Use seperate sprayers if you can. One should be for nonselectives such as Roundup. One can be for Phenoxy herbicides that contain 2,4-D or whatever you like. A third can be resered for ornamental use if needed.

If more than 1 isn't an option yet, common household bleach will neutralize most herbicides. So will industrial Ammonia. Never mix the 2 together.

Penoxy herbicides penetrate rubber. This can result in ornamental damage even after a good cleaning. When in doubt, don't use the contaminated sprayer.

Many chemical suppliers sell spray tank cleaners. We offer one called LESCOSOL that is as good as it gets.

www.lesco.com

Measuring quantities of chemicals of less than 1 oz can be much easier with some medical tools. If you have any small children, take a look in the medicine chest. Better still are the small, calibrated eyedropper looking medicine dispensers that are given away for free by pediatricians & pharmacies to the parents of infants & toddlers. No kids? Ask anyone who does for a used one. Or just inquire at the pharmacy counter at any good drug store. They might be free.

Lable ALL measuring devices as TOXIC & store in a locked, approved, metal cabinet. Roundup & Phenoxy herbicide measuring cups need to be labled & dedicated for their exclusive use too.

Steve

 

Doogiegh

There is a fertilizer-- pesticide store in your area I think the name is Les-- something oh LESCO. They sell a container called a tip and pour. They are great just pour your pesticide in them and label it. By tipping the bottle you can put just the right amount of chemical in the second chamber which has a gauge on it, then take the cap off and pour it in the spray tank. Tip and pours are safe and you need not clean anything up. With a 4 gallon back pack you need not to use eye droppers to measure chemicals.

I will have to agree with Steve (although I hate To) first statement about using two or three different sprayers if you can. But if you have more time than money then bleach or ammonium will oxide most chemicals. However be sure to wash out the bleach or ammonium so it does not effect the next tank mix.

As far as Roundup being a nonselective herbicide you need to talk with a good chemical salesman. They would tell you that Roundup is not only a select herbicide but in fact a growth regulator. Since there is more Roundup sold than any other chemical for horticulture. All of the knowledgeable Chemical salesman know this.

 

Thanks for the info Tremor. Rick - I gotta check, but I've heard all about Lesco and so far the only place I've seen Lesco at all in Central NJ is some products are for sale at the local Home Depot. I have not seen or come across as single 'Lesco' shop anywhere in my area. Maybe they are by you in Florida and other parts of the country, but I haven't found one yet near me in NJ.

Thanks for the tip N pour. I'll see how that goes. And being I'm only mixing like 4 gallons at a time, I might be able to get a simple graduated cylinder to measure out my 10 ounces at a time.

Thanks

 

Doogiegh

How about a measuring cup from the supermarket.

 

LESCO #508
40 Brunswick Ave Suite 102B
Edison, NJ 08817
(732) 248-8979
Jim & Larry
sls508@lesco.com

This could cost me. We'll see.

Steve

 

We use ordinary kitchen stainless or glass measuring cups for moderate volume mixes. Plastic measuring spoons for smaller volumes. We rinse right into the tank each mix and residue is not a problem.

For those real high potency products you can go to a vet or maybe a drug store and get a plastic syringe minus needle that will handle 3cc/ml.

I like separate sprayers for non-selectives, broadleafs and insect/disease control. We use a back pack sprayer that has pull out plastic jugs for a tank. It makes for a nice change over and easy clean. We label jugs with what was mixed or type of product they are for and use the lesco neutralizer or plain water to flush the system.

 

Thanks for the Lesco site!! I had no idea they were there, and I know where that road is! That's great! Too bad Lesco's web site that I just checked out isn't more informative about anything that we care about. <G>

I'll also check into the simple grocery store type items for a nice measuring device. Sounds simple enough.

Thanks everyone, your help on here is unsurpassed.

 

Originally posted by Doogiegh
Thanks for the Lesco site!! Too bad Lesco's web site that I just checked out isn't more informative about anything that we care about. <G>

Good question Doogiegh. Lets ask Steve why a national fertilizer company that markets to "professionals" doesn't offer more informative material for their customers to read on their website.
Are informed customers not better customers. I am sure Lesco has someone who can write a Short and to the point article that tells how fertilizer is used by plants. Opps that sounds like my website.
Ric's website

 

Hello Ric,

Short? Better not have us do it.
Nice website. I'll touch base later when I can since I'm on the road a lot during the day now.

