Small CT sprayer... Will this work? (Bill, this one is mainly for you)

[JDUtah]

Ok, so as of now, the only sprayers I have are used for '-cides'. As most of you know I am switching a couple trial lawns to organics to learn the ropes. I want a good CT sprayer, but not a huge investment yet. And yes, right now I don't want to use the hose end sprayer. Mostly due to the chlorinated water and, lol to me, it just feels too cheap. I will be using Bills 123 CT. Do you think this is a good sprayer?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=200312195&R=200312195&storeId=6970&langId=-1&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=Performics&cm_pla=Performics&cm_ite=Performics

Reason I think so...

-4gpm, for good spray till drip

-mix one application at a time (most lawns around 5,000 Sqft) (am i correct Bill, no incubation time with your 123?)

-It appears I can adjust the nozzles so it doesn't have the full 32' spray swath.

Another question, are the microbes in most CT's sun sensitive? Does a clear tank cause problems? If so what do you guys do? I know if I mix and spray it isn't an issue, but what about 300+ gallons of the stuff, can my tech apply it all day in the sun? Unless of course it is cloudy and raining. :)

Well, off to a nap for me. I hate getting up and mowing on saturday's.

[JDUtah]

Ok, so the nap is over. Almost heading to family dinner party though. It looks like the pump is really a 3.8 GPM diaphram. Gets up to 45 PSI. I will call them monday and make sure, but what do you guys think?

[NattyLawn]

I believe Bill posted this exact sprayer on another list as one he was looking at or purchased.

As far as the sun hurting your microbes, I believe Bill also has said 95% of the microbes in ICT are dormant, meaning they "wake up" when conditions are right. So, the sun shouldn't hurt them. If making CT, the sun could affect some microbes, but promote phototrophic microbes that like the sun.

[DeepGreenLawn]

I believe it comes down mainly to the nozzle. As far as I know I have a Lesco spacesaver and he hasn't made any special notes as to what nozzles to use or not to use. I believe, which means I could be way off, still learning, that it starts really mattering when you get into the "real" compost tea you make yourself. Some of the fungi are too big to fit through the normal screen and are lost. That is when you have to watch what you use.

I THINK I might be getting the hang of this. But again, I still haven't come close to reaching the surface of all of this let alone put a scratch in it.

[wallzwallz]

JDUtah, That sprayer would work. The boomless nozzles aren't adjustable, as far as I could tell, but do shut off left, right and or middle. The 3.8 gpm pump rating is at 0 psi, at 20-25 psi you would be around 2 gpm. A 32' swath, would take only 31 linear ft to hit 1000sq ft[992]. You would have to drive really slow to get your target rate of 1-2 gal/K for a soil soak. Not knocking you at all, I just went thru setting up a sprayer similiar to the one you posted. If I could be of more assistance, ask away. I am far from an expert on spraying, but after 2-3 months of experimenting w/ these sprayers I know alot more than when I started. Mike

[JDUtah]

Thanks for the input guys!

Wallz, glad you piped in. Do you think i could easily switch the nozzles and put ones on that have a 6' foot swath. Or maybe just build my own sprayer? I wonder what would be cheaper. I started to wonder if you could adjust those nozzles last night. Most my lawns have ins and outs that 6' or so would be most appropriate. That would help with the 3 GPK also. Hmm, or maybe i just use a gun and hand spray it, after all it's just a couple learning lawns.

[ICT Bill]

We are playing with that exact sprayer, it does have 2 nozzles, one left and one right that are mounted on a steel bracket. It is hard to believe that it puts out a 32 foot swath but it does, its almost TOO much. We ordered the 11 foot nozzle, it isn't here yet,we also ordered the 7 GPM pumps to see if we could kick it up a notch and move a little quicker through the yard.

Yes our products are mix and spray in the field, no brewing

If you think about it, to do 5000 sq ft you only need 10 to 15 gallons of water (80 to 120 Lbs.) and 2 or 3 ounces of our product. You can come on the property empty (saves money on gasoline), start to fill with the customers hose while you do something else, a couple minutes later your spraying compost tea. The unit is 12 volt so you can hook it the battery in the truck or on you lawn mower

[wallzwallz]

JD yes you could mount the center nozzle and set it lower. Here is a good place to get the 7 gpm pump http://www.schabenindustries.com/Images/MainBody/catalog/12voltpumps.pdf and here is the main page,http://www.schabenindustries.com/. You have to call in order, but they have good prices and timely shipping.

