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T he benefits of becoming full service are obvious. It creates happier customers while generating additional revenue. For this reason, spreader/sprayers have greatly increased in popu- larity during the last few years. With just one piece of equip- ment, green industry professionals can offer clients a variety of seeding, fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide and pesticide treatments. Of course, the return on investment must be figured before mak- ing any equipment purchase. However, it's not always easy to calcu- late returns on a new service offering. So, to provide an idea of the potential, here's a rundown of how to boost profits with a spreader/sprayer, as well as some other perks of owning one. The alternatives First of all, there are alternatives to becoming a full-service ap- plicator, other than purchasing a ride-on spreader/sprayer. A person can also buy spreader and sprayer attachments, towable units or walk-behind models, which are capable of handling similar appli- cations. The downfall to these other options, however, is that the opera- tor usually sacrifices efficiency. That's because, generally speaking, dedicated ride-on equipment is typically more productive than other types of products. Since ride-on spreader/sprayers were first introduced to the market, they've proven several advantages over traditional spreaders and sprayers. One of these advantages is maneuverability. Ride-on units have a com- pact design for accessing small back yards, yet they have the speed and capacity to service properties that are an acre or larger in size. Additionally, this speed and maneuverability helps increase pro- ductivity and reduce labor needs versus other types of application equipment. In fact, ride-on units can apply granular material up to five times faster than standard walk-behind push spreaders. In many cases, ride-on machines are also more effective than larger spreading and spraying equipment due to their increased agility. Versatility is another key benefit of ride-on spreader/sprayers. Operators can quickly switch between spreading and spraying func- tions, or they can do both at the same time. The spread width is variable to accommodate small and large lawns, and the spray pattern can also be adjusted from wide to narrow, thanks to the quick- exchange nozzles offered by some manufacturers. Going full service Despite the potential profit boost of owning ride-on spreader/sprayers, many professionals shy away from becoming full service. The excuses are fairly common. Many are afraid of the extra knowledge and liability that comes with chemical applications. Others are unwilling to hassle with the li- censing process. In reality, the commitment is not scary at all. With a little com- mon sense and education, most people are fully capable of success- fully handling fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide applications. Additionally, by taking classes during the offseason or while visiting tradeshows, people can achieve the re- quired number of education hours to become licensed without in- terfering too much with their work schedules. 20 Landscape and Irrigation January/February 2014 www.landscapeirrigation.com Equipment Focus GOING FULL SERVICE with a Spreader/Sprayer By Barry Traun Versatility is another key benefit of ride-on spreader/sprayers. Operators can quickly switch between spreading and spraying functions, or they can do both at the same time. Photo provided by TurfEx