Having the right sprayer for the job and calibrating it properly are two very important steps to ensure that chemical applications will be smooth and even every time. But lawn care operators (LCOs) need to make sure they also take care of the details before they get to work. Sprayer manufacturers offered a few reminders on the finer points of proper sprayer use to help LCOs get the results they and their clients want.
1. Security Check
Appropriate sprayer use begins even before the machine arrives on the job site. Albert Bori, president, BrandTek, Winter Garden, Fla., noted that sprayers, like other equipment, jostle around in the trailer during transport. Also, bumpy or winding roads can cause trailers to swing and bounce a great deal. Therefore, “when the machine’s being transported, it needs to be properly secured and tied down,” Bori instructed. When secured tightly, sprayers and other lawn care equipment are far less likely to sustain any unnecessary damage or become dangerous hazards by rolling or bounce from trailers onto roadways.
2. Say No to H20
Though it may be tempting to use pesticide or fertilizer sprayers for occasional plant watering jobs, having a machine dedicated to watering ornamentals and separate sprayers for chemical applications is best. “Normally, tanks are used for herbicides and you don’t really want to use them for water,” commented Tom Rich, president, Rich Mfg., Lebanon, Ind. “There are good tank cleaners out there,” he said, “but let’s say you’re spraying a flower bed. It only takes trace elements [of herbicides] to knock them out.” Rich also explained that while the tank cleaners available work for their intended purpose, chemicals can still be imbedded in the sides of the polymer tanks and in hoses where cleaners can’t always reach.
3. Adjust the Volume
Determining the right volume of water and material is a tricky and often confusing step in sprayer use. “If you’re spraying herbicides, you’re better off going with a low-volume, low-pressure sprayer,” clarified Tad Grubbs, national sales director, C&S Turf Equipment, North Canton, Ohio. “On the other hand, if you’re spraying an insecticide – let’s say a liquid grub control – to get down through the thatch layer into where the grubs are, you want to use more water because that will facilitate getting the active ingredient down to where it will do its job.”
Achieving a smaller droplet is key in sprayer applications, especially for weed control. With a herbicide, low volume plus low pressure yields a smoother, softer spray and a more effective application rate. “The other benefit [of low-volume sprayers] is that you’re not carrying around the extra weight which is just wear and tear on your vehicle,” Grubbs noted. Adjusting sprayer volume according to the application and necessary number of gallons per minute can ensure that an application goes down as planned and works properly.
4. Engine Attention
A sprayer isn’t going anywhere without it’s engine, so taking care of that main part of the machine is key. “The engine operates the pump so if the engine doesn’t work, then the pump doesn’t work,” stated Skip Strong, general manager, Sprayer Parts Depot, Miami, Fla. Strong explained that most auxiliary gasoline engines have a maximum of 3600 revolutions per minute (rpm) and that it is best not to exceed 75 percent of that capacity, or 2700 rpm. “It’s like if you’re getting to a red light, you’re not going to sit with your foot all the way to the floor,” he compared. “If you’re running the engine wide open, that means you’re running the pump wide open and abusing everything for no reason.”
The author is Assistant Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at lspiers@lawnandlandscape.com.