[JDUtah]

So I bought this guy today. Found it on a local news listing.

It has a 15 gallon tank, a hand sprayer with 10?' of hose/hand sprayer and the guy made a little boom to attach to the back of a 4 wheeler. I will have to modify the boom a little. Oh, the pump is a Flojet 2.1 GPM, 60 PSI, 12 Volt. This is where I took a little risk in buying it.

The pump wasn't working. Hooked it up and it has power. Turned it on and it tried. Just didn't pump... no pressure either. I pulled the hose off and filled it with water to see it it needed a prime, but nope. The people bought it a couple years ago and only used it 3-4 times. Maybe the diagram got old and brittle? I unscrewed it and took a quick glance but didn't have time to really inspect.

The pump had a phone number on it for service and upon calling it the company seemed to be pretty on top of things. No help during that call... the troubleshooting guy was busy. I couldn't really wait as I had to get back to work (a couple rainy days of no mowing, and a $2,500 mulch customer trying to weasel out of paying 'because they delivered the mulch today') so I figured I would chance it and buy it so I could be on my way. I mean, not too risky a deal for $70.

Anyways any suggestions on the pump before I blindly perform operation? Thanks in advance.

[treegal1]

open it up, its a simple pump. just un clog the rubber parts grease with silicone and reassemble it, it should be fine if not the pumps are cheap at northern tool or another company, try e bay??? thats how we got our start there, it takes me back a few years, Dixie chopper with a sprayer strapped to it, ahh the good old days!!!!

[JDUtah]

:) Glad it reminds you of the good old days, I'm enjoying them.. and looking forward to the good 'future' days too. :laugh: Thanks for the simple maintenance 'lo-down'.

[JDUtah]

Ok, I made some time to get out and play with the pump today. Got it working pretty easily. Problem is, I was playing with the agitation line and closed it. The pressure obviously spiked and the pump turned off. It won't turn back on. Can they overheat? (This was 5 mins ago) Or is there a reset button somewhere on little pumps like these? (I don't see one) Or am I pump shopping? ;)

[treegal1]

start shoping after you check the ohms reading it should be around 75 with no shorts to the case. if its dead it will be an open line!!!

[ICT Bill]

Some pumps have a PSI turn off the ones we have been playing with are 50 PSI and the pump stops, it should turn back on after the PSI drops tho

[DeepGreenLawn]

I was at Harbor Freight Tools this morning picking up a pump for one of my 55 gal. drums and they had a sprayer identical to your on sale for $87 originally $120. I am thinking of getting it, getting a hose and throwing it the back of my F250 with my big sprayer to use for spot spraying with weed killer. Like you said, the hose is only about 10' long so I need to figure out what to do with that.

[treegal1]

while your at northern they have a compressed air hose and reel that will handle 200 psi, there cheap.

[DeepGreenLawn]

why do i need this? I do need to know where I can get a good hose and reel for this old tank I am restoring. Or are you saying that this air hose will work?

[ICT Bill]

I think that is exactly what TG is saying. I have no experience but it sounds like an inexpensive alternative

[treegal1]

yeah man, the cheapo hose reel and air? hose will work famously most hose now is all synthetic and does not break down with chem? exposure. we got our start with 2 NT sprayers hooked up to an air hose reel. one for fert and the other for sprays. now we use them for spot treating and Small applications, like fish oil or hot pepper wax, stuff that is not good for tea.

[DeepGreenLawn]

I could kiss you, you being female makes that easy, but either way I could kiss you...

I think I may restrain being your married but you keep up this awesome information and he may just have to be mad.

That is going to save me SOO much money right now. I should be paying you for this kind of information. But... I am a new business and can't really afford to be paying any thing other than what I have to.

[treegal1]

$$$$ dont grow plants , unless you compost them first

[DeepGreenLawn]

no, but for the most part, you got to have money to grow plants. If nothing else, pay the bills.

