Anyone familiar with growing fruit trees will be aware of the ever-present risk of pests and diseases. How many times have we looked forward to the coming growing season with anticipation and hope, only for it to be crushed due to infestations or disease?
A high-quality fruit tree sprayer is a critical piece of equipment in the quest for bountiful crops of fruit. Whether you grow a single apple tree or maintain an entire orchard, this article is aimed to help you stay one step ahead of nature.
I’ve outlined the best sprayers for fruit trees no matter how big or how many, so there is sure to be a product to help you grow better trees and enjoy healthy fruit.
- 3 Top Sprayers For Fruit Trees
- Types Of Sprayers For Fruit Trees
- Choosing A Sprayer For Fruit Trees
- Orchard And Fruit Tree Sprayers Reviewed
- 1. Field King Battery Backpack Sprayer 4 gal
- 2. Field King Backpack Sprayer, Hand Pump 4 Gal
- 3. PetraTools Battery Backpack Sprayer with Cart
- 4. NorthStar ATV High-Pressure Orchard Sprayer 16-Gal
- 5. Vivosun Garden Pump Pressure Sprayer 2 gal
- 6. Ortho Dial N Spray Hose End Sprayer
- 7. Leonard Straight Grip Watering Wand, 48 Inch
- Verdict: Best Fruit Tree Sprayer
- FAQ’s Spraying Fruit Trees
3 Top Sprayers For Fruit Trees
Best Backpack Sprayer
Field King Battery-Powered Backpack Sprayer
Exceptional 4-gallons battery-powered backpack sprayer. Adjustable nozzle, 40psi pressure. Weighs 14lbs.
Best ATV Spot Sprayer
NorthStar High-Pressure Orchard Sprayer 16-Gal
Powered via your ATV or Riding Mower 12V battery. 200psi sprayer will reach 30ft of vertical spray.
Best Small Pressure Sprayer
Vivosun Pump Pressure Sprayer 2 gal
Excellent build quality, this 2-gallon manual pressure sprayer is perfect for a few dwarf fruit trees.
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Types Of Sprayers For Fruit Trees
Sprayers are not universal. There is a surprising range of products on the market with each offering features and benefits.
For example, if you have trees on the shorter side, a high-pressure pump sprayer would be a good option. However, if you have tall trees, you may need something like a high-pressure hose sprayer or long-reach wand.
I’ll guide you through the different types of sprayers and highlight when each comes into its own, so that you can better understand which one will work best for your trees.
High-Pressure Pump Sprayer
When most people think of sprayers, they picture a high-pressure pump sprayer. This type of sprayer is readily available at almost every hardware store and is relatively inexpensive.
As general-purpose sprayers, they do have limitations in reach and spray pressure. But they are a great option to spray dwarf fruit trees up to 10 feet tall.
With capacities ranging up to 2 gallons, you can cover a reasonable number of small fruit trees with a single tank. This is a good choice for anyone with anything up to 2 or 4 small trees.
Backpack Sprayer
Backpack sprayers are another popular option for keeping bugs and diseases away from your fruit trees. These sprayers usually have a capacity of around 4 gallons and, as their name suggests, strap onto your back like a backpack.
Comfortable, breathable padded harness straps with an additional waist strap make a significant difference when carrying 4 gallons of liquid on your back.
The application pressure is often created by a hand pump mounted to the side of the tank and within reach whilst you work. This allows you to spray and pump whilst the tank is still mounted on your back.
There are also very good quality battery-operated pumps, meaning no hand pumping is necessary.
The best backpack sprayers are easier to handle and have larger ranges than high-pressure tank sprayers. They work great for semi-dwarf fruit trees ranging anywhere from 12 to 15 feet in height. The large tank capacity also means you can get a lot more coverage. This is perfect for anyone working with large numbers of trees.
Trolley Power Sprayer
Trolley power sprayers are a little more expensive than the first two options but the price isn’t without reason. These sprayers come attached to a trolley that allows you to easily take them from your storage to your orchard without breaking your back.
These sprayers can handle larger-capacity tanks. Trolley power sprayers work best for large-scale or commercial orchards of semi-dwarf trees that are between 12 and 15 feet tall.
High-Pressure Hose-End Sprayer
Hose-end sprayers are a great option for people with a lot of tall fruit trees within close proximity of a tap or faucet. These sprayers will spray a powerful jet up to 20 feet.
They’re generally not suitable for commercial or large-scale use as they are restricted by the fact that they need to be attached to a hose pipe. However, they are great for anyone with very tall fruit trees in the backyard where a water hose can be used.
You simply attach the hose-end sprayer to the end of your hose pipe and fill it with the concentrate of your choice.
Long-Reach Wand Sprayer
If you’re looking for a sprayer that is portable but can reach the top of your tallest trees, I’ve found that the long-reach wand sprayer can be a decent option.
