Get Your Irrigation System Ready for Spring!

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Get Your Irrigation System Ready for Spring

As the cold and rainy season starts exiting our area, and we begin experiencing more of those warm days San Diego is known for, we start to think about spending more time outdoors. Flowers are blooming, and already the days are getting longer and warmer. We start uncovering our outdoor furniture, we get the grill ready. Memorial Day and summer are quickly approaching!

Now is the time to fire up your sprinklers. Here are a few tips to ensure your irrigation system is in good working order for the warm seasons ahead.

First up - check your shut off valve. Many people shut it off during the rainy season. Turn it back on.
Secondly, make sure your irrigation controller has power and your program has not been erased.
Third, check your programs to make sure your zones are programmed and you have start times. Set your timer based on this season’s weather. (If you have a WiFi controller, it will pick up your local weather and adjust automatically, depending on the brand.)
Four, perform a test run on your zones to make sure you don’t have any stuck valves, broken pipes or leaking sprinklers. What you don’t want to do is set your controller to run automatically, and all of the sudden you have a broken valve, pipe or sprinkler, resulting in a high water bill and possible damage to your landscape.
Make any necessary adjustments to your sprinkler heads. Make sure your drip valves are not clogged. You may need to flush your lines in case they have dirt or debris inside.
Once you go through your checklist and have taken care of any necessary maintenance, it’s time to set your controller to a seasonally appropriate schedule.

Finally, if you haven’t fertilized your landscape recently, now is the time to do it - before it gets too hot. Depending on the type of plants you have, and for most lawns, it’s best to fertilize in the early spring. For flowering plants, it’s often recommended to fertilize now, as plants are starting to grow, and then again after they have finished flowering. (It is important to read the specific instructions on the fertilizer you are using, as different products may have different recommendations.)

Be cautious not to overfertilize, as it can be harmful to plants and the environment. Use organic fertilizer as much as possible, as it’s best for the environment.

Enjoy your springtime!