[treegal1]

"its never a spending problem, it an income problem" that's a quote from some one??

and the jerk that said money does not grow on trees never put a palm tree seed in the ground:laugh:

[DeepGreenLawn]

good point on both

[JDUtah]

Got the sprayer working. Had to buy a 2.7GPM pump. I open the agitaion line until it runs around 20 psi. Seems to work well enough. A couple replacement nozzles and figure a way to mount my boom on my ATV and we are good to go. But I ran out of time for that so it is gun spraying for now. It was way windy today and supposed to rain tomorrow. First CT treatments here I come. :)

[DeepGreenLawn]

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

[JDUtah]

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

I know, it adds a whole new world to rainy days. :clapping:

[DeepGreenLawn]

YEAH it does. There is another thread on the traditional postings and they are all complaining and begging for the rain to stop so they can get back to work.

Bring it ON!:cool2:

[JDUtah]

HMMMMMM.... just used the gun sprayer on the front yard (2k ft2). This unit is a bit slow. At the rate I was going I did get 3GPK but it took 23 min to spray 2k. 12 mins/K is not going to cut it in production, but I am just trying it on a few lawns anyway.

For now do you think it would be ok if I sprayed at 1GPK and had the customer water after I treat the lawn? Can the 30 or so minutes in the sun (Basically sitting like a foliar application 'till watered in) harm any of the microbes? (I am using Bills 123 CT) Thanks.

[JDUtah]

Ok, as things get geared up for next year, I need to find a pump that will do a lot higher volume. I would love for a system that would give me 3-5 GPM after pumping a CT through 200' of 5/8" hose... any suggestions? Oh, and I would really love if it could be powered on a 12 volt line.... I will prolly use the water wand tree recommended http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=2062.

Thanks in advance!

[treegal1]

IF you or any one has a pump that will do 6, much less 11 like that c200 does, then let me know and i will stop making moon shine out of grass. your headed int a petrol motor, or a yanmar diesel???

[JDUtah]

You're saying you have one that does 11 gpm?

What about this one? http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-pumps-water/smart-sensor-water-pump.htm

[treegal1]

variable speed??? how many hours of dirt water are ya planning on pumping???? that diaphragm pump takes a beating and says more more more. add the 200' of hose into it and how many gpm??? no flow loss??? also Fyi that reel of hose we have 300' and it still seems short...eh to each his own, 300 yards ya got to move, back in the day we started with a 25 gallon electric, seemed like 3 yards a day was great, now its 10 - 15 per day six days!!!!


"This medium pressure Hypro diaphragm pump is recommended for ground and low-level spraying of herbicides, pesticides. Low cost maintenance and almost wear-free operation make these pumps ideal for a wide variety of spraying jobs. Pressure and output are designed for optimum performance of medium to large sized sprayers. The D403 has 3 Diaphragms: 10.6 gpm; 580 psi. This pump is commonly found on Lesco spray rigs".

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=2147

[JDUtah]

You're saying it is a good lasting pump? Or sarcasm?

I don't plan on more then 1/2 acre lots, and am now looking at 300' of 1/2 I. D. hose. I'm trying to figure reduction in flow rates.. all I'm finding online is reduction in psi... hmmmm...

Maybe Kiril has something to help me caculate what i need? (I'm hoping to stay away from gas, but it looks more and more like it's what I need)

Already got the 25 Gallon sprayer, want a little more now. Wish I got the 300 gallon sprayer and trailer form the split, but oh well.

[treegal1]

I am saying that I love that pump, we run mud in it and then it goes dry, never a down day. we have run the life out of one of the KOW motors so I would suggest the honda (if you can) but that pump is bullet proof!!! and a 9 year old can rebuild it if you do have a seal go bad( we had one at 7500 hours tear a little). IF you can get one its a real winner, it is displacement based!!!

[JDUtah]

Thanks for the review Tree. :)

[treegal1]

often wondered why they did not make a bigger one, maybe 20 gpm??? at that point its just hydro-seeder time..........

