We are not big fans of hose end sprayers around here. We like to apply with more precision. Get a 4 gallon electric backpack sprayer.

 

Not sure how you will accomplish that. The herbicide and fungicides need to remain on the leaf while the fertilizer and soil condition must be watered in.

 

Liquid fertiliser is usually foliar application, same for kelp.

 

Thoughts? Without being rude. It’s a horrible idea, don’t do it. Be a better steward of not only your money but the land.

All the herbicides need to be measured. The fungicides too but you can piss the money away with those if you want. Soil conditioners tell me enough about just adding a kitchen sink of junk.

you can’t control the active ingredient accurate enough this way. Just don’t do it.

 

Using a hose end sprayer doesn't mean you aren't measuring things.... Sure it's not going to be perfect like a backpack sprayer but it would be at least equal or better than granular applications.

You can still calibrate hose end sprayer same way (measure how much water flows out of it) and adjust the dials. As long as you are walking even pace and apply evenly across it's a pretty quick and easy way to apply without being over the top accurate..

 

Greetings from across the pond.

What you are suggesting is possible with some chemicals and not others. Youtube content like Doc and Ryan Knorr have a place int he community as it gets people interested in lawn care. A lot of those folks try some of that stuff then end up here.

Spraying something like Prodiamine or Nitrogen (think miracle grow) is possible with a hose end sprayer, and yes a hose end sprayer can be calibrated if you can get one semi consistent for a little bit. That said, Prodiamine isn't critically accurate in it's application and is meant to be a soil application.

Some of the other things you are talking about, 3 way herbicides, fungicides...etc, they are meant to be foliar applications and applied via a fine misting and left to dry on the leaf blades, something a hose end sprayer just can't accomplish.

Can a hose end sprayer get you started with Pre-emergent and fertilizer applications? Absolutely. Is it going to last you long term and help in your weed control? Definitely not.

I have 2 acres of property and am proof you don't need a high end barttery powered backpack sprayer. I do have a 25gal sprayer for my atv but I also have 2 4gallon pump sprayers that I use for a lot of my applications when I don't want to rig up the atv with the tank and all of that hassle.

If you're going to take the time to get into lawn care and try to apply herbicides and fungicides with a greater degree of effectiveness then just throwing down some granuals, you simply need the proper equipment. I love making things work, this just isn't one of those things you can kind of make work. Again, some products, yeah sure, others, no, you can literally kill entire trees in your yard by accident by over applying just a small amount.

 

I agree that soil application products would work better because hose end sprayers dilute a lot with water and the droplets sizes are bigger...hence the reason for adding surfacants for foilar applications to counter that a little bit.

If you are using prodiamine, you probably only need to use spot herbicide applications anyway. So maybe the mix will be fertiliser, surfactant and prodiamine/grub insecticide/fungicide (when required)...

But at an average consumer level, weed n feed spray products are sold everywhere...Just fertiliser with selective herbicides, it's not like my idea is new...weed & feed is probably the most sold product for general consumers.

I wouldn't use hose-end for glyphosate for sure though.

 

You would honestly be better using a 1 or 2 gallon pump sprayer for spot treatments then you would a hose end sprayer.

Yes, hose end sprayers are sold everywhere and they contain a fraction of the active ingredient at multiplicative costs with marginal results.

I'm extremely big on math and numbers and cost. especially managing as much property as I do. If you're going to take the time to actually buy the cheaper chemicals I'm not understanding your reluctance to purchasing a backpack sprayer to go with it. I promise you are not the first person in the world with this idea. The reason hose end sprayers are diluted down so much is so you don't accidentally kill things.

Many of the selective herbicides we use are far more toxic to plants and the ground then glyphosate. It's rather benign actually as all it does is kill what you see and the concentrations needed to do real damage to trees and things is monumental.

You seem pretty dead set on doing this regardless.

I'd be curious how much property you are actually taking care of and why you are so reluctant to just use a backpack or pump sprayer as opposed to trying to go hose end.

You came seeking educated and experienced advice, but I'm not sure you really want anything but the answer you're looking for.

 

Only like 4000sq ft, pump sprayer I use for spot applications.

