When to turn on sprinklers in Colorado

By Murphy Huston on April 16, 2024

We felt a little like summer the last few days, so is it time to turn on the sprinklers? That warm weather is just a part of Colorado’s up-and-down forecast, which also calls for some snow in parts of the state.

Denver Water recommends waiting until after the last freeze — which is typically around May 5 — to turn on your sprinkler system. They say we will likely have at least one more night of temperatures below 30 degrees and that could damage sprinkler pipes.

That does not mean it’s too early to water. During warm dry weather, you should roll out the garden hose and hand nozzle and hand-water trees, perennials and late-fall plantings. If your lawn has brown spots, use water on these spots and not the whole lawn. Disconnect the hose when you are done.

Check out Denver Water’s usage rules here.

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