[wallzwallz]

JD the biggest 12 volt pump I could find was this shurflo http://www.schabenindustries.com/Images/MainBody/catalog/12voltpumps.pdf down towards the bottom, Shurflo power twin 7 gpm. Good pump, works great on the boom. I have a 100' 3/8 hose and it barley can push thru it on level ground, forget a 3-5 ft incline. If you are running a hose for applying, think you have to step up to gas motor for pump.

[JDUtah]

Ya unfortunately so.. thanks for the experienced input.

[treegal1]

now the tank size???? large!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JDUtah]

Gotta check DOT regs.. I was hoping to stuff a 200 gallon in the front of an enclosed trailer with a couple 25 gallon tanks there too... but still might wait and see. The idea is to have an enclosed trailer big enough to house all equipment for any service (excpet compost topdressing of course).. we go, guys mow, lead(me for now) does other things like walk and inspect for disease, weeds, insects, nutrient issues, irrigation issues, and treat accordingly... so if we are doing 10-15 a day, we might not need as much tea?

[DeepGreenLawn]

how many customers you planning on picking up in the beginning? You keeping your old ones or starting over? I picked up 50 this year and was WAY behind on the rush. But I also have 4 two page spreads in the back of magazines that go to thousands of homes. With that kind of exposure I got 50 customers, maybe 100 calls, I don't know, just know I didn't get them all, WHICH IS GOOD!, next year we are planning on reaching 200-300 customers. That is why we are in such a rush right now to get all our scheduling, billing, everything down to a well tuned system now. 50 customers are a lot easier than 300 to manage when building your base systems.

Basically what I am saying is unless you have some magic way of bringing in customers, other than low balling, you will most likely be working a lone for a while. Which I like myself. I don't trust many other people, I have met and worked with them and they do a shotty job.

[JDUtah]

Ya, things are still in the very early stages.. I might be moving out to Baltimore. Help build/operate a chemical plant my bro helped design. We will see. I am thinking of waiting till not this, but next spring, to get started with the organic care... Better chance to get all the equipment for the complete service that I want to do... I'm not keeping any customers, we worked it so they can keep things going and moving foreward... albeit I have a couple sprinkler repairs to do tomorrow.

Ya I only want a few customers to start off with anyway... it's going to be enough learning to manage the landscapes organically, learning to manage customers at the same time might be a lot.. although I do have a couple years of that behind me... haha, if only I knew where life would take me. Deep, I'll send you a pm of something else i started to do, to help me with my organic program (partly why I might wait longer to start it up)...

[Go-Green Lawn Care]

HMMMMMM.... just used the gun sprayer on the front yard (2k ft2). This unit is a bit slow. At the rate I was going I did get 3GPK but it took 23 min to spray 2k. 12 mins/K is not going to cut it in production, but I am just trying it on a few lawns anyway.

For now do you think it would be ok if I sprayed at 1GPK and had the customer water after I treat the lawn? Can the 30 or so minutes in the sun (Basically sitting like a foliar application 'till watered in) harm any of the microbes? (I am using Bills 123 CT) Thanks.

How did the nozzle handle the tea? Did it clog up at all?

[treegal1]

Go green, what did you put the worm casts in to brew? or was it loose???

[JDUtah]

How did the nozzle handle the tea? Did it clog up at all?

No clogging on my 25 gallon system... just a small pump.

[Go-Green Lawn Care]

Thanks, you said the pump had a hard time pushing through that much air hose? 200 ft? Did you find one that will suffice?

Go green, what did you put the worm casts in to brew? or was it loose???

It was loose, then I used a paint strainer bag (doubled over a couple times) to stain it into the sprayer. It's a home made system using air pumps. I'm either going to buy a KIS brewer, or the one Tim offers in the next month or so.

I'm pretty sure my home made system gave me a successful brew for the time being. You should have seen the hyd. peroxide foam up when I cleaned the equipment after I sprayed. :dizzy:


This may be a dumb question, but can there be a point when the DO is too high? Or is it one of those things where the higher the better? I don't have a meter yet, but I was just curious what the affects would be if any.

[JDUtah]

wallz mentioned the 12v pumps not being enough to push the ct... I used 123 ICT, so no aeration... My 25 gallon tank has 20' of hose and it pumped through that ok... They hired us to work on the fungi/thatch problem...

