Although you may not spend quite as much time tending to your lawn and sprinkler system in the winter, there are still steps that you can take to protect their integrity. By doing so when temperatures drop, you can ensure that your outdoor space is prepared for a fruitful spring season. Here’s what you need to know about proper lawn and irrigation winterization.

Why Lawn & Sprinkler System Winterization Is So Important

1. Provide Vital Nutrients

Soil compaction can prevent your grass from thriving. If you notice that the lawn appears lackluster even with regular irrigation and fertilization, it could be that those vital nutrients are blocked from doing their best work. Aerating the soil for winter is a great way to ensure that the ground doesn’t continue to suffer all season long. After you’ve loosened the soil, you can water the ground and fertilize it with a seasonal product that gives the lawn what it needs to survive in the winter. During these dormant months, the grass has a chance to absorb the nutrients it was missing. When spring arrives, you should notice the grass is significantly brighter, healthier, and greener as a result.

2. Prevent Disease Development

Unfortunately, the leaves that collect on the lawn during fall can be detrimental to the grass if left to linger through winter. Once the first snowfall arrives, the leaves will be buried beneath layers of thick moisture. That damp environment is an excellent place for unwelcome insects and pests to thrive—which, in turn, could cause extensive damage to your lawn. Provided the leaves are still dry, you can transform them to mulch and use them on other areas of your landscape to ready the yard for spring.

3. Avoid Frozen Pipes

Your sprinkler system is one of your lawn’s most valuable assets throughout the year. It provides consistent nourishment on a regular schedule and ensures that your flowers and plants thrive. Yet, without going through irrigation winterization, you risk the system’s health. Before the first frost, turn off the irrigation system’s water supply and insulate the main valve to prevent icing over in cold weather. Remove any standing water from sprinklers and pipes at this stage so that they won’t freeze and crack when temperatures drop.

Could your lawn benefit from some additional care? You can trust the professionals at Maxum Irrigation to deliver exactly what your outdoor space needs. The company, based in Waterford, CT, offers a range of services, including lawn and irrigation winterization. Because these specialists understand the needs of different types of grass and vegetation so well, they can also provide you with custom guidance designed to protect your lawn throughout winter. Whether your sprinkler system requires maintenance or you’re concerned about the condition of your flower beds, you can trust them to assist. Visit their website for details, or call them at (860) 525-7000.