the Hamptons
Irrigation installation, winterization and spring startup in the Hamptons: 2026 costs and the SCWA rules every system has to obey
A new irrigation system costs $0.88–1.65 per square foot nationally (a single zone averages $590–1,340); a Long Island-specific figure of $900–1,200 per zone exists but is from 2022, four years stale. Seasonal winterization runs $60–150 (avg $85) and spring startup $60–125 nationally — no current Hamptons-specific service price exists. Suffolk County Water Authority has mandated odd/even-day watering since February 1, 2023, and bans irrigation between 10am and 4pm daily, for every address.
Last updated · Reviewed by Bridgehampton Gardens
New system installation
| Metric | Cost |
|---|---|
| Per square foot, national | $0.88–1.65 |
| Single zone, national average | $590–1,340 |
| 1,000 sq ft yard | $880–1,650 |
| 3,000 sq ft yard | $2,640–4,950 |
| 5,000 sq ft yard | $4,400–8,250 |
| 7,000 sq ft yard | $6,160–11,550 |
| 10,000 sq ft yard | $8,800–16,500 |
| Smart sensors | $17–75 each |
| Labor | $45–100/hr ($100–150/hr in difficult soil) |
| Permits | $42–200 |
The Long Island figure, and why we flag it
One Long Island-specific source prices a new system at $900–1,200 per zone, or $2,700–6,000 for a whole 3–5 zone system — but that figure is dated January 2022, four years old at the time this sheet was built, and we could not find a fresher cross-check. Treat it as a starting point, not a current quote.
Seasonal winterization and spring startup
| Service | Cost, national |
|---|---|
| Fall winterization | $60–150 (avg $85); a second aggregator gives $56–131, avg $89 |
| Extra zones beyond standard coverage | +$5–10/zone |
| Spring startup | $60–125 (a second source: $46.50–141.50) |
| Combined winterize + tune-up + spring reactivation package | $150–350; a simple annual package $100–200 |
No Hamptons or East End-specific figure exists for either service on its own — every number above is a national aggregator figure.
The recommended winterization window runs early October to mid-November, with several Long Island irrigation contractors converging specifically on mid-to-late October, before nights consistently drop below freezing. The process itself — draining the lines and blowing them out with compressed air — takes about two to four hours.
The SCWA rules every system now has to obey
Suffolk County Water Authority has required odd/even-day outdoor watering since February 1, 2023: addresses ending in an odd number water only on odd calendar days, even addresses on even days. On top of that, SCWA bans irrigation between 10am and 4pm every day, at every address — the hottest, least effective watering window. Both rules trace to summer-2022 peak-demand and aquifer-strain pressure and read as standing policy rather than a one-off restriction.
What we have not found
No numeric guidance on typical seasonal outdoor water use (gallons per day or similar) turned up anywhere in this research, and SCWA's own page text does not explicitly list which towns its odd/even rule covers, though it is understood to reach this brand's full service area.
FAQ
Common questions
When can I fertilize my lawn on Long Island?
New York State bans lawn fertilizer application statewide from December 1 through April 1. Suffolk County's own stricter law (Local Law 41-2007) extends the ban to November 1 through April 1, with fines up to $1,000 per violation. The dates are not arbitrary: Long Island soil typically crosses the 55°F threshold turfgrass needs to actually absorb nutrients right around April 1 in spring, and stays above it until sometime in November. Phosphorus is separately banned on lawns outright except for a brand-new lawn's first season or a documented soil deficiency, and no fertilizer may go within 20 ft of surface water without a buffer.
How does Bridgehampton Gardens work, and what does it cost me?
It costs homeowners nothing. You tell us, in about sixty seconds, whether you need design (a master plan or a planting design) or care (maintenance, cleanup, irrigation, deer fencing) — that first answer is the whole funnel. We put you in touch with one licensed, insured landscape pro who works your town and does that kind of work, and they call you within one business day. We are a Hamptons-only referral service, not a landscape architecture, design or maintenance company, and we are not connected to any garden, nursery or landscaper of a similar name. Participating pros pay us a referral fee.
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2026 fee ranges for a master plan or full design — percentage, flat fee and hourly — and the legal distinction between a licensed landscape architect and a landscape designer most homeowners never hear.
Planting Design & Installation
From a bed of perennials to a wall of mature screening evergreens: 2026 costs per plant and per square foot, why a specimen tree is where the budget really goes, and the cheaper, legal planting-design-only path.
Garden Maintenance
Weekly and biweekly garden care: 2026 per-visit prices, why the local figures disagree with each other, the labor market behind the price, and what has never been published for an estate-scale property.
Seasonal Cleanup
Spring and fall cleanup costs, cadence, and the legally binding calendar behind them: New York and Suffolk County both ban lawn fertilizer for months at a time, timed to the soil temperature turfgrass actually needs.
Deer Fencing & Deer-Resistant Planting
Deer fence height and permit rules differ sharply by Hamptons town, a real 2023 case shows the enforcement in practice, and even "deer-resistant" plants get browsed in winter: 2026 costs and rules.
Book a landscape pro for irrigation
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