[DeepGreenLawn]

SO, if I were to get one of those small 15 gal tanks with the tiny little pump on it, I need a bigger pump. That is what I figured, that pump on there didn't look like it would do much. The main purpose for this set up is for ICT treatments and fungal apps. What kind of pump do I get for a tank that small to push stuff like NPP and ICT through a 300' hose? I have a 300' hose on my c200 and like tree said, sometimes it seems like it is JUST long enough for certain lawns. I would love for it to be an electric pump if possible.

[JDUtah]

yup, sounds like my issue... get ready to spend 2 grand... or just rob the hose/engine/pump/real from your space saver... even the 7 gpm pump walz found isn't going to cut it with that much hose...

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/product.asp?PG=1502

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/product.asp?PG=778

lets do some math...
You want more flow so go with 1/2" inside diameter hose...
300' of that hose holds 2,221 cubic inches of fluid...
1 gallon = 231 cubic inches

2,221 / 231 = 9.6 gallons of fluid in the hose alone...

15 gallon tank - 9.6 gallons in the hose = 5.4 gallons of fluid left in the tank...

Someone might want to check that math.. it doesn't seem right, but I did the calc twice...

Bottom line... if you need 300' of hose and need a decent flow at the end (3-10 GPM) you need to use a bigger pump and I would suggest at LEAST a 50 gallon tank to make it worthwhile...

Maybe buy a used 4 wheeler with a boom sprayer if you still wanna go small?? that'd cut your investment in half.... plus you get a toy...

[Go-Green Lawn Care]

What about using a bilge pump in the tank itself? Some of those are rated at 500 - 750 gph, and they are very inexpensive.

http://www.joessports.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2033716

Found some rated at 3700 gph, for just over 200 bucks.

[JDUtah]

What about using a bilge pump in the tank itself? Some of those are rated at 500 - 750 gph, and they are very inexpensive.

http://www.joessports.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2033716

Found some rated at 3700 gph, for just over 200 bucks.

"Bilge Pump Voltage Rating 12 VDC Maximum Flow 2000 GPH Current Rating 8.4 Amps Water Flow @ 0 Foot of Head 2000 GPH Water Flow @ 15 Feet of Head 500 GPH Water Flow @ 3.35 Feet of Head 1620 GPH Water Flow @ 6.7 Feet of Head 1300 GPH Hose Outlet 1 1/8 Inches Maximum Head 20.0 Feet Length 4 1/4 Inches Height 6 Inches Width 4 1/4 Inches Marine Plastic Manual"
http://www.drillspot.com/products/76567/Rule_Industries_10_Bilge_Pump

I'm assuming 'head' is hose? Big flow differences with short amounts of hose.. pressure seems to be the problem...

If it would work that would be a great! idea.

[Go-Green Lawn Care]

I suspect the possibility of the fungi getting "shredded" by the impeller may be another problem. Most of them run pretty high rpms.

If not you could also run the outlet hose back into the tank between jobs to keep the tea aerated. Sort of like a portable brewer!!!

[treegal1]

if you guys are really going to monkey around with different pumps to see what works, just come clean out my back room and get the 30+ loser's out of here for me.LOLOL:laugh::laugh:

bilge pump = heat in the water???

[DeepGreenLawn]

what is your take tree? Is running a 15 gal tank with a 300' hose possible? maybe cut that down to 200 since I won't feel bad driving up on the driveways? I now stay on the roads just to be polite I guess, that is how I would want it, I have only gotten my big truck on a driveway once, because I had to. If I had a small car I would have no problem with that, so cut that down to 150-200'. Is this possible with a 15 gal tank and what kind of pump will we need?

[treegal1]

the stock c200 hose has about 3.5 gal in it. 15 foot head is not going to do any thing. how about a valve so that you an suck whatever you want with the c 200. you can use a marine tank(we did and found one that was long short thin and fit under the space saver side dent)25 -55 gallon drum, add a meter valve and use that to pull in what you want. maybe get 3 small tanks 2 , 1 gallon and a 35 gallon, then set it up for fish and NPP in the small ones and tea in the large one and water in the c200 tank, then you dont have to clean the little ones and the big one is water only. you only have to clean the raw tea tank. and the de clor will work in the large tank better

[DeepGreenLawn]

The idea was to put it in a small vehicle such as a Honda Fit and run my ICT/CT out of there, but I take it with your response this isn't feasible with the pumps and hose length. I would have to have a gas pump to run it? I guess you could angle the muffler down through the floor board in a way but it isn't as easy to manuever and such and there is still a good chance for the fumes to stay in the car.

