SPRAYERS & SPRAYING
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Curved lance
Far from being simply decorative , sprayer accessories can vastly expand the uses for backpack and hand-held spraying devices . And they are relatively inexpensive .
LANCES
Most knapsack sprayer users will be aware of basic lance extensions , but you might not be aware that the following are also available : telescopic lances , curved lances and two-nozzle lances , all of which can help make those hard-toreach jobs just that little bit easier . As with the booms there are many different specific applications for the more unusual spray lance configurations but essentially all help serve to get the spray more easily to where it is needed .
INJECTORS
Soil and stem injectors are available for use with backpack sprayers . They allow fluid to be pumped under the earth ( to treat a plant root system ) or directly into the stems of plants . There are a variety of applications where this is desirable . Of note is the treatment of Japanese knotweed which often needs a stem injected dose of herbicide or treatment for the elimination of underground pests like leatherjackets .
Soil injector
Stem Injector
NOZZLES
Nozzle tips
There are a wide range of spray nozzles available which come with a variety of different spray angles and patterns . Simply using the standard one that comes with the sprayer may not be the best choice . Nozzles cost very little and , when compared to the cost of agrochemicals that may be wasted due to poor nozzle selection , it ’ s simply a no brainer to spend a few minutes thinking about which nozzle will deliver the most suitable pattern and flow rate to get the fluid where it needs to go . A backpack with good multistage filtration will help prevent nozzle clogging but every nozzle will wear over time , so they are worth replacing regularly - it ’ s always worth having some spare nozzles around in case you happen to spot a clogged or broken one mid job .
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | Winter 2021 23