this list say how to drain the system?
No. It says when each job comes due. Your system's maker or an irrigation company covers how to drain your system.