The day after Halloween is always a bittersweet one. With the calendars officially turned to November, lawn lovers across Canada are beginning the process of readying their properties for winter, while also getting their last-minute fall lawn care tasks out of the way. Plus, all that leftover Halloween candy is causing my waistline to "blowout" as well!

Speaking of blow outs; for those of you that have an in-ground irrigation system, late October and early November is the ideal time to winterize. Failing to check this off your fall to-do list could result in expensive and extensive damage to your irrigation system. 

Getting all of the water out of your irrigation system is incredibly important. Any water that's left behind has the potential to freeze, expand, and eventually damage the system, creating a wide array of problems for your property.

Here’s why you need to get your irrigation blowout done before winter.

Leave It To The Pros

Like applying winterizing fertilizer to your lawn or overseeding your grass, an irrigation blowout is an important maintenance service that must be done correctly before the winds of winter come to stay.

An irrigation blowout involves the use of a high-powered air compressor, which an irrigation specialist uses to release the compressed air through the irrigation pipes and sprinkler heads, allowing for air to blow through until the water is pushed out. 

Water contracts and expands when frozen, and this expansion will cause cracks in your system that could lead to burst pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads, so it's important to get this service done properly before it's too late.

Remember, it's important to trust the pros. If you’re going to get it done, you might as well get it done right!

Timing Is Everything! 

Taking care of your irrigation system is crucial to prolonging its life, so you want to make sure that you don’t leave winterizing your pipes and sprinkler heads to the last minute. Leaving water in your system during the first big freeze of the season could lead to extensive and expensive damage!

>> READ: The Time For Winterizing Fertilizer Is Late Fall

When preparing for winter, make sure to mark any valves or sprinkler heads that reside close to sidewalks and public areas before putting your property to bed. Snow plows and errant shovels could do harm to your systems and get your winter started off on the wrong foot. 

And for those that don't have an in-ground irrigation system, make sure that your outdoor hose bibs and taps are turned off for the cold months ahead. Be sure to roll up and disconnect your outdoor garden hoses as well, as they could cause damage to your yard if left unattended for the winter. 

Before you know it, spring will be back and your irrigation system and garden hoses will need to be turned back on. Trust me, repairing cracked and burst pipes, valves and sprinkler heads is not the way you want to start off that period!

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