Find your controller.
Open the timer door and identify the current program. Take a photo of the screen before changing anything.
New landscape care•Central Oregon field guide
Welcome home
Your irrigation guide starts here.
Congratulations on your new landscaping. A few thoughtful checks through the first season protect the plants, the irrigation, and the work that went into your home.
Today’s priorityAdjust your home sprinkler, then walk every zone once.
First seasonFIELD GUIDEKeep this page handy
Start here
Three things to do before you change the schedule.
Keep the first pass simple. Watch what your landscape does before making big changes to runtime or frequency.
Walk each zone.
Run one zone at a time. Confirm water reaches the lawn or beds, not the sidewalk, fence, or side of the house.
Read the soil and plants.
Dry spots, wilted plants in the morning, soggy soil, or runoff tell you more than a fixed schedule can.
The annual rhythm
One landscape. Four different jobs.
Right nowFall shut down
Spring start up
Bring the system back one zone at a time.
When hard-freeze weather has eased
Start slowly. Turn water on to the system, choose the spring schedule, and stay outside while every zone runs.
- Look for leaks, broken tubing, tilted heads, and clogged emitters.
- Watch water reach the lawn or planting bed instead of the sidewalk, curb, or house.
- In cool spring weather, avoid the earliest morning start time. Water later in the day when temperatures are safely above freezing.
A zone that will not pressurize, a visible leak, or an odd sound is a reason to call before changing more settings.
Summer watch
Let the landscape tell you what it needs.
The hot, dry part of the season
Check the system weekly and adjust carefully as heat, wind, shade, and plant growth change through the summer.
- Walk the property after a cycle and look for dry patches, runoff, damp ground, or water spraying in the wrong direction.
- A plant wilting in the morning often needs water. Soggy soil usually means it is getting too much.
- Check drip emitters, tubing, and valve boxes before adding more runtime.
Small changes made early are easier on plants and easier on the system.
Fall shut down
Protect irrigation before hard-freeze weather.
September into fall weather
A professional blowout is the most important irrigation task of the year. Book before freezing weather arrives, rather than waiting for a forecast.
- Reduce watering as temperatures cool and plant growth slows.
- Schedule a professional blowout; a home compressor can leave water in the lines.
- After the blowout, set the timer off or to rain mode and make sure the water to the system is off.
Freeze damage is expensive and avoidable. A winterized system starts spring in much better shape.
Book a sprinkler blowoutWinter rest
Keep the system off, then check plants on mild days.
After the fall shut down
Your timer stays off or in rain mode. There is no routine irrigation work to do until spring, but plant care still matters in dry winter periods.
- Do not restart the irrigation system during freezing weather.
- For new plants, water by hose every three to four weeks only when conditions allow.
- Keep paths, drains, and feature areas clear of leaves and debris so winter moisture can move away from the house.
If you are not sure whether a component is protected, call before turning water back on.
Water by what you see
New landscapes need more attention, not more guesswork.
The first season is about learning your site. Sun, wind, soil, slope, and plant type all affect how quickly water moves through a zone.
New plants
New plants may need water up to three times a day during establishment, depending on weather and plant type.
Established plants
Start with the schedule you were given, then adjust from the plants and soil instead of changing several settings at once.
New lawn
New sod needs frequent water while it roots. Once established, reduce short cycles and water more deliberately.
The irrigation system
Know what you are looking at before it becomes a bigger problem.
A quick walk during a normal cycle is the simplest way to spot a problem. This is what to notice and what to do first.
A dry patch or a wilted plant
Run the nearby zone and watch for a blocked emitter, a broken line, or water missing the target.
Soggy soil or unexpected water
Check for runoff, a leak, or a zone that is running too long. Do not simply add more water elsewhere.
A zone will not pressurize
Stop changing programs, note the zone number, and call us with what you observed.
Cracked or leaking equipment
Turn off the affected water if you can do so safely and call for service before running another cycle.
Care beyond irrigation
The rest of your landscape is part of the system.
Plants, paving, lighting, ground cover, and optional features all age better with small seasonal checks. Open any topic below for the specific care notes for your project.
Detailed care notes
Your project, looked after.
These are practical reminders for the materials and features that may be part of your landscape. Choose the sections that apply to your home.
