Dry Spots in the Lawn
Dry spots are usually caused by head-to-head spacing gaps, clogged nozzles reducing throw, or heads that have shifted direction. Adjustments are usually all that's needed.
Symptoms
- Brown or thin patches in the lawn despite watering
- Some areas never seem to get wet
- Patterns of dryness between sprinkler heads
Diagnosis
The sprinkler coverage has gaps where no head's spray reaches. This can be from poor initial spacing, shifted heads, or nozzle degradation.
Step-by-Step Repair
- 1
Run each zone and observe the spray patterns. Mark areas where no spray is landing.
- 2
Check head-to-head spacing. Each head's spray should reach its neighboring heads ("head-to-head coverage"). If not, heads are spaced too far apart.
- 3
Adjust spray arcs and direction on misaligned heads (see Head Spraying Wrong Direction guide).
- 4
Clean clogged nozzles that have reduced throw distance (see Uneven Spray guide).
- 5
If there are coverage gaps that can't be fixed by adjustments, add new sprinkler heads to fill the gaps.
- 6
Consider increasing run time on zones with marginal coverage — more water time can compensate for slightly weak overlap.
Parts Needed
- •Spray Head × 2 — If adding new heads to fill gaps
- •Swing Pipe × 1 — To connect new heads
- •PVC Tee × 2 — To tap into existing lateral line
Pro Tips
- The single most important irrigation design principle: head-to-head coverage. Every head should throw water to the next head.
Prevention Tips
- Do a "catch cup test" once a year — set out cups across the lawn and run each zone for 15 minutes. Measure the water in each cup to find weak spots.
Stuck? Get a personal answer.
If this guide didn't solve your problem, ask The Sprinkler Guy directly.
Chat About This Repair — $29.99Prefer to work offline? Get the PDF repair guide
All our repair guides bundled into one printable PDF — parts lists and pro tips included.