Choosing the Right Sprayer

• Since garden sprayers come in a number of basic styles, you have options for selecting the one that requires least maintenance. According to gardenguide.com, garden sprayers come in basic styles like hose-end, backpack, compression or tank and gasoline-powered. For larger areas like lawns, hose-end garden sprayers work the best for application of pesticides and fertilizers. Hose-end sprayers are inexpensive and cannot be used for small areas of the garden. Compression or tank sprayers are also inexpensive and unlike hose-end sprayers, they can be used for treating both large and small areas, due to the variety of sizes available. Backpack sprayers are similar to tank sprayers, except that you are to carry them like a backpack. They can be used for both small and large areas but are typically pricier. Lastly, gasoline sprayers can also be used in any area; however, they are expensive and they require mixing of oil and gas before each application.
  
  

Using the Sprayer

• Using a garden sprayer is pretty simple. Basically, you fill the tank with the liquid product along with a specific amount of water as directed. You are required to leave around one-fourth of the tank unfilled, which provides sufficient space for pressure buildup. For accurate amount of fluid spray, you can adjust the tip of the wand, which can be adjusted for a mist spray or a full stream. Before starting to spray on the vegetables and plants, test the sprayer someplace else and make the necessary adjustments. Granular products tend to clog the spraying bottles; therefore, dissolve the solution before filling the tank. Also, use separate containers for herbicides and pesticides as mixing up the sprayers can contaminate them.
  
  

Maintenance

• Regular cleaning is a must for prolonging the life of garden sprayers. After every application, wash the container thoroughly using clean water. Make sure you rinse the tank properly and fill it with a little amount of water. For cleaning the hose, wand, and tip, spray the clean water out in someplace like the driveway. Garden sprayers usually create problems if you let the chemicals sit inside the containers for long periods. This is how they clog and damage the parts of sprayers, leaving them incapable of working effectively. Once the cleaning is done, make sure you release the tank pressure.