PermaGreen Triumph Border Pass
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Photo credit: PermaGreen
RIDE ON APPLICATORS:
A TOOL FOR SUCCESS? By J. Bryan Unruh, Professor and Associate Director
INTRODUCTION The use of ride-on applicators in the landscape is common in the northern and transition zones of the United States. However, it has only been in recent years that these machines have made their way south. Ride-on applicator use on warm-season landscapes has been steadily rising over the past few years. In visiting with lawn care operators, the consensus is that the increasing difficulty in finding labor is prompting the shift towards the ride-on applicators. In a leading industry survey, 56% of survey respondents listed labor as a major concerni. The challenge is due to the aging workforce and the difficulty in attracting younger workers. A cursory review of Lawn & Landscape Magazine reveals several articles aimed at attracting and retaining young employees. The use of ride-on applicators is seen as a key move to keep younger workers satisfiedii. Ride-on applicators also allow for increased productivity since one can spray and spread at the same time. Additionally, ride-on applicators require less manual labor, putting an end to dragging hoses or pushing spreaders. The advantages and disadvantages of the ride-on applicators are listed in Table 1. TABLE 1: Advantages and disadvantages of ride-on type applicators used in the landscape maintenance industry.
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim es > >> Su m mer 2020
ADVANTAGES • Cover larger areas more quickly • Convenience (two-in-one) • Easy to make spot applications • Consistency of applications throughout the day • Less labor intensive — retain skilled workers • Higher profit potential
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DISADVANTAGES • Initial cost ($4,600 +) • Hauling requirements (safety) • Operating on slopes and in small areas • Maintenance adjustments/costs • Sprayer uniformity concerns • Low volume applications only • Small spray tanks • Calibration is more complicated • Training / Learning curve
PermaGreen Triumph Spray Pattern Photo credit: PermaGreen
TYPES OF RIDE-ON APPLICATORS There are basically two types of ride-on applicators: spreader only and spreader/sprayer. The spreader only applicators are useful for applying granular products such as fertilizer or fertilizer sparged with a pesticide. Examples include the Ferris Rover™ Ride-On Spreader, the Spyker Ride-On Spreader, and the LESCO HPS Chariot Ride-On Spreader. Retail pricing for spreader only models range from $4,600 – $6,775. The spreader/sprayer applicators allow for singular or simultaneous application of both dry and liquid products. There are two types of sprayer designs: Boomless and boomtype. The boomless sprayers employ a cluster of FloodJet® type nozzles that distribute the spray solution through a single nozzle operating at a given time. The boom sprayer, as the name implies, has three or four nozzles uniformly spaced along a rigid boom. Examples include the PermaGreen, Ferris Venture™, Z-Spray, and the Turfco T3100 Spreader & Sprayer. Retail pricing for the spreader/sprayer systems range from $10,000 – $13,000.
