Sprinklers - time to turn on?

[nzwasp]

Is it time to turn my sprinkler back on and enable outdoor taps again?

[lilmira]

Just did mine today. I don't see any subzero temperature in the forecast.

[Unknown303]

Mine are on.

[BokCh0y]

got mine going today as well. Also power raked the lawn too :D

[Seth1968]

I was going to post a similar thread in regards to watering some really dried out evergreen bushes.

Today, the forecast is calling for 0 to minus 5 for lows almost all of next week.

Safe to water?

[speedog]

Number one - install some frost-free outside taps.

Number two - if you're going to water, then just make sure you drain out your hoses just to extend their life. Better yet, go get some of those big, old ugly real black rubber hoses - they'll survive pretty much anything.

Third - put in plants that can handle Calgary's extremes - my 55+ year old lot has evergreens that never need watering and they look quite fine. To many people are plating stuff that just can't properly handle Calgary's climate and then wonder why it's not surviving or thriving. Those westerly winds are the kiss of death for so many of the plants that inexperienced gardeners try to grow in Calgary. Never the less, water if you need to but also be aware that there could still be a fair amount of frost down still which could prevent that water from getting where it needs to be.

[schocker]

Originally posted by lilmira
Just did mine today. I don't see any subzero temperature in the forecast.
http://i.imgur.com/SPOhhwd.jpg
Looks like we have two days still!

[bigbadboss101]

Power or manually rake, put on fertilizer, spread some grass seed first? May be after this week I will put on hoses back on. A little bit of precipitation M and Tuesday.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Does anyone have a contact for a good underground sprinkler guy? Or does anyone here on beyond work in that field?

My parents have a huge back yard that's changed a lot over the years, and they need some of their in-ground sprinklers redone to accommodate some new landscape changes.

Thanks!

[Tik-Tok]

SOAB!

-5 tonight and tomorrow night. I turned my sprinklers on yesterday so I could mark the head locations before my yard spring clean up guy came. I'm going to have to blow out the lines as soon as I get home tonight.

[lilmira]

Originally posted by schocker

http://i.imgur.com/SPOhhwd.jpg
Looks like we have two days still!

You ruined it! :nut:

[schocker]

Originally posted by lilmira
You ruined it! :nut:
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lryc0cmE8V1qbt8o1.jpg

[88CRX]

Is it a big deal to drain the hose & bibs when it's only going to be cold for one or two nights?

[ExtraSlow]

For all you people with automatic sprinklers, please set them to run in the morning, not the afternoon or evening. Better for the grass, and you loose less to evaporation.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
For all you people with automatic sprinklers, please set them to run in the morning, not the afternoon or evening. Better for the grass, and you loose less to evaporation.

Isn't that common sense? What I hate is when I see commercial sprinklers (business's, playing fields, etc.) on during a rain fall :nut:

[suntan]

Originally posted by speedog
Number one - install some frost-free outside taps.

Number two - if you're going to water, then just make sure you drain out your hoses just to extend their life. Better yet, go get some of those big, old ugly real black rubber hoses - they'll survive pretty much anything.

Third - put in plants that can handle Calgary's extremes - my 55+ year old lot has evergreens that never need watering and they look quite fine. To many people are plating stuff that just can't properly handle Calgary's climate and then wonder why it's not surviving or thriving. Those westerly winds are the kiss of death for so many of the plants that inexperienced gardeners try to grow in Calgary. Never the less, water if you need to but also be aware that there could still be a fair amount of frost down still which could prevent that water from getting where it needs to be. Mature trees (> ~5 years) don't need additional watering. Their root systems are far reaching.