We own a very cool (or so I've heard) website/forum that has never been opened up. The one we've all seen is lame. We don't deny it.

We wasted 3 years exploring/designing an online web-based E-Store, but have pretty much scratched it. Freight variables were among the issues that came up.

The guy who's been ramping the thing up as time & bduget allow (check the stock price) tells me that when it is opened, it will be great. We'll see. Your's is looking good at any rate.

Steve

 

Your a good man Tremor

Yes I mean that for real.

This morning I received a E mail from Tremor. Thank You Steve. Steve had read my website and found several minor mistakes or typo Which he called to my attention in a very nice way. He also wrote that he was telling me these things in private as not to cause me embarrassment in a public form. He also talked about a company that I do business with and the advantage of there blends. I hope that my reply was received as well as I received Steve's e mail.

Steve if your man enough to treat me with respect after the way I have beat on you. Then I am man enough to tell it like it is.

Does this mean I won't bust your chops any more about Fertilizer or pesticides?? HECK NO I want to keep you busy writing those novels. I know you got to be learning something with all that research.

I have never said Lesco products were bad just a little high priced, and I have to admit they seem to be getting a little better.
What I hate admit is that haft the fertilizer I use is Lesco.

 

What I just don't understand is that Lesco gets all this free publicity here and they are too cheap or stupid to sponsor a manufactures forum at lawnsite.

This is typical of these staid large corporations. Anyone that has a clue and rocks the boat is not needed. Only drones and geldings need apply to work for large corporations in this day and age. This is one of the reasons I left the corporate world behind 12 years ago. BTW the last company I worked for just filed chapter 11. Maybe Scotts or UHS will step up the plate and sponsor a forum.

I know that these are not Steve's issues. He is trying to help as much as one man can.

Maybe they can't come up with a few bucks for Chuck for they are having financial difficulties?

 

I just wish I could find a Lesco store in Alabama.
We don't even have a Home Depot close by!

I know, Podunkville

I see ya got back home OK Larry.

 

Ric,
You didn't have to do that. You are a gentleman.

Larry,
Like everyone else in the big arena, we posted a loss for 2001. We didn't lose anywhere as much as some of the companies the doomsdayers thought were going to buy us though.
We eliminated 1 pilot marketing program, ditched 1 existing program, & will limit LESCO NEWS to fewer pages & editions. It aint easy being publicly traded & owned. We have to please a hole bloody contingency of investors who don't have a clue about agronomics. But they don't have to. We just have to tow the line & start demonstrating why we represent good shareholder value by managing the books in a fiscally responsible fasion. Unfortunately, this often means not being able to do some of the things we would like very much to do.
On the one hand we hear complaints that we charge too much for our products & support of the industry. On the other hand we hear how cheap we are with our marketing budget. What's it going to be? The lowest price or the fattest bank account? Last night I found an Ag Co-op selling fertilizer at a price lower than I can make it for. Are they going to support this industry the way we do?
We do all we can to eliminate waste & stay competitive, but we WILL NOT lower quality unless that is what the customers say they want. No one has ever suggested we market ping pong ball sized urea blends with a full complement of dust so I'll hazard a guess that this isn't what we want to see.
We fire drones & geldings just like you would. Unless they know how to sell of course.
Some of our associates have lost the privelege of posting here because they couldn't demonstrate discretion. For whatever it's worth, I go out of my way to avoid tooting our horns in this forum because I feel it would be in very poor taste since we don't support the board financially. I am not interested in free publicity, but I do acknowlege that it happens here with or without help from me. Maybe I can help this to change.
I've never discussed this or anything else with Chuck. If you know how to contact him, would you do that for me? Ask him to send me a private e-mail. Not the one on this forum, I rarely look at it unless someone complains that I haven't responded to a message placed there. Send correspondence directly to me. I want LESCO to support this forum with whatever means are available even if that means waiting for a good quarter.

sls247@lesco.com

Now at the risk of breaking the fragile limb I've strayed onto:

Homer,
There are 4 stores in Alabama. Homewood, Huntsville, Mobile, & Montgomery.

Thanks to all,
Steve

 

Steve:
I notified Chuck of your message. I'm sure he will contact you.
Thanks

 

I found these at Forestry Suppliers. Website is www.forestry_suppliers.com. When you get there go to the online catalog these are called measure mate chemical containers, the product number is 92989. I love these things for small tank mixing. I mark on the outside what it is and what the rate is and that is it. Easy to use for sure.

Mike