Buying a sprayer every year is what a lot of people do.  Sprayers come in lots of sizes.  1 gallon, 2 gallon, 3 gallon, and and 4 or 5 gallon backpack type.  These are the most common used in the lawn or garden.  I suggest that you first pickup the sprayer to see that you can handle the weight.  A 2 gallon sprayer usually is to heavy when it is filled for women. 

Years ago I was asked by my husband to bring his sprayer to Shongaloo for him to use since he forgot it.  It was a 4 gallon backpack sprayer that was too heavy for me to pickup, so I dumped it out so that I could put it in my car.  Well that was wrong and you can imagine what Randy said about it being empty.  Lesson learned and never forgotten.  Most people do like a 1 gallon sprayer for the convenience in mixing chemicals and for the weight.  Most chemicals tell you how much to mix in a gallon water on the directions.  

You can get these sprayers in so many different qualities as well.  A $20 sprayer will not be nearly as good as a $50 one of course.  Look for the differences.  They have different wands and seals.  I like a plastic wand the best but many prefer the metal handle.  It’s good to have a tip that is adjustable so you can use as a stream or fan spray.  Industrial sprayers are made to spray degreasers and sometime acid.  They are plastic and and have viton seals that don’t deteriorate.   

There are lots of brands you can get.  We sell mostly Chapin and Solo Sprayers.  Both are well known and are easy to get replacement parts.  We do sell cheaper sprayers that are sometimes called throwaways.  They would last longer with rinsing after each use.

Cleaning after every use is a must.  You need to flush the chemical and use some kind of tank cleaner or vinegar mix to clean and rinse with.  

Let’s don’t forget the sprayers that are made to fit on ATVs.  The most important thing to remember when purchasing these are the pumps.  You need to notice the gallon per minute that the pumps put out.  If the pump is at the bottom of the sprayer, it won’t be strong enough to put out the chemical.  A 12 volt is a good one that will usually do a good job for a homeowner.  6 or 8 gallons per minute is the size that works well.  Remember also that the weight counts on these sprayers also.  A 15 gallon sprayer is the best size for a 4 wheeler as a 25 gallon would be too heavy once both you and the filled sprayer are riding.  These sprayer sometimes are equiped with  a boom.  The booms make for better coverage and faster to get through with the job.  Don’t forget to rinse them after every use.  

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal.)