Sprinkler shut down and new sod lawn

[Frank Rosenbaum]

I am new to the group, and I hope that after looking at nearly 3,000 messages that I am asking something that I did not see or recognize in any previous posts.

I have a new sod lawn that is about 3 weeks old. Now that it is fall, my sprinkler company wants to winterize the system.

My questions are; does my lawn still need to be watered?

If yes, when should the system be winterized?

Thanks in advance from a 'non-green-thumbed person.

Frank Rosenbaum in South Western Michigan

[trader4]

"I have a new sod lawn that is about 3 weeks old. Now that it is fall, my sprinkler company wants to winterize the system.

My questions are; does my lawn still need to be watered?

If yes, when should the system be winterized? "

First thing I would suggest is that you talk to the company that installed your sod. They should have told you how/when to water it and you should follow their directions, so that if there is any problem, they can't say you didn't follow their instructions.

Clearly at 3 weeks, new sod still needs water, though with declining temps, the amount needed is decreasing. Whether that comes from nature or you depends on how much rain you get in the weeks ahead. You can never tell when it will not rain for an extended period. I would find out what the latest date your sprinkler company can do your system, which should still be about a month or so from now. If they can't accomodate, there are other guys that can blow it out for $50.

If you're worried about it suddenly dropping below freezing, I wouldn't get too concerned. It would have to go well below 32 for many hours before the typical system will freeze. And if the temps did drop before u get it winterized, you could still prevent freezing by just setting the system to go on for 5 mins per zone every few hours.

[Frank Rosenbaum]

Thanks for the quick response. I have called my sprinkler co and they will be out to shut the system down at the end of October. They try to have all systems shut down by the first week in Novmber.

[kirbseepe]

Frank,

I live in Muskegon and won't be blowing out my system until the end of Oct. I try and wait until it gets frosty in the AM and then blow it out myself.

I would try to keep watering for another 3 weeks if you can. You won't have any freeze problems, but you do want to get the sod rooted before you cut off the water.

I did the sod thing late in the year and it had a tough first winter, but looks great after taking good care of it since (2nd summer).

Kirb

[Frank Rosenbaum]

Thanks, Kerb. That is what I am doing. The sprinkler company will be here on Oct 27 in the afternoon.

Frank

[mm]

It seems to me you should have called the sod company first and worried about the sod.

And what do you care what the sprinkler company's schedule is?

Especially when trader4 gave such great discussion of how to avoid damage to the sprinklers, etc.. I'm sure his ideas would prevent damage, but just to be devil's advocate, if there were damage, I'll bet it would cost a lot less than another set of sod.

And the end of October might end up being the 25th of October.

P&M

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let me know if you have posted also.

[mm]

No you're not. The 27th is only 16 days beyond the day you posted, and Kerb said 3 weeks.

I figured that "the end" wouldn't be *the end*.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let me know if you have posted also.

[kirbseepe]

It's Kirb, actually.

I wouldn't cut off the water unless I had the sod down for a good 6 weeks.

Kirb

[Frank Rosenbaum]

I apologize for mis spelling your name, Kirb.