How to Calibrate Hose End Sprayer, Mix Chemicals & Calculate Spray Rate

For getting the best output, pesticides need to be appropriately mixed and sprayed at a reasonable rate.

Although the pesticide containers have all the information written in them, you still need to calculate the speed and amount on your own.

Alongside mixing the pesticides properly, sprayers need to be calibrated as well.

So the entire mixing and calibrating process requires some calculations to find out the best results.

With proper calculations and a simple method, it’s possible to calibrate a hose-end sprayer in just a few steps.

So if you’re wondering about calibrating a sprayer, we are with this how to calibrate hose end sprayer guide for you.

We’ll cover everything from calibrating to mixing chemicals and spray rate calculations!

Calibrating Hose End Sprayer: Step-By-Step Guide

Before we head on to the step-by-step guide, know that you’ll need some tools while calibrating your hose end sprayer.

Each device has its purpose, and they combinedly make the calibration task easier.

During our experiment, we needed these tools to get a calibrated hose end sprayer. The necessary tools are:

Ways to Calibrate a Hose End Sprayer

Our step-by-step guide will come in handy while calibrating an ATV, 3-point, and other types of sprayers.

We recommend performing this method before spraying your lawn so that you can get a clear idea about the quantity, timing, and proportion.

Let’s begin,

Step 1: Measure Nozzle Distance

Let’s start with measuring the nozzle distance at first. By measuring the nozzle distance, you can also find out the travel distance.

Let’s make it more clear.

Nozzle distance = Required distance

Step 2: Measure Travel Distance

Now take your measuring tape and measure an average travelling distance.

You can use posts/flags to mark the points. Remember to use a measuring tape that can measure more than 200 ft.

You can also use a trundle wheel as an efficient alternative method to measure the distance quickly.

Step 3: Measure Time

Now it’s time to use your hose-end sprayer at a regular rate.

Start spraying with the sprayer and use a stopwatch at the same time. Calculate the time required to cross the flags/posts (that you marked earlier).

Every time the water crosses the flags/posts, you need to stop counting. Repeat this measuring procedure 2 or 3 times and find out the average time from them.

Step 4: Set Sprayer Pressure

Don’t forget to set the pressure on the sprayer when the pump is running.

Step 5: Finding Sprayer Output

Now it’s time to use the bucket or jug to determine the amount of water exiting from the sprayer.

Use the same water pressure on the sprayer and keep the water running at speed for the time you find out in step 3.

Repeat this measuring output process a couple of times and find out the average like before!

Step 6: Clean the Sprayer (Optional)

As we already mentioned, the pesticide containers come with all the information and quantity.

Now you need to compare the manufacturer’s label with your calculated one.

If you see a deviation of 10% in the value between the two, your sprayer nozzle needs to be cleaned.

You can use a brush to clean the nozzle. You can also use a toothbrush to clean the nozzles easily.

Step 7: Result Analysis

We experimented on ounces. You can also convert the values to gallons per acre (1 ounches= 1 (Gallons per acre).

After all the calculations, the Gallons per acre need to be 5% of the required rate.

If you don’t see this value, you must adjust your sprayer pressure alongside the water speed. To adjust the speed and pressure, repeat step 3-step 6.

So by this way, you can calibrate a chameleon hose end sprayer, ortho dial n spray hose end sprayer, and other sprayer types as well. The process and calculation are similar for all of them!

How Do You Mix Chemicals in Hose End Sprayer?

Only calibrating the hose end sprayers won’t work if you don’t properly mix the pesticides.

That’s why here’s another guide on mixing chemicals in a hose end sprayer.

You’ve already known about calibrating a sprayer. Now it’s time to know about the methods of mixing chemicals in a calibrated hose end sprayer.

Step 1: Read Manufacturer’s Instructions

Every chemical, pesticide comes with labels and instructions from manufacturers. If you look closely, you’ll find the instructions about the procedure, dilution rate, and other amount units like a gallon, ounces, tablespoons, etc.

To find out the quantity, you need to find the area of the field you want to cover.

If the area is square, find the length and breadth. For square regions, multiply length with the distance to find the area.

Almost in all pesticides, the dilution rate is given for a 1,000 square feet area.

Step 2: Dial Setting

As you already know how to calibrate an ortho dial n spray hose end sprayer, this will come in handy here.

Dial n Spray hoses have amounts in ounces and other units. The amounts denote the quantity that needs to be added to a gallon of water.

So you need to set the dial accordingly for 1 gallon of water. For your information, the dial can denote from 1 teaspoon to 8 ounces of mixtures.

Step 3: Dilution Process

Pesticides can come in both powder form or liquid form.

If you’re using powdered pesticides, you need to dilute them at first.

You need to add the pesticides in a gallon and add 4 ounces of water in it.

As the nozzle is narrow, you need to use pre-mixing powders to avoid a clogged nozzle.

However, if the pesticides are liquid, there’s no need to add pre-mixing powders with them.

Step 4: How to Use

After mixing all the ingredients and diluting them, you need to pour the mixture into a canister.

Close the lid after that and attach a hosepipe.

Now do a trial run with the sprayer and see if everything works perfectly or not.

How Do You Calculate Chemical Spray Rate?

For calculating the chemical spray rate, a few other things need to be calculated as well.

Coverage area and total gallons of water need to be found first to determine the amount of required pesticides and herbicides.

Assume you need to cover a 200 square feet area. Typically, 2 gallons of water is required to cover 100 square feet. So, in this case, you’ll need 4 gallons of water to spray the whole 200 square feet area/lawn.

It is now coming to the amount of herbicides. Each gallon of water needs 4 ounces of herbicides.

So as you’ll need 4 gallons of water, the required amount of herbicides is 4 * 4 = 16 ounces of herbicides. This is the needed herbicide for a 200 square feet area.

Using the same formula, you can find out the amount of water and herbicides for different fields.

Ortho Dial n spray and Chameleon sprayers have different spraying and conversion values.

So for a better understanding, here’s a hose end sprayer conversion chart for you-

We believe our comparison chart will help to convert dial settings to delivered settings.

All you need to do is read the instructions on the label and use the quantity given in the chart that matches the brand.

Conclusion:

The best output comes when you calibrate the hose end sprayer properly, mix the chemicals and pesticides according to proportion and finally spray at a reasonable rate.

Yes, we know it was a long article but trust me, the three combined processes help get the result you want.

Since you know how to calibrate hose end sprayer and other things, now is the time to give it a go!