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Our Top Picks

Best Overall

D.B.

Collage of the D.B. Smith Contractor Max 190216 2-Gallon Sprayer on a green background

The Spruce

The 21-inch spray wand provides sufficient reach and maneuverability and has a lockable trigger to deliver a continuous stream.

With a 2-gallon tank, it has a generous handheld manual pump sprayer capacity.

Luckily, this unit comes with an adjustable strap for convenient carrying.

D.B. Smith Contractor Max 190216 2-Gallon Sprayer

PHOTO: Amazon

Thanks to a large handle, this sprayer is easy to pump.

The valve allows you to safely release pressure before removing the pump, preventing accidental chemical spills and injuries.

This unit has a wand holder, but it may not fit very securely.

Chapin International 20000 Garden Sprayer

PHOTO: Amazon

In case you experience defective parts, you’re free to take advantage of the one-year warranty.

Although the wand is short, the 34-inch hose will help you reach difficult spots.

The ergonomic handle allows for easy pumping and carrying and locks into place for added stability.

Chapin Multi-Purpose Garden Pump Sprayer

PHOTO: Amazon

The Chapin 20000 delivers a solid performance and a decent amount of convenient features for an incredibly low price.

It has one adjustable spray nozzle, allowing you to produce a fine mist or a stronger stream.

Despite its compact size, it still has a powerful spray.

Scotts 190617 Lithium-Ion Pump Zero Wheeled Sprayer

PHOTO: Amazon

The handle offers a comfortable grip and reduces fatigue as you work through your garden.

A filter in the tank also prevents clogs and allows for continuous spraying.

That said, this one-handed sprayer has a limited capacityjust 48 ouncesso youll likely run out of water quickly.

Scotts 190567 Battery-Powered Sprayer

PHOTO: Amazon

It requires a lot of pumping during tool.

Despite its limitations, this sprayer is still a solid choice for smaller jobs.

Plus, it could easily fit on a garden tool organizer without taking up much space.

D.B. Smith Field King 190328 Backpack Sprayer

PHOTO: Amazon

This battery-powered sprayer has a large, 3-gallon tank that’s perfect for larger lawns.

The battery also lasts through 12 full tanks of liquid.

The 21-inch wand allows you to access hard-to-reach areas and has a locking trigger for continuous spraying.

HDX multipurpose hose sprayer attachment for fertilizer

PHOTO: The Home Depot

It also comes with a three-year warranty if you hit any problems or defects.

When you run out of juice, you only need to plug the included charger into the base.

The 21-inch wand is ideal for most tasks, and the built-in clasp allows you to store it easily.

When full, the tank weighs about 18 pounds, which can be a bit cumbersome to maneuver.

A shoulder strap would be a welcome addition to make it easier to carry.

However, the pressure-release valve safely releases pressure from the tank before you open it up.

It has an internal pump, so you dont have to worry about chemicals leaking down your back.

Although the harness features padded chest straps and a back strap, the latter could use extra cushioning.

Its also worth noting that this unit gets pretty heavy once its fullabout 45 pounds.

Smith Field King Backpack Sprayer has an excellent selection of convenient features.

The internal piston pump can also be adjusted to reach 150 pounds per square inch.

Pressuring the tank quickly and easily thanks to a horizontal pump that sits at waist level.

This attachment from HDX is easy to use and allows you to switch between wet and dry fertilizer solutions.

you might also adjust the dial on the attachment between different measurements to get the exact solution you need.

Like the other sprayers on our list, it’s possible for you to adjust between three nozzle controls.

One-handed sprayers can be as small as 0.33 gallons, while handheld sprayers typically hold up to 2 gallons.

Larger models, such as backpack and wheeled sprayers, usually fall within the 3- to 6-gallon range.

Our best backpack pick, theD.B.

Smith Field King 190328, has a 4-gallon tank, making it the largest option in our roundup.

Another component to consider is the length of a pump sprayers wand.

A longer wand will provide more reach and prevent harmful chemicals from coming into contact with your skin.

Most pump sprayers have wands ranging from 18 to 22 inches long.

Some handheld models, however, have significantly shorter wands12 inches or less.

Some pump sprayers include multiple nozzles, which users can swap out for a more precise spray pattern.

Typically, a cone nozzle, an adjustable nozzle, and fan nozzles are among the selections.

Our best overall pick, theD.B.

Pump pop in

Pump sprayers are operated by a manual piston system or a battery-powered pump.

A sprayer with a piston system needs to be pumped manually to pressurize the tank.

A battery-powered sprayer has a motor that powers the pump automatically, eliminating the need for any manual effort.

According to Johnson, you should rinse your sprayer after every program.

Regarding ease of operation, Johnson prefers a battery-operated garden sprayer.

Pump sprayers are exhausting and make applications very difficult, especially in larger areas, she says.

Most garden sprayers attach to a regular garden hose.

The unit has a tank that you’re free to fill with fertilizer, pesticide, or herbicide.

Once the solution is in the sprayer, you’ve got the option to dilute it with water.

you might then pressurize the tank by pumping air into it.

Some garden sprayers must be pumped manually, but battery-powered models will pressurize automatically.

Johnson recommends applying a foliar spray to flowering plants on the leaves.

Nutrients particularly beneficial to flowering plants include worm teas, fish and seaweed fertilizers, and iron fertilizers.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Sage McHugh, a writer for The Spruce, specializes in home and garden content including thebest fertilizer spreaders.

McHugh also took hundreds of customer reviews into consideration and spoke with other industry experts.