Before your lawn needs water, your irrigation system needs attention. A quick spring startup catches problems early and makes sure everything works when you actually need it. This is one of the first things to tackle as part of your spring lawn care routine.
Here's how to get your sprinkler system ready for the season.
Check for winter damage first
Start with a visual inspection before you turn anything on.
Look at valve boxes, pipe drains, spigots, and any exposed piping. You're checking for cracks, breaks, or anything that looks off. Also, confirm that all valves (indoor and outdoor) are closed. If something was left open over winter, you'll want to know before water starts flowing.
How to turn on your sprinkler system
Find your main shutoff valve. It's usually in the garage, basement, or crawl space. Some systems have the main shutoff inside the valve box.
Turn it on slowly. If there's a leak you missed during inspection, it'll show up now. Gradual pressure gives you time to catch problems before they get worse.
Check for leaks with the system on
Before running the sprinklers, set your irrigation clock to "Off." This keeps the system from running while you're still checking things.
Walk the system again. Look for water surfacing where it shouldn't, wet spots near pipes, or any sign of a leak. Each zone has its own valve, so check them all.
Test each zone for coverage
Run each zone one at a time.
Watch the spray pattern. Are the heads aimed correctly? Is coverage even? Look for heads that are clogged, stuck, or pointing at the sidewalk instead of the lawn. Adjust as needed.
This is also a good time to clear debris from around the heads. Leaves and dirt love to pile up over winter.
Set your watering schedule
Program your system to water deeply and less often. Each zone should run long enough to put down about ¼–½ inch of water per session.
Not sure how long that takes? Set out a few tuna cans or rain gauges across a zone, run it for 15 minutes, and measure what collected. That tells you your output rate, and you can adjust from there.
Sunday Tip:
Water in the morning, ideally between 6–10 a.m. Less evaporation, lower disease risk.
A few more spring irrigation tips
Every lawn is different. Soil type, slope, sun exposure, and grass type all affect how much water you actually need. The watering guidelines cover the basics, and our guide to common watering mistakes can help you avoid the usual problems. While you're prepping for the season, it's also worth checking your mowing height so you're set for your first cut.
When fall comes around, you'll need to reverse the process. Here's how to winterize your sprinkler system before the first freeze.
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