What Was I Thinking?

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andy10917
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What Was I Thinking?

Post by andy10917 » May 4th, 2019, 10:29 pm

Hand-Pumping 1+ acres is not a simple task. Went from 2-gallon to 4 gallon pump-up sprayer in 2013, to manual backpack sprayer in 2016, to Chapin 24V Lithium-Ion backback today. Spraying hundreds and hundreds of Hosta every 4 weeks is lots of work, but 50% less effort after the move.

What the Hell was I thinking?

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HoosierLawnGnome
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Re: What Was I Thinking?

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » May 4th, 2019, 11:15 pm

Ikr. I never regret spending money on what I really want.

Now I'm off to buy that dodge viper.

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: What Was I Thinking?

Post by andy10917 » May 5th, 2019, 8:23 am

I take a different approach to the acquisition of equipment. Money spent on things like $50 soil probes to do a once-a-year soil test (where a $7 bulb planter does a fine job) subtract from the available funds for other parts of my annual budget for things to help the lawns, gardens and flower beds. It adds up when you have an acre+ to deal with.

That said, this is a case where I clearly didn't factor-in the value of my time, and I'm kicking myself in the butt. Time is as important or more important than dollars.

Oldschool
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Re: What Was I Thinking?

Post by Oldschool » May 5th, 2019, 9:10 am

Just curious, what did you spray on the Hosta’s?

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: What Was I Thinking?

Post by andy10917 » May 5th, 2019, 9:21 am

"Liquid Fence". It's the only deer repellent that I have long-term success with. With my property being right next to 25,000 acres of West Point's (unhunted) land, the deer pressure is very heavy - they come over as many as 12 at a time. This year, they beat me to many of the Hosta spikes coming up - Liquid Fence must be applied when it is dry out, and we have had rain every 24-36 hrs for weeks. It rained yesterday morning and is raining now.

I have had people stop their cars to ask how I succeed in defeating the deer pressure. It's expensive, but I use a combination of Liquid Fence, DMSO (to get it to penetrate the leaves) and Nu-Film P which forms a polymer coating to keep it from washing off much longer.


Oldschool
Posts: 238
Joined: July 2nd, 2017, 11:28 am
Location: Windsor, Colorado
Grass Type: Kentucky Bluegrass
Lawn Size: 1000-3000
Level: Some Experience

Re: What Was I Thinking?

Post by Oldschool » May 5th, 2019, 9:25 am

I am so glad I asked. Planted my first Hosta’s yesterday in corner of property where the deer like to nap.

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: What Was I Thinking?

Post by andy10917 » May 5th, 2019, 9:35 am

Hosta are known around here as "Deer Candy" or "Deer Crack".

I may elaborate on this in a new topic in the "Shade Gardening" forum - I don't want to go too far off-topic here in the Equipment Forum.

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HoosierLawnGnome
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Re: What Was I Thinking?

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » May 5th, 2019, 12:18 pm

Oh I get that.

Speaking of bulb planters, I bought a pro plugger last fall and I rarely touch a normal bulb planter now. I've planted 200 vinca minor, 100 annuals, moved tons of sod plugs, and taken samples with it. No more bending over and I get a clean hole every time.

Now I need like a 2 gallon pump sprayer for spot spraying. My backpack is too big for that job.

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