All I can find is the standard "20 to 24 oz per acre" rate. can anyone tell me how much that is per gallon?? Thanks.

 

Hello Yardnut

For Tall Fescue, the label specifies "Use a minimum spray volume of 30 gallons of water per acre". By this figure, you should use 0.8 oz per gal at the 24 oz per acre strength. (24 oz per acre / 30 gal per acre = 0.8 oz per gallon)

You should calabrate your sprayer using clear water to figure out how much one gallon will cover at a given pressure and nozzle configuration. Then you can divide the area covered into 43560 sq ft or 4840 sq yds to see how much (water) it will take to cover an acre. If you calculate that it will take less than 30 gallons to cover an acre, you will have to dose the area more heavily by changing nozzles or pressure so that 1 gallon will cover 1452 sq ft or an area roughly 38' x 38'.

If it takes more than 30 gallons to cover an acre, you can decrease the mixing strength to (desired strength of product / number of gallons per acre = oz of product per gallon). ....Ooops... I've edited this formula to the correct one - had the two numbers reversed in the original post - hope you re-read this before calculating, Yardnut...

Clear as mud, huh?!?

Good luck with the math...

Btw - you probably already have the label and MSDS, but here's a link to both just in case...

http://www.pbigordon.com/Product_Pag..._Herbicide.htm


Howie

 

Ummmm...

I just realized that I may have been stepping on your toes a bit by answering Yardnut's post, Marturo.

Hope you don't mind the response...

Btw... Glad to see the Gardening forum has a new Moderator Congrats on the Posting! Good to 'see' a 'new face' here!

Best Wishes

Howie
(Lawns Mod)

 

Yardnut, I made a mistake in the original equation for figuring out the amount of product to add per gallon of water after you know how much water it takes to cover an acre - the above post has been corrected now...

H.

 

Okay let's say I don't have time, or the knowhow, to calibrate my sprayer - are you saying that I can probably use .8 oz of the Ornamec per gallon? Your're right - it is as clear as mud, and frustrating. Other products always give a per-gallon rate. I don't know why Gordon has to be so cryptic. Thanks for the reply.

 

Hello again Yardnut

You're right - it can be a pain in the you know where, but calibration of spray equipment is one of the most important aspects of properly dosing ANY chemical used in the landscape or agriculture. If you don't know how much product you are putting down, you run a very large risk of overapplying (which is why Gordon has stated the minimum dilution rates) or underapplying (thus wasting product because it is virtually ineffective). Overapplication will often also harm desired plants.

Not sure what the Regs are like in VA, but here in Canada, most horticultural chemicals are controlled by Legislation in many formulations, quantities and concentrations. In order to purchase or (legally) apply restricted products, you have to hold License(s) in various categories (herbicides, insecticides, intended target use, etc). This is done to prevent the misuse of product, thus impacting the environment or the health and saftey of people, pets and wildlife.

The label also states that this product will have negative effects on aquatic life, so if it is overapplied, could leach or be carried by run-off into streams, rivers or lakes.

Sprayer calibration is NOT as hard as one might think - just fill it with a known quantity of clean water, pressurize it, and spray at your normal rate on a driveway or road, measuring the area covered after you run out of water (If you use a quart of water, 4 times the area covered will be covered by a gallon. Divide this area into 43560 sq ft {the area in an acre} to see how many gallons it will take to cover an acre.

Gordon has labelled the product the way they did because different dilution rates are required to effectively control different pest plants. Those trained in the proper application of pesticides should be able to use the information to determine proper dosage. Unfortunately, the importance of the calculations and ramifications of misuse are often overlooked by laypeople trying for a quick fix to their problems.

I don't mean to discourage or belittle laypeople, but in todays' eco-consious society, proper application of any chemical is important.

If in doubt about the Regulatory status of Ornamec in your area, you could talk to the people who supplied it to you - they should be able to help you determine the proper dosage, also (...in my opinion, if they can't, they shouldn't be selling the product...).

Good Luck

Howie