Ehh... maybe one day...

A set up like that would be GREAT for fungal treatments, then when you not doing apps, use it for estimates. The main issue is being able to pump it with an electric pump... nothing big enough?

[phasthound]

I think the best solution is to build/buy a multipurpose spray rig on a trailer. Largest tank for water only, one or two small tanks for mixed product, gas motor, pump & hose real. Fill water tank while spraying from mixing tank (cone shaped for best drainage).

By the time you're done farting around, you've probably spent enough money & wasted enough nonproductive time to have bought a proven rig & been out doing production instead of making repairs & adjustments.

If you don't want to reinvent the wheel & want something that will perform well right from the start and for many years to come, contact Gary at http://greenprosolutions.com/home.htm
Great spray rigs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell 'em Barry sent ya.

[treegal1]

real ACT takes water to move it around, yes some ict or myco can be mixed on the go, great idea, then you just have to have a truck to get the compost and 50# bags of fert to the yards????, yes a mini coop may work for gold in a movie, in the real world the brakes are the ones that suffer?? lets take some stock of my van, sprayer no water, 550# tools, blower, soil sampler, broom, spreader, aerator(hand type),spare fuel,water cooler, weed bucket,spot compost, spare slice of sod,fert(say 200# just to have around for 10, 15K plus yards, wash water, first aid kit. now add some strong 4:1 tea and your off the scales at 8K. this I have to see in a yoda or rice burner

[treegal1]

I think the best solution is to build/buy a multipurpose spray rig on a trailer. Largest tank for water only, one or two small tanks for mixed product, gas motor, pump & hose real. Fill water tank while spraying from mixing tank (cone shaped for best drainage).

By the time you're done farting around, you've probably spent enough money & wasted enough nonproductive time to have bought a proven rig & been out doing production instead of making repairs & adjustments.

If you don't want to reinvent the wheel & want something that will perform well right from the start and for many years to come, contact Gary at http://greenprosolutions.com/home.htm
Great spray rigs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell 'em Barry sent ya.

welcome to a second tag and parking space, pick up truck in the city= stolen gear!!! f350 van with a space saver, used diesel 12K$ space saver and toys4K, bio diesel priceless. that custom rig you showed us, can it still get mcdonalds at 12 feet tall???? never mind the 80 K.

deep Barry did say one thing"why reinvent the wheel" your fungus treatment should be non needed with some ACT, the fungus kill all is great for start up yards, after that you should be getting the tea to do the work........

[Go-Green Lawn Care]

Is there a 12v pump that will get it done? I'm talking small yards 1/2 acre or less.

[treegal1]

time is money!!!!!!! we set up 5 small 35 $ shure flow pumps in series before, we called it frankinpump, it moved almost 6 or 7 gpm with a whole train passing amount of noise. if your aim is just to move tea get a barrel and a gas powered transfer pump!!! one hd or gemplers hose real and a yellow garden hose!!!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95977

[phasthound]

[QUOTE=treegal1;2454071]welcome to a second tag and parking space, pick up truck in the city= stolen gear!!! f350 van with a space saver, used diesel 12K$ space saver and toys4K, bio diesel priceless. that custom rig you showed us, can it still get mcdonalds at 12 feet tall???? never mind the 80 K. QUOTE]

Yo, Gal. I was referring to Deep's desire to be able to use his car. Trailer works for this & yes he'll be replacing brakes often. Green Pro has several models to chose from that will go through Micky D's drive through. :)

An enclosed van is in MHO a better choice than a trailer behind a small car in the long run.

[DeepGreenLawn]

I would still be using the F250 for my compost and all, this would be for running fungus treatments... like now, EVERYONE has a fungus, throw a 15 gal tank in the car, a 200' hose reel, my NPP, and off I go. Hook it up to the hose at the customers house, fill the tank, and BAM, I can treat what 30K? I forget the numbers but a lot more than any of the yards I have in one treatment. Then go down the street and just knock on the door of people with a fungus. I think there is a lot of money and customers to pick up just doing that a lone this time of year.

