Sprayers for Homeowners
L.B. McCarty
Formerly Extension Turf Specialist
Environmental Horticultural Department
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida 32611
Now with Clemson University
The correct use of pesticide application equipment is important to the success of the pest-control
job. Select the right kind of application equipment. Use and maintain it properly. Here is some
advice about choosing, using, and caring for equipment.
The sprayer should be:
- designed to do the necessary job.
- durable.
- convenient to fill, operate, and clean.
Types of Sprayers
Hand Sprayer
Hand sprayers are for professional application of pesticides for small jobs around the home and
garden. They can be used in restricted areas where a power unit will not work.
The advantages of hand sprayers are:
- economical.
- simple.
- easy to use, clean, and store.
The limitations of a hand sprayer are:
- frequent lack of good agitation and screening for wettable powders (WPs). (Keep
WPs in suspension by shaking the sprayer.)
- only practical for treating small areas.
- difficult to obtain uniform coverage.
Hose-end
Many homeowners prefer buying and applying pesticides which are packaged for garden hose-end
type application. A small amount of pesticide is mixed with water, usually no more than a pint,
and placed in the receptacle attached to the hose. A tube connects this concentrate to the opening
of the hose. When the water is turned on, the suction created by the water passing over the top of
the tube pulls the pesticide concentrate up and into the stream of hose water. The stream can
reach into trees of medium height, if water pressure is high.
The advantages of hose-end sprayers are:
- economical.
- easy to use, clean, and store.
- light weight.
- versatility.
The limitations of hose-end sprayers are:
- limited number of pesticides available in this form.
- difficulty in obtaining uniform application.
- only practical for treating small areas; hose must be able to reach these.
- constant refilling.
- difficult to calibrate.
Wipe-on Applicators
Wipe-on applicators are designed to provide selective placement of herbicides to weeds above the
desirable plant. Commonly used types include the rope wick, sponge wick, and carpet roller
applicators.
The initial cost of the wipe-on applicator is generally low. However, herbicide delivery is gravity
fed and usually two passes are frequently required for complete coverage.
The advantages of wipe-on applicators are:
- low cost.
- simple to operate.
- no drift.
- reduces amount of pesticide used.
The disadvantages of wipe-on applicators are:
- applicable only in special situations; difficult to calibrate.
- several passes are usually necessary to ensure complete coverage.
- weeds must be physically taller than the desirable plant.
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