Not sure which sprayer to use on your lawn, how much water you need, or whether you really need to clean your sprayer afterwards? In this blog, we break down everything you need to know about using knapsack and pressure sprayers from choosing the right type to proper cleaning, calibrating your sprayer and application tips.
Skip to: Which Sprayer Size Do I Need for My Lawn? What is a Boom Sprayer? Different Nozzle Settings on Garden Sprayers, How Much Water Do I Need to Use When Spraying My Lawn? Should I Clean My Garden Sprayer? Which Sprayer Should I Use?
Which Sprayer Size Do I Need for My Lawn?
When choosing what size sprayer for your lawn, you firstly need to assess your lawn size. If you have only a small lawn area of around 10m2 of less, you should be able to get away with using a small hand 1-2L pressure sprayer. For any larger area sizes, we recommend using a sprayer with a hose and trigger sprayer to help make application an easier task.
Lawns up to 150 – 200m2 using a 5L to 8L sprayer like the Husqvarna 8L Manual Sprayer will be able to do an effective job.
For lawns larger than this, you should be able to achieve coverage with an 5L to 8L sprayer by breaking up the lawn into different sections, and the fill up your sprayer again for the remaining sections. Alternatively, a larger backpack sprayer, like the Husqvarna 15L Backpack Sprayer is ideal.
How Much Water Do I Need to Use When Spraying My Lawn?
When using domestic fertilisers, herbicides and fungicides on your lawn, they generally will state on the label how much water is needed for application. However, when using commercial style products, they will often require you to calibrate your sprayer. By calibrating your sprayer, it allows you to know exactly how much water is needed to cover your area size, so that you can apply the exact amount of product that is needed over your area size. This stops you from either over or under applying the product.
Check out our blog on How to Calibrate A Sprayer here for more information on how to do this.
Different Nozzle Settings on Garden Sprayers
When applying products to your lawn, most garden sprayers allow you to adjust the nozzle by twisting it to change the spray from a fine mist to a larger droplet. Some models also come with a set of interchangeable nozzles designed for different applications. If you’re purchasing additional nozzles, it is best to make sure they’re compatible with your specific sprayer model.
What is a Boom Sprayer?
Boom sprayers are extensions attached to the wand, typically mounted on a tee bar with two or more nozzles. They allow you to cover larger areas more efficiently and in less time. When purchasing a boom attachment, make sure it comes with the correct adaptors to suit your specific sprayer model.
Should I Clean My Garden Sprayer?
With knapsacks and pressure sprayers, after use it is important to ensure you properly clean the sprayer. By doing this, it will help ensure no chemicals are left sitting in your sprayer, which can cause the deterioration of seals, which will lead to poor pressure and leaks.
Solo Sprayers recommends using the “triple rinse” method. This method includes the following:
- Rinse the tank firstly with water. Fill the tank with water, then shake and dump the remainder of the product.
- Fill the tank with water and dishwashing liquid. Then shake the tank and spray the solution through the pump to flush the system.
- Fill the tank with clean water, shake the tank and then spray the water to flush the pump system again.
Source – Solo Sprayers.
Which Sprayers Should I Use?
If you are just starting out on your lawn care journey and good and sturdy sprayer, brands to look out for include Husqvarna, Ryobi and Nylex.
If you are after wanting a commercial grade sprayer that will have a range of nozzles and replaceable seals, we recommend having a look into Solo Sprayers and Silvan Sprayers.
For more lawn care tips and advice, make sure you check out our other lawn care blogs.
