Defenders Vintage Glass Plant Mist Sprayer

Garden sprayers apply diluted weedkillers, insecticides, fungicides, liquid feeds, cleaners and wood treatments evenly and in a controlled way. This category covers hand trigger and mist sprayers, small and large pump-up pressure sprayers, knapsack and wheeled sprayers, hose-end sprayers, fence and timber sprayers, and ready-to-use packs with a built-in sprayer.

Types and sizes

• Trigger and mist sprayers: for house plants, seedlings and quick small jobs.
• Pressure sprayers: you pump the tank up, then spray steadily without constant triggering. Sizes run from about 1 litre to 12 litres; the usable capacity is less than the tank size to leave room for air.
• Knapsack and wheeled sprayers: worn on the back or pushed on wheels, for larger areas.
• Hose-end sprayers: mix a concentrate into the water flow from a garden hose.

Features to compare

Look for a safety or pressure relief valve, a graduated see-through tank, a filter in the handle, and an adjustable nozzle that switches between jet, mist and fan patterns. Lance lengths vary, so pick one that reaches your target comfortably. Standard seals suit water-based solutions; for more aggressive products such as some wood preservatives, choose a sprayer with chemical-resistant fluoroelastomer seals.

Spraying safely

Garden pesticides must be authorised for home use, and following the label is a legal requirement. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety data, mix only what you need, and spray on a calm, dry day so the spray does not drift onto other plants. Keep a separate sprayer for weedkiller. Release the pressure before opening the tank, rinse it out several times after use, and never pour leftover solution or rinse water down a drain.

For treatments, see garden chemicals, or browse garden watering.