Which action is NOT recommended before spraying?

• A. Thoroughly rinse the sprayer with clean water.
• B. Check that valves are working properly.
• C. Measure distance between nozzle tip and target.
• D. Fill the sprayer with the pesticide concentrate.

Answer: (D)

Before spraying, you want to ensure the equipment is clean, functioning, and set up to deliver the correct mixture. Filling the sprayer with the pesticide concentrate first is not recommended because you need to verify the system and the dilution before adding the chemical. Start by rinsing the sprayer with clean water to remove any residues, then check that valves and fittings operate properly, and set the nozzle distance to the target to control drift. Once these checks are done, fill with water, add the pesticide concentrate to reach the label-specified concentration, mix thoroughly, and perform a test spray to confirm output and coverage. Filling with concentrate first can lead to improper dilution, spills, and unnecessary exposure while you’re trying to calibrate or flush the system.