Calibration - The Backbone of Lawn Servicing

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🕳️ DIGGING DEEP
Master Your Spray Game: Why Regular Calibration is Your Secret Weapon

I think that calibration is one of the most important processes that often doesn’t get the attention it should. Whether you're combating stubborn weeds, seeding thin areas, or protecting prized ornamentals, your sprayers, spreaders, and other equipment is only as effective as its calibration.

Like a musical instrument needing tuning, regular calibration ensures your equipment performs in perfect harmony with your goals. Here's why making calibration part of your routine matters:

Precision = Professional Results

I highly suggest a set schedule of calibrating equipment. When employees know that they are expected to calibrate every morning before leaving the warehouse, it becomes routine.

When they turn in a list of products they left with and returned with, there is accountability. Your established parameters will depend on your services, products, and equipment.

You should have notecards, or some type of weather protected material with calibrations settings and rates attached to equipment. In some states, the lawn requires the calibration information be attached to all equipment.

I was at a business in Texas when a state inspector came by and asked to see the required calibration information. The owner had the information on each spreader and ride-on applicator but not on the spray rigs. We had to calibrate and create a record to pass inspection and avoid issues.

Examples of Calibration Routines:

Fertilizer Spreader

Weekly Calibration - Complete check by weighing out product, and applying to set area, and make adjustments.

Daily In-Field Monitoring - Anytime you change products, weigh out 5 pounds of the fertilizer you are using and put in the hopper. Mark the inside of the hopper with tape at the 5-pound height. Continue adding 5 pounds and marking the tape until the hopper is full.

Throughout the day, use the marks to compare usage to expected usage for each property. Compare total daily usage with expected usage and make sure it stays within 5 %.

High Pressure Sprayer

• Weekly/Monthly Full Calibrations Walk and spray 1,000 square feet to monitor walking pace. Use a container to collect product the length of time it took to spray 1,000 square feet.

• Adjust pressure/ spray gun or both. Nozzle wear can affect 10-15% of flow rate after 50 hours on boom type nozzels.

• Daily Quick Checks A 90-second pressure gauge + pattern test can catch sudden issues. Spray into measuring pitcher for the length of time it takes to cover 1,000 sq ft ,check output, pour back into tank. It should be about 60 sec (for 1,000 sq ft) outputting 1 gallon of water if that is your goal.

• In-Field Monitoring Track real-time variables - humidity shifts can alter droplet size by 22%. A sprayer on the back of a truck can vibrate out of its setting in a few hours. Watch tank levels and compare to lawn size if possible.

What Equipment Should I Calibrate Regularly?

✅ Mowers (Cutting height and blade sharpness)
✅ High Pressure Reel Hose Sprayers
✅ Push, Belly Grinder, and Hand Spreaders
✅ Hand tank and Backpack Sprayers
✅ Nozzles and nozzle totals (boom sprayers)
✅ Seeders and seeding attachments

Also check combination equipment that apply liquid and granular product at the same time. Check both output and coverage width. A small pressure issue can reduce coverage width.

The Hidden Costs of "Close Enough"
When calibrations lapse:

⚠️ Drift disasters - Improper droplet size increases off-target movement up to 300%
⚠️ Resistance risks - Under-dosing insecticide allows 47% faster pest adaptation (IRAC 2023 data). Underapplying insecticide may be ineffective. (Unhappy customers)
⚠️ Equipment strain - Mismatched pressure/screen combos accelerate pump wear
⚠️ Burn risk - Over fertilizing can burn a lawn (Unhappy customers).
⚠️ Wastes Money- Over fertilizing wastes money and increases risk of environmental runoff issues
⚠️ Weed Issues - Under spraying pre-emergent and post weed control can lead to call-backs. (More unhappy customers).

Smart Scheduling Saves Headaches
We recommend monitoring:

1. Morning pressure checks - Temperature impacts output

2. Daily pattern tests - Confirm coverage hasn't drifted

3. End-of-day nozzle inspections - Catch wear before next use

Pro Tip: Keep calibration logs - most state regulators require documentation showing ≤5% application variance for sprayers.

Beyond Compliance
Regular calibration shows clients you:
🔹 Respect their investment (proper fertilizer rates prevent turf burn, proper pre-emergent keeps lawns clean)
🔹 Protect watersheds (EPA studies show proper calibration reduces pyrethroid runoff 82%)
🔹 Value efficiency (correct flow rates save 7-12 minutes per tank)

Consider making calibration part of your crew's morning huddle. A 3-minute equipment check could prevent 3 hours of rework. Your plants (and profit margins) will thank you!

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