This sprayer can reach trees 20 feet tall or more. The capacity isn’t as high as others, so it’s not ideal for orchard use, but it will work on a single large tree in your backyard. For anything more, I would recommend a backpack sprayer or hose-end sprayer.
Choosing A Sprayer For Fruit Trees
There are several variable factors to consider when purchasing a fruit tree sprayer. So it’s worth spending a moment to clarify them and what effect they may have on your choice.
Sprayer Type
As I touched on previously, there are several different types of sprayers on the market. What works for one scenario won’t necessarily work for another.
For example, pump sprayers have smaller capacities and can usually only reach a maximum of 15 feet away from the nozzle. These sprayers are perfect for small trees. If you have an orchard full of tall fruit-bearing trees, you’ll want to consider one of the other options we discussed.
Pump Or Power Sprayer
As we have already discussed, there are two general types of sprayers: hand pump sprayers and power sprayers.
Pump sprayers are manually operated. They’re the type of product that you might even find at your local grocery store in the lawn and garden section. They have small capacities and are easy to carry around your yard.
Power sprayers are either battery-powered or manual and are designed as such to store much higher tank pressure and, in turn, provide higher pressure sprays.
They’re more expensive and tend to be available at specialist gardening or agriculture stores. They are a preferred option for bigger trees or where there is a large number of trees to spray.
Pressure And Reach
How much pressure and reach you need will depend on how many trees you have and how tall the trees are.
The reality is the spray pattern plays a huge role in determining how much reach any sprayer can achieve. The larger the spread of the spray pattern and the finer the mist, the less overall distance can be achieved. But it’s good to know you have potential power for the occasions when you need it.
Power sprayers will need to operate with 30 to 100psi to handle most circumstances.
Nozzle Spray Patterns
Because spraying trees prevents the spread of pests and diseases, it’s crucial to cover the entire tree. That’s why some nozzle patterns, such as solid jet stream nozzles, don’t work as well as others.
The narrow yet powerful jet spray simply won’t offer the level of coverage you need when applying insecticides or fungicides. So look out for variable or adjustable spray patterns that allow you to cover your trees more thoroughly.
Thankfully, the vast majority of sprayers come with some form of variable spray pattern nowadays.
Capacity (Gallons)
Sprayers range anywhere from small misters up to large, commercial 100+ gallon containers.
Obviously, small sprayers are more portable and can often be more effective than large sprayers when working with trees under 8 feet. But tank capacity also allows you to work effectively without refilling your tank too frequently.
Think about how many trees or how large your trees are so that you can gauge the most effective tank size for you. If you are in an orchard with no access to water, then you simply need the gear to get the job done — i.e., a larger tank.
If you are looking for some general guidance I would recommend:
- 0.5 gallons per tree for trees under 8 feet tall
- 1.0 gallon per tree for trees under 8 to 12 feet tall
- 1.5 gallons per tree for trees 12 to 15 feet tall
Weight
Many people overlook a sprayer’s weight during purchasing. This is an important factor to consider because nobody wants to injure themselves or get over-fatigued trying to carry around a heavy sprayer.
If you opt for a larger sprayer, or something other than a small handheld pump sprayer, check how you will move it around. Shoulder straps, backpack harnesses, and trolleys are all options.
Personally, I prefer a backpack sprayer as they are very comfortable, acceptable weight, and hit that sweet spot between efficiency and great spray performance.
When I refer to the weight of a product, it is the weight when the tank is empty.
Orchard And Fruit Tree Sprayers Reviewed
Now that I’ve gone over the basics of what I consider to be the most important factors to consider when shopping for a fruit tree sprayer, I’ll go over what I found are the best sprayers available on the market.
- Type: Backpack
- Power: Battery
- Pressure: 40 psi
- Adjustable Nozzle: Yes
- Capacity: 4 gallons
- Weight: 14 lbs
Field King’s Professional battery-powered backpack sprayer is a fantastic option for spraying fruit trees. It is a product I have owned and used for several years now without issue.
This sprayer is lightweight and has an ergonomic design that makes carrying it around on my back a breeze. The harness is well-padded and adjustable, making it comfortable for long periods of time.
This sprayer has a capacity of 4 gallons, which is perfect for the half-dozen dwarf varieties I have in my backyard. It can even reach heights of up to 24 feet with a powerful 40 psi pressure rating. But I would stress it is best used for trees up to around 15 feet for full and accurate coverage.
This backpack sprayer features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that allows me to use it for 4 hours before it needs to be charged. I have a couple of batteries and just switch them out after each use while I charge the other battery unit.
So for anyone looking to use it for a full day’s spraying, it is possible to use two batteries.
The sprayer comes with 4 different nozzle attachments that allowed me to use it for several purposes, with the general wide spray providing a good level of power to treat small- to medium-sized trees with ease.
