Just get a one gallon pump sprayer ($15-20?), practice with water to see how even you can do coverage of one gallon over your area.

 

 

I've got a couple pump sprayers but my experience spraying roundup on the Reno area has me using about 3.5 gallons of water to cover the whole area. I'd like to avoid trying to refill the sprayer 4 times.

 

Please read the label. You can't use tenacity out of a hose end sprayer. Scott's starter fert with crabgrass preventer might be a better way to go. Then you can spread it with a spreader

 

The Scott's product will do the job and you can spread it with your spreader. On the sprayer, you keep walking and you're not trying to cover all the foliage like you would with Roundup. The key is adjusting how fast you walk.

 

Please read the label. You can't use tenacity out of a hose end sprayer. Scott's starter fert with crabgrass preventer might be a better way to go. Then you can spread it with a spreader

I believe Scott's crabgrass preventer contains a pre-emergent that also prevents grass seed from germinating. Is this correct?

I think the tenacity label recommends not using a hose end on established lawns because of over spray and it is difficult to apply evenly and an over application could damage the lawn. But since this is a Reno, I shouldn't need to worry about damaging an existing lawn, I'm mainly looking for the pre-emergent benefits

 

I believe Scott's crabgrass preventer contains a pre-emergent that also prevents grass seed from germinating. Is this correct?

This is the Scotts product they are referring to. It contains the same AI as tenacity, but it is granular and mixed with a starter fertilizer.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Scotts-Turf-Builder-21-5-lbs-5-000-sq-ft-Starter-Lawn-Fertilizer-for-New-Grass-Plus-Weed-Preventer-23200/203716573?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&mtc=Shopping-B-F_D28O-G-D28O-28_2_FERTILIZERS-NA-NA-NA-SMART-NA-NA-SMART_SHP&cm_mmc=Shopping-B-F_D28O-G-D28O-28_2_FERTILIZERS-NA-NA-NA-SMART-NA-NA-SMART_SHP-71700000064087486-58700005695909825-92700051963344737&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_8mHBhClARIsABfFgpiNVe1Fevy8GAcFq9mEmMsFDXZqrTw39g2zfsR9MKqSic9UW7J7SWYaAhUzEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I think the tenacity label recommends not using a hose end on established lawns because of over spray and it is difficult to apply evenly and an over application could damage the lawn. But since this is a Reno, I shouldn't need to worry about damaging an existing lawn, I'm mainly looking for the pre-emergent benefits

You would however have to worry about applying too much product in one area and it impacting your germination and your seedlings. I have had spots come up purple and stunted where I overlapped too much. It was pretty ugly in spots I hit with an 8oz rate. Not sure what would happen if you hit a spot 3 or 4x (yearly max), but I doubt it would be good. I personally would not use the hose end sprayer for this reason.

Also not sure what to say about 4 fillups to cover 1k? What sprayer are you using? Sounds like its either putting product out really fast or you are walking super slow.

 

I had not seen or heard of the Scott's stuff. I've already got the tenacity on hand or I would probably go that route.

Admittedly, my sprayers suck. It puts out way too much and I've got the cone nozzle turned down as far as it will go. It has a threaded end on the spray nozzle. I might try to replace the nozzle with a teejet adapter. Anybody have a recommended nozzle? I know walking speed is a factor but how many square feet should a gallon sprayer typically be able to cover? For my current sprayer to cover 1000sqft in a gallon, I'd almost be in a dead sprint 😂

 

Tenacity is a professional product and should be put out with carefully. If you don't have the proper equipment, you shouldn't use the product.

 

Tenacity is a professional product and should be put out with carefully. If you don't have the proper equipment, you shouldn't use the product.

I could argue that I'm probably more qualified to use most lawn care products than most of the "Professionals" in my area. Ask your local TruGreen pro what the app rate is of Mesotrione and they will think you're talking foreign.

I've always read that measuring the product for the area is what's important, not the amount of carrier (water). Diluting the tenacity through 50 gallons of water sprayed through a hose end shouldn't be different then the same amount of tenacity diluted through a one gallon pump sprayer as long as both hit the measured area evenly. The difference would be a foliar app as the leaves wouldn't have the surface area for 50 gallons of water but I'm not doing a foliar app.

