With lower overnight temperatures taking over the greater Reno area, folks are beginning to wonder if it’s time to winterize their irrigation systems. Experts say it’s not quite time to do so.
Kenneth Scherr, owner of Tegrity Lawn Care, says the temperatures shouldn't become a problem until the end of October, when temperatures drop five degrees below freezing for an extended period of time.
But there are some preps folks can do now to prepare their yards for winter.
“This is a perfect time to get any last round of fertilizer or pre-emergent down before the year,” said Scherr. “Store up some carbs in the lawn for the winter and then afterwards turn the water off. About two more weeks for sure.”
Once it does get cold enough for pipes to freeze, Scherr says folks should turn off the water to their sprinkler systems and drain them. It can be done by any property owner at home with just a few tools, or by hiring a professional.
Scherr says there's at least one other task that should be completed before snow begins falling.
“Make sure all of the leaves are off of the lawn, because a lot of people wait for all of the leaves to drop, and then their whole lawns covered in leaves, and then it snows, and then it keeps snowing,” said Scherr. “And then when the snow melts and it's springtime, half of their lawns dead because all the leaves were just compacted with all that snow onto the lawn, and it just suffocated the lawn.”
Scherr says if someone does want to hire a professional, they should try and set up an appointment now because availability fills up quickly this time of year.
