Why Your Sprinkler Isn’t Reaching All Areas Evenly

If you're noticing dry patches in your lawn, wilting plants, or sections of your yard that look over- or under-watered, your sprinkler system likely isn’t distributing water evenly. This is a common issue for many Georgia homeowners—and it’s one that can lead to costly lawn damage if left unaddressed.

At GCO Landscaping, we provide professional sprinkler system repairs and irrigation troubleshooting for clients in Sharpsburg, Peachtree City, and surrounding areas. Here's what could be causing your sprinkler’s uneven coverage—and how we can help fix it.

Common causes of uneven sprinkler coverage

Sprinkler systems rely on several interconnected parts—heads, valves, pipes, controllers, and zones—all working together to ensure uniform watering across your lawn and garden beds. When just one of these components malfunctions or becomes misaligned, it can throw off the entire system, leaving parts of your yard too dry while others become overwatered.

Below are the most frequent causes of uneven sprinkler coverage, along with how GCO Landscaping can help resolve each one.

1. Clogged or dirty sprinkler heads

Sprinkler heads are exposed to everything from mud and lawn debris to mineral deposits and insects. Over time, this buildup can clog the nozzles or screens inside the heads, restricting water flow and reducing spray distance.

Signs you may have clogged sprinkler heads:

• • • Water dribbling or spraying weakly
    • Shorter spray radius than other heads in the same zone
    • Irregular or erratic spray pattern
    • One sprinkler head completely inactive while others function normally

Our solution:

We offer thorough system inspections to clean or replace clogged nozzles and filters. In some cases, we may recommend upgrading to high-efficiency rotary nozzles, which use less water but provide superior coverage and pressure compensation.

2. Misaligned or sunken sprinkler heads

Sprinkler heads can shift out of position over time due to lawn mowing, foot traffic, soil movement, or freeze/thaw cycles. Even a slight tilt can cause water to be directed in the wrong direction—or block the spray entirely.

Common symptoms of misalignment:

• • • Water spraying onto fences, sidewalks, or driveways
    • Bare spots in turf where water isn't reaching
    • Heads too low in the soil, with grass blocking the spray
    • One area receiving too much overlap while others get none

Our solution:

GCO Landscaping can adjust the position, height, and angle of each sprinkler head to ensure it delivers precise, even coverage. We’ll also check for sinking heads and re-seat them at the correct elevation using risers or regrading techniques.

3. Water pressure imbalance

Your sprinkler system’s performance depends heavily on maintaining proper water pressure. If the pressure is too low, the spray won’t reach far enough. If it’s too high, water may mist into the air, leading to uneven distribution and water waste due to wind drift.

Signs of pressure-related issues:

• • • Dry areas at the outer edges of spray zones
    • Mist or fog-like spray rather than defined streams
    • Heads that rise slowly or not at all
    • Zone performance that varies by time of day

Potential causes:

• • • Excessive demand on a single zone (too many heads)
    • Underground leaks reducing available flow
    • Malfunctioning pressure regulators or backflow devices

Our solution:

We’ll conduct a full system pressure test and recommend solutions such as pressure-regulating spray heads, valve replacements, or zone adjustments. In some cases, splitting a zone into two can improve flow and restore balance across your system.

4. Blocked spray zones

Even a perfectly installed sprinkler system can become ineffective if physical objects block the water flow. Over time, landscaping changes can unintentionally interfere with spray patterns.

Common obstructions:

• • • Overgrown shrubs or ornamental grasses
    • Raised garden beds or retaining walls added after installation
    • Patio furniture, grills, or decorative elements sitting in the spray path
    • Mulch buildup or edging that blocks head rotation

Our solution:

Our team will walk through your property and identify any barriers affecting spray paths. If necessary, we’ll reposition sprinkler heads or adjust arcs to work around permanent features. In more complex cases, we can redesign your zone layout to better suit your current landscaping.

5. Zone design or layout issues

A surprising number of sprinkler systems—especially older or DIY-installed ones—suffer from poor design. Without careful planning, it’s easy to end up with zones that don’t have enough heads, use mismatched nozzles, or leave gaps in coverage.

Common design-related problems:

• • • Uneven spacing between sprinkler heads
    • Inconsistent nozzle types or spray arcs within the same zone
    • Large areas covered by a single zone beyond its capacity
    • Heads placed too close to fences or building structures

Our solution:

GCO Landscaping provides irrigation audits and redesigns to improve system performance. We can assess your current layout, recommend more efficient nozzle configurations, and rebalance zones to eliminate weak spots. Our goal is to maximize coverage while reducing water usage.

Example: Sharpsburg homeowner sees dramatic lawn improvement

We recently worked with a homeowner in Sharpsburg whose lawn was dry around the edges despite a fully functional irrigation system. After an inspection, we found that several sprinkler heads were misaligned, one was completely blocked by a shrub, and a few nozzles were mismatched across zones. After a full tune-up and minor repairs, their lawn began recovering in less than two weeks—with no dry spots in sight.

Areas we proudly serve

GCO Landscaping provides sprinkler system inspections, repairs, and landscape upgrades throughout:

• • Sharpsburg
  • Peachtree City
  • Senoia
  • Newnan
  • Tyrone
  • Fayetteville

If your sprinkler system isn’t keeping up with Georgia’s summer heat, we’re here to help.

Get Your Sprinkler System Working Like New

Don't let uneven watering ruin your lawn.
If your sprinkler system is leaving dry patches, overwatering some zones, or just isn’t performing like it should, GCO Landscaping can help. We specialize in diagnosing and repairing sprinkler systems so your landscape stays healthy and efficient.

Call us today or request a free estimate for your irrigation system repair. We proudly serve Sharpsburg, Peachtree City, Senoia, Newnan, Tyrone, and Fayetteville with expert sprinkler and landscaping solutions built for Georgia’s climate.