I show up to your door, show you that you have a fungus, tell you I can treat it right here and now for X $, sounds good to me, and while we are at it, I can continue your services for X amount/treatment.

What do you think? This would be for scooting around town, spraying some fungus, checking out customers lawns, and making estimates. Need an ICT treatment? I got a jug or two in the trunk... no worries, the only thing I couldn't do is a compost/fert treatment. Can even grab a few soil samples while I am out.

Just got to get the pump thing down... I have already measured out a FIT and it should all fit pretty easily, the tank may be a LITTLE tight going sideways across the back seat with it down but it should only be snug. The reel goes in the back "trunk" space and there is room for ICT jugs and NPP. And a small box to hold my soil samples, got the front seat to keep my paperwork, and then when I have the family, the tank is easy enough to remove that I take it out, lift the seats, and WAH LAH! the family has all the room it needs. Got a longer trip? Lug the reel out... I have seen the tank, it ways all of maybe a few pounds empty? And that is how it is carried, empty, again, the heaviest thing would be the reel. and that would feed out the back door (hatch back door).

I JUST NEED THE RIGHT PUMP! Then I am off, maybe with the added customers I can have it running by the end of next spring ready for the fungus to start coming in with the heat. payup

[JDUtah]

My plan, move the post to the back of the truck, still(?) in 10 gallon barrels (20=1 yard), then in the enclosed trailer (ramp door in back, side door towards front), spray tanks (1 big for water or AACT, 2 small for spot treatments, all use one pump/hose, valve system to select which tank), couple backpack sprayers, testing equipment (site pH/salinity/moisture sensors, plugger, soil test baggies/boxes, manuals/books for pest identification/treatment, etc), fert, industrial wagon to haul the post around, also used to haul sprinkler repair totes (5 of them), 20' each of sprinkler pipe (10' lengths), 36" walk behind mower, 21" self propelled mower (glad i won't be hauling grass anymore), 2 trimmers, blower, hand aerator, extra gas, hand tools, first aid, spill clean up kit, empty bucket or two for weeding, etc, etc...

Other trailer for compost topdressings- section for more compost (or grass if doing a de-thatch), 2 aerators, 1 power rake, 2 industrial wagons, 1 large wheelbarrow, rakes, shovels, etc.

Gotta get some weights and see what I can get away with, hopefully under DOT...

[DeepGreenLawn]

Problem #2... they don't make Fits in white.

[treegal1]

ok sounds great, just ask your insurance about it and then the DOT, 25 gallons of water lose in a roll over sounds scary, we have a separate driver space with a dot approved divider and i still think its scary

[DeepGreenLawn]

phast... I have seen a few big F450 type trucks with a tank on the back. I don't know how this company does it, they have to be going through fuel like nothing else.

[Go-Green Lawn Care]

TG, thanks for the link.......any comments about my questions on post 47. Thanks

[DeepGreenLawn]

yeah, it would be strapped down REALLY well.

[treegal1]

I dont know, but it seems that there is a lot of over thinking this, almost like you are limited to the equipment, maybe a separate run for fungus is the way, just sounds like a multi trip scenario. and on established yards and existing routes you would be better off with a back pack sprayer and pony tank rig, if the yards are that small just get a small sprayer and hook it up behind the large rig. i you need to start off small then get the battery back pack and use it till you get the funds to do the real unit, that should happen about the 20-30 customer range, or after your new partner the chiropractor has come to work with ya. it just sounds like there is some corners being cut here and i don't get the why and what of it, we are trying to expand our business aren't we???

[treegal1]

TG, thanks for the link.......any comments about my questions on post 47. Thanksyes, I want to say nice job it sounds like you have a taste for DIY tea, that is great, great casts and good practices are what it takes to turn a good $ in the tea biz, nice work!!!!

[Go-Green Lawn Care]

Any advantage to excessively high DO numbers, say in the high teens as apposed to the low teens?

