Nick diLorenzo

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How to Calibrate a Fertilizer Spreader

Posted by Nick diLorenzo on Oct 1, 2015 6:03:00 PM

If maintenance services are a significant source of revenue for your business, one of the quickest ways to improve your profit margins is to consistently use the proper amount of product on each and every job.

In this FAQ, Nick diLorenzo, Horizon's National Sales Manager for Landscape Products, shares a simple 3 step method that will help you quickly calibrate your fertilizer spreader.

Video Summary

In less than 5 minutes, you can know exactly how much fertilizer you need to apply and make sure your fertilizer spreader is set up to apply that right amount of product.

3 Things You Need to Get Started:

  1. Fertilizer Spreader - To properly measure out the test area of 1000 sq ft, you need to know the effective width of your fertilizer spreader. The effective width is how wide the spreader throws the fertilizer.
  2. Scale - To weigh the material.
  3. Calibration Tray, Broom, or Bucket - To measure or capture the material you put out in the test area. Calibration trays capture the fertilizer during the test, which allows you to get an extremely accurate measurement. If you weigh your material before and after your test application, a bucket can also get you a very accurate measurement. A broom allows you to sweep up the material within the test area for weighing, but is usually the least accurate option of the 3.

 

The 3 Steps of Fertilizer Calibration

Step 1: Calculate how much fertilizer you need.

To properly calibrate your spreader, you need to do the math first and then get out into the field and do the legwork. To calculate how much fertilizer you need to apply, you have to know:
- The application rate,
- The target nutrient,
- The formulation of your fertilizer.

So if you have a contract that states you need to use 1 lb of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft and you're using a fertilizer with an NPK of 24-2-9, divide the 1 lb of N by .24 (the percentage of nitrogen in the bag as a decimal). In this example, you'll need to apply 4.16 lbs of fertilizer to get 1 lb of N per 1000 sq ft.

 

Step 2: Find out how much fertilizer you're currently using.

Calibrating a Fertilizer SpreaderTo test your spreader's current application rate, measure out an area of 1000 sq ft.

Coverage Area = Length x Effective Width

The easiest way to measure out your test area is to divide your coverage area by the effective width of your spreader. So if you want to cover 1000 sq ft and the spreader has an effective width of 10 ft, you'll need to walk 100 ft.

Weigh your fertilizer before and after your test application to determine how much fertilizer you're currently applying.

 

Step 3: Adjust the spreader's setting until the application rate is within 1% of the amount calculated in Step 1.

Compare the amount of fertilizer you calculated in Step 1 to the amount of fertilizer your spreader actually used during the test application. Adjust the setting on the spreader up or down accordingly. Once you're happy with the setting (we recommend within 1%), write it in your log book!

 

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Topics: Maintenance, Fertilizer

How to Identify and Control Emerald Ash Borer Damage in Colorado

Posted by Nick diLorenzo on Jan 27, 2014 4:32:00 PM

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a devastating insect that kills ash trees by interrupting the vascular system, which reduces the tree's ability to move water and nutrients. EAB is responsible for the death or decline of over 50 million ash trees in 22 states since its initial discovery in Michigan in 2002.

In September 2013, the City of Boulder identified that EAB had entered the county and issued an Emergency Quarantine Notice. Among other restrictions, that means NO ash trees grown in Boulder County or firewood from Ash trees can leave its borders.

Because of their popularity in Colorado, many communities have been overplanted with ash trees. It's estimated that there are over 98,000 in Boulder and over 1.45 million ash trees in the greater Denver Metro area. Ash trees are popular because of their ability to grow in our soils as well as the aesthetic benefits they provide.    

If you remember the recent Rocky Mountain Pine Beetle infestation in our mountains, this EAB biological catastrophe has the legs to make an equal economic impact, only it will be closer to home.

Symptoms of EAB Infestation

emerald ash borer

It's difficult to identify EAB damage in the winter season because there is no visible activity. When spring comes, you'll be able to identify that your ash trees have been targeted by the manner they “come back to life”.

It's possible that EAB could infest an ash tree for 3 or 4 years before visible signs of decline of the tree. According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, signs of infestation include:

  • Sparse leaves or branches in the upper part of the tree.

  • D-shaped exit holes about 1/8 inch wide.

  • New sprouts on the lower trunk or lower branches.

  • Vertical splits in the bark.

  • Winding S-shaped tunnels under the bark.

  • Increased woodpecker activity.

Resources for Controlling EAB Damage

1. www.eabcolorado.com - Colorado's Department of Agriculture has devoted an entire section of their website to the Emerald Ash Borer. Resources include: EAB Identification & Reporting, Photo Gallery, Instructions for Treatment and Handling of Regulated Ash Material from a Quarantined Area, Emergency Action Plan, and Frequently Asked Questions.

2. Local Horizon Programs - With the help of our vendor network, Horizon has put together preventative programs that will help you better manage your trees and control EAB damage, thus reducing the economic impact on you and your customers. Contact your local Horizon store for more information.

 

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Topics: Maintenance