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Inaccurate pesticide and fertilizer application can be costly for a lawn care company, says Carl Patelle of Turf & Earth Lawn Care, Dayton, Ohio. At the recent Northeast Ohio Lawn Care Seminar, held in Wooster, Ohio and organized by the Ohio Lawn Care Association, Patelle explained that application mistakes will cost a company money because lawns, trees and other plants can be damaged. In addition, overuse of products means the company has to pay more than necessary for those products. Here are a few tips Patelle passed on that can help operators zero in on more accurate applications and prevent costly errors:
Prepare:
- Measure lawns. Add the rate of application with the size of the area to be covered. This determines the amount of material needed.
- Be aware of a change in color or odor in the material. There is a possibility that it could be mixed wrong, and applying the wrong mixture can damage plants.
Be aware of application technique:
- Calibrate the equipment. Consider your height and walking speed. Get a refresher course in calibration each year.
- Circle the area to be treated. Look for any obstacles (pools, wells, etc.) that should be avoided.
Monitor Accuracy:
- Keep a count. Count buckets and bags of products used. Be sure it says consistent.
- Monitor yourself. Be aware of your physical changes throughout the day. By the end of the work day, your application rate can change by 40 percent.
- Consider application setbacks. Patelle uses a setback of 10 feet when applying products because runoff and customer overwatering can spread the product to areas it shouldn't be.
- Clean up. Sweep or blow off sidewalks or driveways when you're finished applying.