[DeepGreenLawn]

I don't know, just thought it would be cool... I guess a 100 gal tank with a small side tank will do just about as good. Just thought it would be fun and useful at the same time.

Also just something fun to think about... I tried figuring my app price for compost treatments and I guess it is the heat but my mind stopped working after just a few minutes.

[JDUtah]

i hate brain farts... time for a walk.. :)

[treegal1]

the ability to detect a faulty sensor??? maybe you just got a good run, has the do2 ever done this with another brew?? less dirt and more HERD? maybe the PH???

[treegal1]

any less than 650 per K and the fert guys wont stand a chance, so you use a little more per SMALL App. it is only going to take 50 % more that the fert and it wont cost 800$ per ton!!!

[DeepGreenLawn]

I am taking my first vacation next week in... wow... I can't remember... it will be nice, but I don't know if I am going to be able to stop thinking about the business while I am gone. And there is a ton of stuff to do at the house. Then I have to get a lot of training done at the station before the end of the year...

Ever need a vacation... you KNOW you need one, but you still have so much to do you don't want to take it. The time where I feel like I can actually take a vacation and not have to worry whether this is done or that is done is over I am afraid. One of the down sides of owning your own business.

[treegal1]

the lawns are going to be dormant soon??? you will have it together in the spring, maybe we are going up there this fall, we are thinking on cutting some xmas trees off our lot to sell, they are starting to get crowded and need to be feed, and a vacation is for wimps.LOLOL:cry:

[DeepGreenLawn]

$650/K/year?

WORK BRAIN WORK! :hammerhead:

FINALLY have gotten 90% of the business side of the business under control, just have to clean a few spots here and there and we are good to go. That alone has beaten my brain to death... I can't hardly think straight, and the temps brushing 100 isn't helping either. You know... when even the breeze is hot? And ofcourse the only A/C in the engine is dependent upon how fast your driving.

Sorry, little spat there... but HEY! Got the F250 back up and running... just to have it scheduled to be back in the shop in about a week or so for new seals in on the rear end... but atleast it is running well enough for me to finish this round.:dizzy:

[wallzwallz]

DGL, you could use the Ortho dial-a-spray hose end sprayer for the NPP and if your worried about chlorine w/ the ICT run a garden hose chlorine filter. It will work and is about as cheap a set up as there is. This would work for anyone just testing the organic market. Why spend thousands on a sprayer, more on a brewer to find out the customers aren't there.Buy Bill's product, the hose end sprayer and see if it is going to fly.

[treegal1]

6.50 $ per k per app......sorry almost set my fondue on fire...at the 30 people he has the product cost is almost $1440 per month so why not spend the money and get a brewer and use compost!!!

[DeepGreenLawn]

We still have a few more months I think, it seems they don't go dormant until Nov/Dec? When I was cutting grass I would be cutting into Dec a time or two if I remember right... definitely was cutting into Nov.

My main goal for this year is to have everything in order and a well running system to work with for the next spring rush. We are trying to get everything together for the overseeding this fall, hoping that might be a money maker if we play it right... would REALLY like to have my compost ready by then if nothing else. That is my unofficial deadline for the compost.

and a vacation is for wimps.

This coming from the person who LIVES where I take my vacations. :laugh:

[DeepGreenLawn]

Now that makes more since... thanks... will work on getting things in order and ready for next year and use a price around there, ofcourse my fert will then be pretty much free if not making me money...

LOL, Wallz, you got the right idea, I may look into that... just something I can carry with me in the truck pretty easy, why use the tank and all when I don't have too? And I still get to use the Fit! I will have to run a few tests...

THERE BETTER BE A MARKET! :laugh: Sorry, I have done got everything and am up and running, picked up 50 customers this year in two months and was WAY behind on the start date, I think we started mid April? So... we are expecting business to EXPLODE next year. I can't wait, I am already getting a second truck pieced together. Am loving every minute of it too... I have to force myself to go home at the end of the day.

[treegal1]

there is defiantly a jumping off point with composting your self you need to have all you need and the volume to make it profitable, over seed and core aerate should do good for ya, add costs are the thing to watch!!!

[DeepGreenLawn]

add costs as in promoting? or added costs along the way?

[treegal1]

add costs as in promoting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!