What's the Best Time of the Year to Install a Sprinkler System?

First, let’s clarify something: there really is no BAD time to install a sprinkler system. Whether you’re in the midst of a summer heatwave or the dead of winter, installing a sprinkler system brings you and your home a number of great benefits.

Even so, we’re frequently asked: What is the best time of the year to have my sprinkler system installed?

While some answers might vary from installer to installer, our preferred time of the year is actually the fall, and for a number of reasons:

1) Quicker Turn-Around Times for You

Sprinkler system installation companies like us are typically busiest in the spring when sprinkler system activation and turn-ons occupy much of the calendar schedule for pre-existing customers. Plus, this is the time of year where having a green and luscious lawn is at the front of every homeowner's mind. In other words, spring offers up a lot of competition from your neighbors also trying to book their installation date.

That’s why it’s best to plan your installation for the fall if a quicker turnaround time is a priority for you and your lawn.

Of course, timing here is paramount as well! Don’t wait too long to make the call, or you’ll be winterizing your system right away.

When in doubt, fill out a contact form right here on our website to get started on the scheduling process. If you’re worried about installing the system at the exact right time, tell us your concerns and our office staff will work with you to book you the best installation date available.

2) Ideal Installation Conditions (and Faster Recovery Times)

There’s simply no beating the ground and installation conditions in the fall months. For one, the ground temperature itself remains nice and pliable in Illinois during this time of year all the way up until late fall or early winter when the temperatures start to drop near the freezing mark. (Plus, the temperatures outside are a bit more pleasant for our installation crew than in the summer or winter).

Pliable earth means an easier installation process, as trenching, boring, and installing the physical piping of your sprinkler system is that much easier.

Naturally, the easier the act of installing those underground pipes is, the less intrusive the sprinkler installation is as well. All of this adds up to a quicker “recovery” time for your lawn, making it pristine and GREEN!

At Commercial Lawn Irrigation, we always prioritize the aesthetic appeal of your lawn. To minimize the disruption of your installation, we utilize a vibratory plow that allows for trenchless sprinkler installations.

3) You’re Lawn Will Be Ready for Spring!

Our past customers have found that installing their sprinkler system in the fall is a sweet spot in terms of timing up the efficiency of your watering for the spring months the following year.

Sounds a bit strange, right? But hear us out.

Fall installations allow for all the minor tweaking that might be necessary for your sprinkler head zones, automatic timer adjustments, rain sensor troubleshooting, etc. Essentially, homeowners are given the luxury of time to square away all the most optimal adjustments for their specific lawn needs before the more water-intensive spring and summer months hit the following year.

Homeowners who install in the fall are also introduced to the winterizing and start-up processes prior to these more water-intensive months, which means they’re more knowledgeable about their system at large before the true “Go Time” hits.

What’s more? By completing your install in the fall, you give your lawn a bit more time to recover from the installation process itself. This times out nicely as your lawn goes dormant in the winter, so by the time spring rolls around, it will be ready to be the greenest in the neighborhood.

Are You Interested in Installing a Sprinkler System?

Commercial Lawn Irrigation installs residential and commercial sprinkler systems throughout the Southern Illinois and St. Louis Metro East communities. In business for over 25 years, we operate under the motto of leaving your lawn better than how we found it.

To request a free sprinkler system installation estimate, simply fill out the contact form below!