Whether for your garden at home or large scale farming, a backpack sprayer is a necessary item to have in the cultivation of plants and management of pests. A backpack sprayer is a device which consists of a tank worn on the back, a pump and a wand with nozzle used to apply various substances such as herbicides or pesticides to plants.
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They come in two basic types: manual and motorized. A manual one will require you to pump with one hand and spray with the other, whereas with a motorized sprayer you can keep your hands free and therefore requires less effort. On the downside though, motorized sprayers tend to be more expensive as compared to their manual counterparts.
The main function of a backpack sprayer to provide an inexpensive and effective way of applying herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and other chemicals delivered in a liquid medium. They are most useful when application needed is in a smaller area or the location is difficult to access with larger equipment. Here are some of the basic reasons that make a backpack sprayer a convenient item for tending to your garden or farm:
- Mobility
Backpack sprayers are highly mobile and can go anywhere that the wearer can. This then enables the user to access remote areas such as rooftops or isolated flower plantings for cleaning and watering respectively. They are also the most apt tool when there is a need for selective spot spraying. - Capacity
As compared to a standard watering can backpack sprayers have a huge capacity to hold liquids, with most sprayers able to hold around four or five gallons. This can greatly reduce the amount of time and effort used while spraying your farm or garden. - Control
Backpack sprayers can give the user more control than a traditional hose or watering can due to the high pressure achieved during spraying. In addition to that most backpack sprayers accept a variety of nozzles that can create high-intensity streams for power-washing a brick or stone surface or a gentle drizzle for watering fragile flowers. It also allows the user to use variable levels of pressure thus ensuring that plants are sprayed according to the user’s requirements and the manufacturer’s instructions. - Comfort
Since spraying your garden or farm can take a fair bit of time and energy, backpack sprayers are designed to be as comfortable as possible, thus allowing to perform your duties more effectively and less strenuously. Most backpack sprays will come with by adjustable straps and padded shoulder braces to keep the pack from cutting into the wearer’s shoulders or putting too much stress on back and shoulder muscles. They can also have reverse pumping features that make it easy to empty your tank after use.
While performing your search for the perfect backpack sprayer, there are some factors you will first need to look at. These factors include:
Its Function
Manual sprayers are only recommended for small and or infrequent spraying and vice versa for motorized sprayers. Manual sprayers are cheaper but a lot more labor intensive since you have to do a lot of spraying and you may grow tired of constantly pumping away, especially when dealing with a large parcel of land. On the other hand a motorized sprayer is obviously much more convenient, but costs a lot more to both buy and maintain.
Therefore you should first consider the kind of work you will be dealing with before making your selection. When looking for a motorized unit, choose one that has a battery that can handle both high and low sprayer psi output and will last from 3 to 5 hours between recharging. When looking at manual sprayers, make sure the pump handle is available to be switched for both right and left handed operation. This will allow you to split the work of pumping and spraying between both arms, and thus not over work yourself.
The Size of the Tank
Sprayer tanks come in a wide variety of sizes. A bigger tank means less frequent refilling but the trade off is that they are also much heavier. Therefore, consider the amount of spraying you are going to do and also how much weight you can handle.
Pump Style
Most sprayers come with either piston or diaphragm pumps, both with of which have certain advantages and disadvantages. A piston type pump is cheaper and can generate good pressure however they are not suitable for all types of pesticides. Powder based pesticides can wear out a piston pump very quickly. Alternatively according to your needs, you could go for a diaphragm type pump though they do tend to be more expensive.
Durability
Check to confirm that that the tank you are looking at can handle whatever chemical you intend to spray. While most tanks are very sturdy, some chemicals can have an unexpected corrosive- reaction with certain types of materials which could either ruin your sprayer or even be potentially dangerous. You should always make sure when buying your sprayer that all seals, hoses and other accessories are rated to handle the chemicals that you are going to be using.
Comfort
Sprayers should be convenient to carry and comfortable to use, so make sure the straps are comfortable and adjustable, and that the sprayer is neither too big nor small for you to wear comfortably. Also check whether it has a waist belt to both secure the sprayer while in use and stabilize it when pumping.
Accurate and Readable Gauges
The accuracy of the content gauge is critical to accuracy of spraying and minimization wastage of the spray liquid. Check for a detailed content gauge.
Maintenance
External and internal residual spray deposits are a threat to your safety, the next crop sprayed and the environment. Look for a backpack sprayer that can be easily cleaned after use. This means smooth surfaces both inside and out, and an effective spray liquid ejection mechanism.
Robustness
Your backpack sprayer should be capable of withstanding reasonable impact during normal use. Always confirm what degree of impact it has been rated to with stand, for long and continuous use.
Conclusion
The backpack sprayer is a versatile and useful gardening tool, but making the right selection can be a slow and rigorous process. However with the right amount of information it need not be. You should first look at your needs and budget, and then from the factors listed above you should be able to choose right one for you.
