Watering Tip #4 When to Turn off the Water System

Gardening in the high desert has its challenges; the most challenging is the weather. As a gardening professional I struggle telling gardeners a date to turn off the water system. We are enjoying a very warm fall and our landscape plants are still in need of water. Once the night time temps drop below 40 degrees and stay there it is time shut it down. 

Here are some things to think about for your particular situation. 

1. Are you leaving for the winter?

2. Can you easily water with a hose if needed?

3. Are the trees and shrubs almost done defoliating? 

For those who have a back flow preventer make sure you know the draining process, this part of your system will freeze first. It is also advised to cover for the winter even if drained. This is my first season with this, so I will have the irrigation professional from the management agency come and watch so I can start it up in the spring. Once you have turned off the system you will want to get the hose at the ready if we don’t get wet weather in the next 4 weeks.

My next blog will be Winter Watering in the High Desert!
Marnie Brennan GardenCoach Reno Nevada