We often forget that winter brings challenges to home and commercial irrigation systems – and plants – and we need reminders about important things to do as the weather gets cooler and the rains start to fall. Your sprinklers and water management systems are the lifeblood of your sustainable landscaping and GreenScaping efforts. However, your plants and lawn don’t need anywhere near the same amount of water as they did during the heat of summer. So take the time to protect these important investments. It’s easy and there are just 5 main steps to remember: Reduce the frequency of watering, and the amount of time set to each watering cycle. If you are in a heavy rain area, consider putting the system on “Pause” or “Rain” until it is needed again in the spring Winter is a great time to test the automatic sprinkler system’s controller. Run tests on where your sprinklers are spraying. Test their volume, aim, and ensure as little waste as possible. Clear drains, adjust sprinkler heads, test drip sprinklers instead of water-wasting spray heads. If your area risks frost or freeze, insulate any above ground piping, cover/remove backflow prevention valves to avoid rupturing, and be sure to keep sidewalk salt handy for the colder mornings Winter is a great time to review and reinvigorate your sprinklers. You can shut down your sprinkler system for a length of time without fear of harming your plants, and enjoy water savings as a result. Don’t have the time to winterize your irrigation system? Not sure of how manage and test your sprinklers? Get a reliable Bay Area landscape management company to do it for you. Inexperience and insufficient knowledge can do more harm than good. Ensure your irrigation system is in top shape in the winter and have one less thing to worry about in the spring.