Best Backpack Sprayer For Your Lawn

Backpack Sprayer FAQ 

Have you seen a backpack sprayer in our list of reviews that you liked enough to buy?

Before you go online to purchase it, here are some important things you should know about backpack sprayers, how they work, and if they’re really worth it. 

Are backpack sprayers any good?

When you see a backpack sprayer on the market, it’s natural to be tempted to purchase it. Honestly, you should! There are many good reasons why you should own a backpack sprayer if you want to keep your lawn healthy and looking good.

A backpack sprayer is focused on making it more convenient for you to spray your lawn with fertilizers or other chemicals. It’s much easier to use than if you have to apply chemicals to your lawn by hand.

All you have to do is walk around with it on your back and this also prevents you from having to bend down. Applying chemicals to your lawn by hand can be tough on your body because it can result in fatigue and aches and pains.

You won’t have to carry around products, such as pesticides, as you can just carry them on your back.

A backpack sprayer has an ergonomic design to combat the above problems. It usually comes with adjustable shoulder straps that keep you comfortable and a spray wand which extends your reach so you never have to bend down.

This will ensure you can apply fertilizer to hard-to-reach places in your lawn without a hassle.

Using a backpack sprayer is also safer. By using a wand to apply the products to your lawn, you prevent coming into contact with harmful chemicals. 

If you have a large garden or lawn, you will appreciate the ease of use associated with a backpack sprayer. You can use it for many hours at a time without experiencing discomfort. You can also find battery-operated backpack sprayers that prevent you from having to manually pump the sprayer. 

How far will a back pack sprayer spray?

The distance that you can spray with a backpack sprayer will depend on the model you own. This can vary, however most of these backpack sprayers are powerful enough to spray between 10 and 30 feet, with an average of 20 feet being the standard.

The spray distance is important to consider when purchasing a backpack sprayer, especially if you have a large garden or lawn.

You can use the backpack sprayer in different ways depending on your needs. You can hold the tip of the nozzle steady at a certain height above the surface of ground you wish to douse with chemicals, which usually gives you a spray range of about 14 to 18 inches.

Alternatively,  you can swing the wand of the backpack sprayer back and forth so that you can spray across a larger surface of lawn while walking. 

How much area can a 4 gallon backpack sprayer cover?

Generally, a backpack sprayer that has a four-gallon capacity will cover approximately 5,805 square feet.

To put that distance into better perspective, 5,000 square feet is the equivalent of 465 square meters and it’s the same distance as a row of 13 single-car garages or three 10-pin bowling lanes that are placed side by side.

So, you’d be able to cover these distances as well as a bit more with a four-gallon backpack sprayer. 

As we’ve seen in our reviews of the best backpack sprayers, many of these products on the market come with four-gallon capacity on board. This is therefore a standard amount which might be enough for you.

If you have a larger lawn, then you should look for features in the backpack sprayer that will make it easier for you to cover your entire lawn, such as a long wand.  

How do I calculate my sprayer output?

If you want to calculate the output of your backpack sprayer, you can do so easily.

In the below instructions, you will be able to measure the time required to spray approximately 340 square feet of lawn, then measure the volume (in ounces) that you sprayed within that time.

To calculate the output of your sprayer, you will require the following items:

• Sprayer (that’s filled with water – don’t fill it with chemicals as you will have to repeat the process of spraying the lawn multiple times)
• Stopwatch 
• Measuring tape
• Boundary markers 
• Measuring container (make sure you choose one that has the markings for fluid ounces) 

Instructions:

• Measure out an area of the lawn that’s equal to 1/128 of an acre, or 340 square feet. Mark these boundaries.
• Start using the backpack sprayer, ensuring that you spray at a comfortable walking pace and at the same pressure. Make sure you record how long it takes you to spray within the area you’ve marked.
• Repeat the process three times. Calculate the average time. 
• Use the backpack sprayer so that you can spray the water into a measuring container for the same amount of time that you calculated.
  Again, make sure you stick to the same pressure that you used when you were spraying the lawn. 
• Measure the fluid ounces that have collected inside the container. This amount is the same as the sprayer output, showing you the gallons you’re using per acre. 

You need to remember that if you change the speed at which you’re walking, the nozzle on the backpack sprayer, or the pressure you’re using, this will require you to recalibrate your sprayer. 

Conclusion

There will be times when you’ll need to treat your lawn to fertilizers or pesticides. If you want to make it easier to spray your lawn, you should consider investing in a backpack sprayer.

This device is used by professionals and DIY gardeners alike, and you can find manual as well as battery-operated models. 

In this guide, we’ve featured the best backpack sprayer for your lawn. We’ve also looked at some information you need to know about backpack sprayers, such as how far they can spray chemicals and how to calculate the backpack sprayer output. 

Resources:

• Aces.edu