I'll probably end up using a pump sprayer to apply the tenacity but tempted to use the hose end sprayer using the lowest setting and using a ton of water to make sure things hit evenly. After all, it's just grass and it's only 1ksqft 🙂

 

I have found this to be a good all purpose tip:

https://www.sprayerdepot.com/products/tt11004-vp-turbo-teejet-wide-angle-flat?utm_content=ps-branded&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_8mHBhClARIsABfFgpgaR5YoFFXEZvwIE_VoUsun-Ma63RshbR54qrAOQIsLVQgy0JkHC98aAmMiEALw_wcB

I have my pace pretty dialed in... for me walking at a regular pace, I put 4 gallons down over ~6k with that. I do 2 passes (N-S then E-W). Hence my confusion about 3.5 gallons over 1k sqft.

This is using a Chapin 4g 20V Battery Sprayer, so my pressure is constant. If it's in the budget and you see yourself spraying a fair amount, I think that sprayer is a worthwhile investment.

 

I have found this to be a good all purpose tip:

https://www.sprayerdepot.com/products/tt11004-vp-turbo-teejet-wide-angle-flat?utm_content=ps-branded&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_8mHBhClARIsABfFgpgaR5YoFFXEZvwIE_VoUsun-Ma63RshbR54qrAOQIsLVQgy0JkHC98aAmMiEALw_wcB

Thanks gm560! I've got the teejet blue tips on a 4 nozzle sprayer boom that I use when I'm spraying the whole yard but it's a bit big for my 1kSqft Reno project 😂

I'll track down a wand adapter for a teejet nozzle body and get the red nozzle for the pump sprayers. Thanks!

 

I have my pace pretty dialed in... for me walking at a regular pace, I put 4 gallons down over ~6k with that. I do 2 passes (N-S then E-W). Hence my confusion about 3.5 gallons over 1k sqft.

This is using a Chapin 4g 20V Battery Sprayer, so my pressure is constant. If it's in the budget and you see yourself spraying a fair amount, I think that sprayer is a worthwhile investment.

That's a good looking sprayer! Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Tenacity is a professional product and should be put out with carefully. If you don't have the proper equipment, you shouldn't use the product.

I could argue that I'm probably more qualified to use most lawn care products than most of the "Professionals" in my area. Ask your local TruGreen pro what the app rate is of Mesotrione and they will think you're talking foreign.

I've always read that measuring the product for the area is what's important, not the amount of carrier (water). Diluting the tenacity through 50 gallons of water sprayed through a hose end shouldn't be different then the same amount of tenacity diluted through a one gallon pump sprayer as long as both hit the measured area evenly. The difference would be a foliar app as the leaves wouldn't have the surface area for 50 gallons of water but I'm not doing a foliar app.

I'll probably end up using a pump sprayer to apply the tenacity but tempted to use the hose end sprayer using the lowest setting and using a ton of water to make sure things hit evenly. After all, it's just grass and it's only 1ksqft 🙂

are you planning to dilute .25tsp in a 32oz hose end bottle. And then applying that to the yard? The cons of uneven application to a reno yard with a hose end would be an inefficient weed barrier, which defeats the purpose of the pre-m.

 

@ICURNVS You raise a fair point. The right person could do what you're saying but very few people are the right person to apply herbicides with a hose end sprayer. That's probably why herbicides in the hose end sprayer are frowned upon on the forum. To me the risk isn't worth the reward and the only reward I call think of is not having to buy a backpack sprayer.

 

I've always read that measuring the product for the area is what's important, not the amount of carrier (water). Diluting the tenacity through 50 gallons of water sprayed through a hose end shouldn't be different then the same amount of tenacity diluted through a one gallon pump sprayer as long as both hit the measured area evenly. The difference would be a foliar app as the leaves wouldn't have the surface area for 50 gallons of water but I'm not doing a foliar app.

I'll probably end up using a pump sprayer to apply the tenacity but tempted to use the hose end sprayer using the lowest setting and using a ton of water to make sure things hit evenly. After all, it's just grass and it's only 1ksqft 🙂

For many products, the carrier rate very much does matter. Even for a soil app, too much and you're likely to have some pooling and runoff and a less effective application than you're going for

And I'm genuinely having trouble wrapping my mind around you needing 4 gallons to cover 1000 sqft. I will admit, when I first started spraying I felt like I needed closer to 2 gallons to really soak everything. (I've since gotten it down to 1 with practice) but 4 just seems wild. Do you have a picture of the sprayer/tip you're using?

 

Harbor freight has a cheap 4 gallon backpack sprayer that is shockingly good for the price.
With coupon I got it for $20.