Your lawn may look dormant but still needs consistent care during the colder months. Many homeowners make the critical mistake of completely shutting off their sprinkler systems in winter, which can harm long-term lawn health.
Watering Recommendations
Basic Watering Schedule:
Water one 10-minute burst once per week during winter
If your irrigation controller has a seasonal adjustment feature, set it to 20% of your summer watering schedule
Download Winter Watering Guide
Sunlight Considerations
Full sun areas: Follow the standard watering guidelines
Shaded areas: Reduce watering by half (or more for heavily shaded spots)
Special Considerations for Different Sprinkler Systems
Rotary Head Sprinklers: These slow-turning sprinklers that distribute long water streams require double the runtime of standard sprinklers to deliver the same water volume.
Drip Systems:
Run drip zones daily or near-daily
Winter watering time: Approximately 1-2 minutes per day
Tip: Monitor your garden beds closely, as drip lines can vary in water distribution
Why Winter Watering Matters
Maintaining proper seasonal watering is crucial for lawn health. Winter watering:
Keeps root systems hydrated
Protects against freeze damage
Prepare your lawn for the upcoming growing season
Following these guidelines will make your lawn more resilient and ready to thrive when spring arrives in North Texas.
Want to master your sprinkler system? Check out our quick tutorial video and download our free fall watering guide. Questions? Call us: 972-495-6990.
Download Winter Watering Guide
For Frisco residents: A winter watering ban is now in effect starting November 1st. While we typically recommend some winter watering to maintain lawn health, we advise strictly following city restrictions.
Key watering exceptions:
After pre-emergent treatment to prevent weed growth
One day before extreme cold to protect plant root systems
Important: Violating water restrictions may result in fines. Learn more.
