Hose-End Sprayer Instructions -- Nature's Lawn

Hose-End Sprayer Instructions

Using a hose-end sprayer is a fast and easy way for homeowners to apply liquid gardening products. If you have an Adjustable Hose-End Sprayer, we recommend using that for your applications. If you don't have a sprayer and would rather not get one right now, you can purchase our RTU (Ready-to-Use) Aerify or Aerify PLUS that comes with an inexpensive hose-end spray nozzle that attaches to the product bottle.
With any hose-end sprayer there is going to be a little trial-and-error getting your application amounts right. Our products are very forgiving. A little too much or too little isn't going to hurt anything.
RTU INSTRUCTIONS
Our Ready-To-Use Sprayer is pre-set to siphon out 1 oz of the product in the bottle for every gallon of water you spray. There are 3 settings on the control knob: Off, MIX (On) or H20 (Water only).
Here is our best advice on how to use the sprayer:

Figure out the size of the area you want to spray.

Determine how much of the product you want to use for your lawn area. The bottle holds 32 ounces.
Suggested amounts to use: Aerify PLUS or the Aerify (RTU mixture) 4 oz per 1000 sf for first season or two. So, for a 4000 sf yard you would want to use 16 oz or half the bottle.

Turn the water on at about ½ to ¾ pressure.

With the knob turned to MIX, walk at a moderate pace spraying a 6-8 wide swath. Keep moving the whole time you are spraying. Only spray enough to lightly wet the top of the grass or gardens.

After you have sprayed ¼ or so of the yard, stop to see how much of the product you have used.

If you have used too little, you can go over the area again, but for the remainder of the lawn, walk a little slower when you spray - or spray a narrower swath.

If you have sprayed too much, walk a little faster when you spray - or spray a wider swath.
You can water in the products after the application, or within a couple of days. On your next application you should have a better idea of how fast or slow you need to go to get it applied correctly, but we still suggest stopping after doing part of the lawn, to check on how much you have used.
ADJUSTABLE HOSE-END SPRAYER INSTRUCTIONS
Adjustable Sprayers have a dial that allows you to change the amount of product that will be siphoned per gallon of water. You can do your applications faster or slower by adjusting your setting. Start out with a 1 oz per gallon setting.

Put the product in the bottle.

Determine how much of the product you want to use for your lawn area. As an example, based on the rates below, for a 4,000 sf yard, you would want to use 12 ounces (1½ cups) total of the Biological Dethatcher.
Recommended amounts to use per application:

Aerify PLUS 2-4 oz per 1000 sf. Use higher rate for the first season or two.

Nature's Magic 2-4 oz per 1000 sf.

Aerify Concentrate 1-2 oz per 1000 sf.

Biological Dethatcher 3 oz per 1000 sf.

For other products we sell, see their individual label instructions.

Turn the water on at about ½ to ¾ pressure. Set the sprayer to 1 oz/gallon.

Walk at a moderate pace spraying a 6-8 wide swath. Keep moving the whole time you are spraying. Only spray enough to lightly wet the top of the grass or gardens.

After you have sprayed Ľ or so of the yard, stop to see how much of the product you have used.

If you have used too little, you can go over the area again, but for the remainder of the lawn, do one or more of the following: 1.Walk a little slower when you spray. 2. Spray a narrower swath. or 3. Increase the sprayer setting,

If you have sprayed too much, do one or morre of the following: 1.Walk a little faster when you spray. 2. Spray a wider swath. 3. Lower the sprayer setting.

You can water in the products after the application. On your next application you should have a better idea of how fast or slow you need to go to get it applied correctly, but we still suggest stopping after doing part of the lawn, to check on how much you have used.
As we said above, there is always some trial-and-error when you use a hose-end applicator, but the speed and ease of use makes it worth it.
For more information on how a hose end sprayer works and how to use one, read the article on our educational site at http://lawncaresimplified.typepad.com/lawn_care_simplified_safe/2009/10/how-to-use-a-hoseend-sprayer.html.