It is best not to use a hose end sprayer to apply dormant oil due to the possibility of concentrating the oil in one location. Dormant oil requires good agitation with water to keep it in solution. Whatever type of equipment used, you should able to agitate the spray solution to maintain suspension of oil particles. You might try experimenting with the hose end sprayer and oil to see how it will apply the mixture. Spray something like a fence, which won't be damaged, and see what kind of pattern you get. If it is similar to the pattern you get when you use a pressure sprayer, then it is safe to go ahead and use it. If you do not have problems with scale or phylloxera, then you can get by without applying the oil.

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