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Some one-man sprayers are designed with a tank of up to five gallons that sits on the ground while you pump up pressure. Another type rides on your back with shoulder straps and lets you pump as you walk. Since fifteen-foot trees, in leaf or dormant, require two or three gallons of material each for a thorough spraying, these small rigs take a lot of refilling. The next-largest size is a 20-30-gallon tank which you trundle in a barrow or on wheels of its own, still pumping up pressure by hand. After that you get into motored sprayers, whose costs rise with the tankage and power. Where true neighborliness and enough trees warrant, owners sometimes club together and, for a total outlay of perhaps $600, jointly buy a 300-gallon spray-rig capable of hitting anything up to forty feet at about 200 pounds of pressure. Beyond this caliber, where strong spray materials may get out of hand and real hose-manship is called for, calling in professionals is recommended. If you have done some spraying for yourself, you will know what more you need, when you need it, and what to pay for it. Most tree services have high-powered rigs carrying 500-600 gallons. Charges must vary with mileages and materials but they should not run above twelve to fifteen cents per gallon applied. Companies with mist-blowers can make you the best prices, if your trees are accessible. |
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