From the Desk of Bob Carr:
Fall is on our doorstep, and that means one of the most important things you can do for your home is to protect your underground sprinkler system before the first real freeze hits. A lot of homeowners ask me the same question every year:
“Bob, when’s the right time to winterize my sprinkler system?”
The truth is—it depends on the weather, not just the calendar. Here in Maryland and throughout the DMV, we can have warm afternoons in October and then wake up to a hard frost in November. What we’re really watching is the soil temperature. As long as the soil is 58°F or higher, your grass roots are still growing. That means your lawn still benefits from watering, especially if you’ve just aerated, over-seeded, or applied a fall fertilizer.
But—once those nighttime temps start dipping below freezing and the forecasts start hinting at frost, it’s time to shut things down. Leaving water trapped inside your sprinkler pipes, valves, and backflow preventer is a recipe for cracked lines and expensive springtime repairs. I’ve seen too many folks gamble with an extra week or two of watering, only to be staring at a $1,000+ repair bill come April.
Here’s a quick look at how soil temperature affects your lawn and why timing matters:
So here’s my simple rule of thumb:
- Early Fall (September–October): Keep watering while the soil is warm and your lawn is growing strong.
- Mid–Late Fall (October–November): As soon as overnight temps are consistently below 40°F, it’s time to call TLC and schedule your winterization.
- Don’t Wait Until the First Hard Freeze: By then, it’s too late—damage may already be done.
At TLC, our team winterizes thousands of sprinkler systems every year. We use the right professional equipment, we guarantee our work, and most importantly—we’re here in the spring if you ever need us. Compare that to the $75 “trunk-slammer” guy who disappears by March, and the choice is pretty clear.
So if you’ve been wondering when to pull the plug on your system this year, the answer is: sooner rather than later. Get on our schedule now so your system is safe, your lawn has had a strong finish to the growing season, and you can go into winter with peace of mind.
From my desk to your backyard,
Bob Carr
President & CEO, TLC Incorporated