I just find pump/backpack sprays boring and tedious to use them. Hose end spray mucher faster and convenient. And if you have to water it in anyway afterwards like with prodiamine...you are doing both at once.

Currently using granular ferts, prodiamine and grub control so I figure hose end sprays is not going to be any worse than that.

 

You're honestly better off sticking to what you are doing then trying to do all of this through hose end. Many products you need to let sit then water in for good absorption...etc.

What you're trying to do would be akin to trying to apply weed control in the rain. Even with surfactants you're going to get yourself in trouble and essentially sabotage your own efficacy. Using a backpack sprayer on 4ksqft takes about 15 minutes. If you don't have the time or patience for that, it's your money, but what you are asking has been tried and simply doesn't work well and you do risk doing more harm then help.

Good Luck.

 

Sounds like efficiency and efficacy is boring to the OP.
When someone things it’s effective to apply and water in with the same function they obviously don’t complete grasp how it’s working with carrier, etc. it’s the reason these big box stores sell watered down hose end attachments for the basic consumer to spray, and then most of them find they don’t work..

 

It’s not cheap, but sounds like a spray buddy would be a good fit for you. All the fun you enjoy with a hose but much more accurate mix rates. If I didn’t have to buy two of these, I’d probably own one over my backpack, which is also great. Just something to consider for the long run and if you are crafty, you can probably build something similar for cheaper.

GCI Turf Spray Buddy 5G

GCI Turf Spray Buddy 5G Expect a minimum of a 10 day lead time for your sprayer to ship from the time you place your order. MADE IN THE USA 🇺🇸 ***Be aware in some cases the spray hose you receive will be blue in color instead of green. See product pictures to view the blue color spray hose***...

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My view, which somewhat varies from everyone else's:

I bet you could get away with a hose end sprayer. There are some better than others (i.e. you can calibrate more accurately). You'll need to invest some time up front to make sure you're really well calibrated though. I also think you're going to be spending more time doing the math based on the application rate of your hose end sprayer than a backpack sprayer. And you're not going to be as precise and have the ideal droplet size as a backpack sprayer, but I think you'll get better than so-so results.

I agree with everyone else that for 4k SF, I'd get a 4 gallon backpack sprayer (I like battery over pump, but pump will be really cheap). You'll only need to fill it once for 4k sf, and it won't take any more time than hose end (I think it'll be faster actually).

I think your plan would work fine, but I agree with the others that a backpack sprayer would be easier and give you better results.

 

I will get it if I need to. But If I don't need to then no need to carry around 4 gallon heavy and bulky stuff when just a 16oz hose-on works 80% as well as a backpack spray. Way easier to clean up after as well.

Some people here seem to get real offended others don't want to do things their exact way and experiment with taking shortcuts.

We aren't mixing chemicals to make atomic bombs...it's grass. A lot of the -ides and fertilisers have a huge range of application rate from curative to preventive.

 

I almost always check post history, especially when there are only a dozen or so to look at. Many times it's from posting the same question in multiple threads looking for different answers.

 

I almost always check post history, especially when there are only a dozen or so to look at. Many times it's from posting the same question in multiple threads looking for different answers.

I almost always check post history, especially when there are only a dozen or so to look at. Many times it's from posting the same question in multiple threads looking for different answers.

Correct. With the bots, you get accustomed to as well lately.
OP reminds me of the rich compost guy for leveling in every opportunity 🤣

 

Did someone say "sandy loam"? 😂

 

Lol this thread should be a sticky in the new member section

 

People like to be irresponsible with applying things. I’d even argue there’s a fair bit of people, atleast early on, that over apply shit to their yards and have issues pop up. That’s one of the things I hate about lawn care and the social media of it. This poster came here with YouTube and Reddit advice and if you’ve ever navigated that, it’s a cesspool of horrible advice from cultural practices to applications of things.

less is always best, and accurate is always the key for herbicides. Apply all the expensive fungicides and insecticides and fertilizer you want. You’ll have burned up grass and stunted growth. Make sure you do it easily by just pouring it into bottles and shaking it while applying. It’s reckless, and counter intuitive to healthy landscape. People already argue that lawns are wasteful, way to prove it when you buy stuff and throw it down, and eventually we will lose the opportunity to do it.

 

"This is why we can't have nice things."