01Lawn establishmentNew lawn
New sod establishes fast when it stays evenly moist and is protected from traffic while roots take hold.
- Water new sod two to four times a day for the first two to three weeks, then adjust based on weather and rooting.
- Keep people and pets off until the lawn has rooted. Mow for the first time at two and a half to three inches.
- Never remove more than one-third of the blade at a time. Fertilize every six weeks from April through October, then aerate when needed.
02Plant establishmentNew plants
Your new planting needs observation more than a fixed formula. The goal is moist soil, never saturated soil.
- Check plants regularly in the first season, especially after hot or windy days.
- If a plant is wilted in the morning, check moisture near the root zone. If the ground is soggy, reduce water rather than adding more.
- Prune for the plant type and season, use spring fertilizer as appropriate, and watch for insects or animal damage.
03Controller and zonesIrrigation details
Use the controller as a starting point, then adjust from what you observe in the landscape.
- In season, check irrigation weekly for leaks, damage, dry spots, and clogged emitters.
- Typical ranges are thirty to sixty minutes for drip, ten to thirty minutes for spray, and thirty to forty-five minutes for rotary zones. Your site may need a different schedule.
- A professional blowout uses equipment sized to clear irrigation lines. Do not rely on a home compressor to protect the system for winter.
04Mulch, rock, and bordersGround coverings and edging
Clean, intact ground covers help beds retain their finish and let water reach the plants where it belongs.
- Refresh mulch every one to three years and keep rock clear of leaves and windblown debris.
- If winter frost heaves edging, press or pound it carefully back into place once the ground has thawed.
- Keep drip lines visible and accessible while cleaning so they are not cut, pinched, or covered in a way that changes water flow.
05Monthly checkLighting
Landscape lighting works best when fixtures, lenses, and wires stay accessible and free of debris.
- Walk the lighting after dark about once a month and replace visibly damaged fixtures or lamps.
- Clear leaves and mulch away from fixtures and lenses.
- Call when a circuit needs service, multiple fixtures go out, or wiring looks exposed.
06Protect the investmentDeer and rodents
A deer-resistant planting is not deer-proof. Small, regular checks catch animal damage before it spreads.
- Use topical repellents and netting when deer pressure calls for it.
- Check valve boxes twice each year for rodent activity, nests, or damaged components.
- Early notice makes plant protection and irrigation repairs easier.
07Hardscape carePavers
Routine surface care preserves the finish and protects the joint material that holds a paver area together.
- Sweep pavers in spring, pull joint weeds as needed, and test a suitable cleaner in a small area first.
- Do not pressure wash polymeric sand; it can remove joint material and create a larger repair.
- Absorb oil spills instead of rubbing them into the surface, then call if settlement or movement is visible.
08If your project includes oneWater features
Water features are easier to keep running well when leaves, debris, and seasonal changes are handled early.
- Keep leaves and debris out of the feature and watch for an unexpected change in water level or sound.
- Ask about seasonal service, leak correction, repairs, or winter preparation when a feature is not operating as expected.
- Do not wait for freezing weather to ask about seasonal shut down.
09Surface upkeepSynthetic turf
A clean surface and clear drainage keep synthetic turf looking intentional and ready to use.
- Remove leaves and debris often and rinse the surface when needed.
- Call about areas that do not drain, look matted, or no longer look right after cleaning.
- Keep sharp tools and hot equipment away from the surface.
10Safe useFire pits
A quick visual check before and after use keeps a fire feature ready for the next gathering.
- Keep the fire pit clear before use and turn it fully off after use.
- Do not cover vents or alter components that affect operation.
- Call when the feature does not operate as expected instead of repeatedly trying to relight it.
Your timer
Make a smaller adjustment, then watch the next cycle.
Find your timer model on the inside of the controller door. If you are unsure which program controls a zone, take a photo and call before changing several settings at once.
Call 541 617 8873 for timer helpQuestions are normal
When in doubt, call before a small issue becomes a repair.
Newport Avenue Landscaping can help with seasonal irrigation, maintenance, repairs, and the next step for your particular landscape.
Call 541 617 8873Request service61535 S Hwy 97, Bend, OR 97702
Irrigation warranty: Your irrigation warranty stays in force when Newport completes your spring start up and fall blowout. Keep your service notes with this guide.