3 Tips for Protecting your Sprinkler System During Frost

Along with your other to-do list to prepare for the colder weather, you must take the time to go through the winterization process of your Gainesville irrigation system.

Winterizing your sprinkler system is necessary to avoid damage to the backflow preventer and your landscape plants when nearing a freeze warning:

1. Adjust the Irrigation Schedule:

• Modify your irrigation schedule to avoid running the system during frost periods.
• Unlike the practice of citrus growers who run water throughout the night to protect their plants, running sprinklers during a frost can lead to frozen moisture on plant leaves, causing more harm than good.

2. Protect the Backflow Preventer:

• Insulate your backflow preventer from low temperatures by using material to protect the exposed pipe, plastic, and metal.
• The photo above shows a backflow, but the insulation does not cover the metal or plastic housing on the device. These materials are available at all home improvement stores.
• In case of a last-minute need, wrap a heavy blanket around the backflow preventer to provide insulation. This DIY approach can help prevent damage caused by freezing temperatures.

3. Post-Freeze Inspection and Scheduling:

• After the frost has passed, inspect your irrigation system for any potential issues or damage.This is great to do seasonally anyway, but even more so after a frost.
• Once you've ensured the system is in good condition, resume your normal irrigation schedule. Regular maintenance ensures the continued efficiency of your system.

By following these tips, you can protect your irrigation system from the adverse effects of frost, ensuring it remains in optimal condition to keep your landscape thriving. If you have any concerns or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to our team of experts. Stay proactive, stay informed, and safeguard your irrigation investment during freezing weather.

The Master's is committed to helping it's clients protect their irrigation and landscape through the weather changes we see in North Florida. If we can answer questions for you, or if a technician is needed to service your sprinkler system, don't hesitate to contact us by calling us at (352) 378-5296 or (904) 913-5296.

1 - Turn off the shut-off valve - On most residential backflow devices, there are two shut-off valves. These are typically covered in blue rubber and are located before and after the actual backflow device. You need to shut the one off before the device (#2 on the picture above) to keep more water from entering it. This is the lower of the two shut off valves. Turning it a half turn will turn the water flow to the backflow device off

2- Release the water pressure - Now that you have shut off the water valve, you must release the water that is in the device so that it doesn't expand when it freezes and crack the device. The way to do this is with a flat head screwdriver, loosen the two bleeder valves (#3 and #4 above) that are usually located just under the plastic top of the backflow. Sometimes, they may even have rubber inserts you have to remove before you can see the flathead screw. When opening these, be aware that the water will spew out for a few seconds and your hands will get wet.

NOTE: If the water doesn't stop spitting out after a couple minutes, you haven't fully turned off the water in step 1.

3- Leave the smaller bleeder valves open - This will allow the water to expand and freeze without being hindered and causing damage.

4- Insulate your Backflow - At almost all home improvements stores, they carry pipe insulation. All you need is that and duct tape and you can wrap the pipe as shown in the picture above. You'll also want heavy duty scissors to cut the insulation around the bleeder and shut-off valves for easy acccess.

5- Turn Your water back on - Don't forget after the freezing temperatures have passed to go back out and close the bleeder valves, turn on the shut-off valves, and water your landscape. They've been without water unless it rained while you've had it off.

If you need help with protecting your Gainesville sprinkler system from freezing temperatures, feel free to call us at (352) 378-5296 so we can schedule an appointment to get you prepared for the next upcoming freeze.

Grass requires plenty of water to keep it green and growing. Long periods without rain, like we've been in recently in North Florida, can mean that you end up with a dying yard. Here are ten ways to make sure your lawn is ready for the drought.

1. Irrigate deeply and less often – Set your irrigation to use plenty of water at once. Watering longer will allow you to space out your waterings. This will encourage your grass roots to  reach down for the water instead of just accessing what is available near the surface.
2. Avoid fertilizers – Don’t apply fertilizers to your lawn before or during a season of drought. This is actually harmful to your lawn rather than helpful because it increases the need for water.
3. Raise the mower height – By raising the cutting height on your mower, you will be encouraging root growth in your grasses. This will help the grass stay greener longer during a drought season. This is ESPECIALLY true for St. Augustine grass.
4. Increase potassium – Prior to a drought season, change your fertilizer to one that contains a higher level of potassium. Potassium may encourage root growth in your grasses. The key term here is prior, and that is months prior; not just before the drought.
5. Change grass types – Zoysia turf grasses are stronger against drought than St. Augustine. If drought is a frequent problem, you may want to consider increasing these types of grasses in your lawn. St. Augustine grass is not very drought tolerant at all, although it is easily the most popular grass in our area.

As you can see, there are a lot of things you can do to help keep your lawn greener, longer, during a drought period. Just remember, that if you can water, watering longer and less often will be better for your grass than small amounts every day. Please let us know if you have any other questions or would like any help with your irrigation system.