Irrigation Spring Checklist

Spring Irrigation Startup Checklist for Cape Cod Homeowners

Published by Jim

After a long New England winter, your irrigation system has been sitting dormant for months — and it needs a little attention before you start depending on it again. Turning it on the right way (and in the right order) can mean the difference between a healthy, green lawn all season and a frustrating string of leaks, dry patches, and costly repairs.

We’ve been starting up irrigation systems around here for decades. Here’s exactly what we do — and what you should look for — every spring. (Looking for the full rundown of what we offer? See our irrigation services.)

When Should You Start Your Irrigation System on Cape Cod?

Timing matters. Turn it on too early and you risk a late frost cracking your pipes and heads. Wait too long and your lawn starts the season already stressed.

In Massachusetts and the surrounding region, the safe window is generally mid-April through mid-May, once nighttime temperatures are consistently staying above 32°F. We typically tell customers: if you’ve stopped worrying about frost on your windshield in the morning, it’s probably safe to start thinking about your irrigation.

Spring Irrigation Startup Checklist

✅ 1. Check the Backflow Preventer First

The backflow preventer protects your home’s drinking water from contamination and is often the first thing to show damage after a freeze. Before anything else, visually inspect it for cracks, leaks, or any signs that it shifted over the winter. If it looks off, stop here and call a professional — running the system with a damaged backflow preventer isn’t safe.

✅ 2. Slowly Reintroduce Water Pressure

This is the step most people rush — and it causes the most damage. Don’t just crank the main valve open all at once. Open it slowly and gradually, allowing pressure to build up over several minutes. A sudden surge of water through pipes and heads that have been dry all winter is a recipe for blown heads and cracked fittings.

✅ 3. Inspect Every Zone Manually

Walk each zone while it runs. You’re looking for:

Take notes as you go. It’s easier to address everything at once than to run back out for each zone separately.

✅ 4. Clean or Replace Clogged Sprinkler Heads

Dirt and debris work their way into heads over the winter. If a head isn’t rotating or isn’t popping up fully, try cleaning it out before assuming it needs to be replaced. Many heads unscrew easily and can be flushed with water. That said, heads are relatively inexpensive — if one is cracked or obviously damaged, replace it.

✅ 5. Check the Controller and Programming

Your irrigation controller likely lost its programming over the winter — especially if the power flickered or you unplugged it. Before you hit “run,” check:

A quick tip: spring watering schedules should run less frequently than summer ones. Your lawn doesn’t need as much water when temperatures are cooler and rainfall is more regular.

✅ 6. Adjust Your Sprinkler Heads for Seasonal Growth

Plants and shrubs that were small last fall may have filled in considerably. Walk your beds and check that heads aren’t being blocked by new growth. This is also a good time to raise or lower heads that have sunk or heaved over the winter from ground frost.

✅ 7. Check for Leaks at All Connection Points While the system is running, walk the perimeter and look at every visible connection — where pipes meet valves, where heads connect to lateral lines. Even a small drip can waste thousands of gallons over a season and signal a bigger problem underneath.

✅ 8. Test the Rain Sensor If you have a rain sensor, confirm it’s working by manually triggering it and watching whether the system shuts off. If the system runs right through, the sensor needs to be recalibrated or replaced.

Should You DIY Your Irrigation Startup or Call a Pro?

For homeowners who are comfortable with their system and had no issues last season, a careful DIY startup is very doable using this checklist.

But it makes sense to call in a professional if:

Catching a small problem in April is always cheaper than dealing with it in July when your lawn is at its most vulnerable.

Let Sears Handle Your Spring Startup

We’ve been taking care of irrigation systems in this area for generations. Our spring startup service includes a full system inspection, zone-by-zone testing, head adjustments, controller programming, and a written summary of anything we find. It’s one of those things that’s easy to put off — and always worth doing right.

Give us a call or send us a message to schedule your spring irrigation startup today.

John G. Sears & Son Landscaping has proudly served the New England community since 1931. From irrigation and lawn care to tree work and snow removal, we’re your neighbors — and we treat your property like it’s our own.