Bigger Is Better

4″ head vs 6″ head — the difference is the grass

Here in Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Floratam turf grows tall and dense. A short 4-inch pop-up barely clears it — the spray hits the blades right in front of the head, breaks up, and never reaches the middle of the zone. You get a green ring around the head and a dry patch beyond it.

Runtime can't fix reach

The most common do-it-yourself mystery is adding more minutes to a weak zone. It doesn't work. If a head can't throw far enough, more runtime just gives a foot bath to the spots already getting water while the far corners stay parched. Reach is about head height and pressure — not time on the clock.

The tells: everything looks right but the whole zone seems weak? That's pressure. One head underperforming while the rest are champs? That's the head — usually too short for the grass, or clogged.

What we do about it

• Swap sunken or too-short heads for taller pop-ups that clear the turf
• Match nozzles so every head throws its full distance
• Check zone pressure and find leaks stealing your reach
• Re-aim and space coverage so the whole zone gets water
• Reset the controller to your legal watering day

Want it kept dialed in year-round? See the Action Advantage plan — two tune-ups a year plus member pricing.