SB
Sprayer calibration, product application accuracy
Thanks for all the encouragement today during an important day for my project. Last question. I am about to spray, as we added a lawn edging to stop seed being washed out on the edge of our plot, and I believe the figures to be correct below but if anyone has the time to correct or confirm I would be most grateful. I am spraying about 80 square m’s plus.
Don’t get too caught up on the water volume, the important part is the product rate per m².
There’s a rate calculator in the tools section on this app. I’ve done this for you (80m ²) and the results are:
Etho 32ml
Meso 4.64ml
Grub+ 12ml
The rates don't change. The water is just a carrier, so whether you use 3L, 5L or 8L doesn’t matter, as long as you apply the full tank evenly over the 80m².
The easiest way to get this right is to do a quick calibration with plain water. Fill your sprayer, walk the area like you normally would, and see how much water you use to cover the 80m². Whatever that amount is, that’s what you mix your product into so you know the tank is empty once done and you have applied those products evenly and at the correct rate. For 80m2 I’d expect you to use approximately 5L of water.
Once you’ve got that dialled in, just repeat it each time and you’ll get consistent, even applications .
Give it some irrigation after applying the products just to get that product in the top of the soil profile.
Give this guide a read, it’s got some useful tips around irrigation for new lawns:
https://www.newzealandlawnaddicts.com/lawn-tips/sowing-seed-soil-temps-irrigation/
@Jonny Hicks super helpful many thanks, great idea to trial with water.
@Jonny Hicks just did the water trial. 3 litres. Do I now need to wait until the soil is dry again? Or just go for it in the next while?
@stef b You’re good to go, no need to wait.
You’ve now effectively calibrated your sprayer for that area using 3L of water. That means from here on, you just mix your products into 3L for that same section and you’ll get an even application every time.
To keep it simple, use the rate calculator in the tools tab, whatever rate it gives you for your area is exactly what you add into that 3L.
Just keep in mind, if you change your nozzle or sprayer (for example switching to an 08 white TeeJet for wetter applications), you’ll need to recalibrate, as your water volume will change.
@Jonny Hicks awesome feeling confident and stoked. Just locked the dogs out for an extended period whilst grass gets a good start. Thanks for today !!!:)
What seed did you go for?
Ignore that, just seen your last post. I’d recommend getting a frost cloth over it. It’s really cheap and people seem to get much better result who use frost cloth with ETF
@Garry Bainbridge this guy had amazing results in just 13 days with ETF using fence scrim and frost netting. He made a comment that the scrim was noticeably better than the frost netting.
@Garry Bainbridge tall fescue - seemed drought resistant and a bit shade resistant and helps to manage agrichem control protocols to have one type I think.
@Jonny Hicks oh wow - great result. ATM we are warm (25 degrees high today) and wet here, couldn't have ordered better conditions really, site has sun and shade as the sun goes across. Poured last night and was still damp tonight so I'll leave it till the morning until I water again.