My property doesn't justify a back pack model. For me the nost important aspect is eliminating the plastic junk. This takes me into 'commercial' sprayers. Stainless steel tank, brass wand, value and nozzles. Additional nozzles with different patterns are available with commercial sprayers. Rebuild kits are also available for the pump. Buy one, one for a life time. See link below ---------------- Here is a link that might be useful: Hudson-97292-Commercial-Sprayer

egghead2004, I'm surprised it took you 4 days to spray your yard?? Before I made my boom sprayer, I used a 5 gal back pack for spraying my yard. My lot is on average, 230ft X 190ft. Similar to you, I dont have a square property. My technique for even coverage was a bit simple but it worked. I used 2 rolls of luminous yellow builders string, 300ft rolls that can be wound up like a fishing pole. I have 6ft markers evenly spaced along at the top and bottom fences of my yard. I attach the string to the bottom of one marker and walk the 230ft to the opposite side of the yard and attach it to the matching post, down low. I repeat this with the second posts alongside. The string lies on the ground and clearly marks the correct area to be sprayed. My yard is not nice n square so I would keep with the parallel lines and when I got to the tapering bits I'd have to pay a bit more attention! My backpack sprayers got a twin head nozzle. I found my optimum spray pattern with the wand was 6ft moving the wand left to right comfortably, so that determined the spacing of my string marker. I would walk in between the string, dead on centre and walk at a set pace along the 230ft. When I got to the end I would move the string on to the next pair of marker posts and repeat. It took a while, but I figured out the correct walking pace, the optimum wand movement and the consistent pumping action of the hand pump. I found actually humming/whistling a marching song was the way to 'enjoy' the spraying experience and keep in sync!! Typically I would have to fill the 5gal sprayer 5-6 times to do my entire yard. I never took more than maybe 2 hours to do the lot? I am wondering is your sprayer giving you trouble? Not misting the liquid perhaps maybe or are you applying too much? Having said all above..... I no longer use the back pack. I found the weight of the 5gal pack to get tedious and no longer enjoyed it. So I made my 30 gallon tank & boom sprayer so I can use the tractor to drive up and down using the tire marks on the grass as my marker... I prefer this option, 30 mins to spray the yard in the comfort of my tractor seat... nice. Nowadays, I use the 5gal for spot spraying. To the original poster... buy a tow along sprayer, its sooooo worth the extra money...

As far as deadheading is concerned it truly is different for different types of roses. I’m not an expert but deadheading knockouts and Homerun roses for bloom is a bit different. This acually came from an article that I read years ago. It was writtten by either Bill Radler or Paul Zimmerman but I can’t remember who. It was an article on how to deadhead so it was likely Paul Zimmerman. Knockouts were one of the examples of different ways to deadhead. In my area this works really well and keeps it blooming non stop. If you are from an area where Knockout grow very large I’d give them a hard cut back also. Otherwise just snap off the spent bloom to keep her blooming non stop. Midge is a very common problem rose pest. Mine was finally under reasonable control until I recently purchased a bunch of new roses. They are a mosquito like insect that in my years anyway. Is best controlled by drought. We have not had one in a few years so they have been increasing ever since I brought them back into the garden with the new roses. I don’t wish drought on my self but just like the pesky mosquito their numbers are seriously reduced. Please remember that all of this is sort of my experience and does not at all mean I’m right.

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