In short, I am very happy with this sprayer. It’s comfortable to wear for long periods, has good battery life, and has a good reach. I highly recommend it. Check out Field King Battery Backpack Sprayer price here at Amazon.com.
- Type: Backpack
- Power: Hand Pump
- Pressure: 25-150 psi
- Adjustable Nozzle: Yes
- Capacity: 4 gallons
- Weight: 12.8 lbs
Field King did not disappoint me with their backpack hand pump sprayer. Before I owned the battery-powered version above, I had this hand-pump sprayer and found great results.
There’s no doubt about it, Field King is not the only company who makes great backpack sprayers. But after trying a few models out, I stopped looking when I first purchased this model. It did exactly what I expected from a high-quality backpack sprayer.
Just like the battery-powered sprayer, this hand-pump backpack sprayer has an ergonomic and comfortable design that makes wearing it for long periods easy to do. It’s also a little lighter (1.2lbs) than the battery-powered model as there is no motor or battery cell to carry around.
This sprayer operates at a standard 25 psi for the most part, but when you need it to reach tall trees, it doesn’t disappoint. The sprayer can reach a maximum of 150 psi, meaning it coated the top of even my tallest trees with ease.
The sprayer comes with 4 different nozzle attachments, so I was covered whether I was spraying a direct treatment onto a part of a tree or covering the entire tree with insecticide.
All in all, the Field King backpack hand pump sprayer was the No.1 choice, until I switched to the battery-powered version. Check out Field Kings Pump Backpack Sprayer price on Amazon.
- Type: Backpack and trolley
- Power: Battery
- Pressure: 80+ psi
- Adjustable Nozzle: Yes
- Capacity: 6.5 gallons
- Weight: Not listed
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty sprayer that you can take anywhere you go, this is the best option for you.
When I received this sprayer, I was surprised to find that it comes with a 100-foot-long hose that makes pushing or carrying it around your yard or orchard a breeze. It even comes with a reel cart to keep the hose organized.
This sprayer has a higher capacity than others at 6.5 gallons. It’s also the most versatile option. It comes with 7 different attachments that accommodate everything that I needed the sprayer for.
I was able to use this sprayer for a shocking total of 8 hours before it needed to be charged. Its strong lithium-ion battery also gave it a powerful stream that reached my trees of over 25 feet tall.
You can either carry this sprayer on your back or push it on its trolley, which is included. I found that carrying it was a little difficult because of how heavy it was when full, so I pushed it on the trolley.
All in all, this sprayer was very easy to use and very versatile. It had a higher capacity than many of the other options and also came with more attachments. My biggest complaint was that it was hard to use it as a backpack sprayer because of how heavy it was when full.
Check Petra Tools Sprayer with Cart here on Amazon.com
- Type: ATV Spot Sprayer
- Power: 12V Battery
- Pressure: 200 psi
- Adjustable Nozzle: Yes
- Capacity: 16 gallons
- Weight: 35 lbs
If you’re working on a commercial scale, then having a larger tank capacity is critical. That’s where a high-pressure orchard sprayer is needed. This product from North Start is a great choice.
Equipped with a 16-gallon tank that sits on the back of your ATV, or Ride-on Lawn Mower allowing you to transport the unit across your orchard.
This 200 psi sprayer will spray 30 feet vertically or 40 feet horizontally and offers mist, cone, or jet spray patterns through its adjustable nozzle.
The pump mechanism is powered by the AVT or Lawn Mower’s 12V battery and the unit ships with straps to secure it to the back of your ATV.
The tank is UV resistant, as well as capable of safely carrying pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides. The tank also has a 6-inch-wide lid for easy filling.
This is a serious piece of kit that will make spraying fruit trees easy. Check out the latest price of NorthStar ATV Spot Sprayer here.
- Type: Pump sprayer
- Power: Hand Pump
- Pressure: Not listed
- Adjustable Nozzle: Yes
- Capacity: 2 gallons
- Weight: 3.79 lbs
I wanted to test a product that was on the smaller side because I know that not everyone has several fruit trees in their yards as I do. I found that this pump sprayer from Vivosun got the job done perfectly on my smaller trees.
This sprayer is a hand pump sprayer, but I’m not sure what the exact psi measurement is. The manufacturer did not state it on their packaging. After pumping to build up the pressure, it reached the top of my semi-dwarf fruit trees at around 10 feet.
This sprayer is super lightweight at just under 4 pounds, so it’s very easy to carry around and use, allowing me to get right under the tree to spray up through the canopy to get very thorough coverage. The nozzle is adjustable and ranges from a jet right through to a cone mist.
Its design makes for an easy-to-use tank pressure sprayer. It is very well built with a strong pump mechanism, handle, and trigger. It felt and performed like it would last a long time.
Overall, I found that this sprayer was the perfect option for people with just a few smaller fruit trees. It’s lightweight and gets the job done.
Check out Vivosun Pressure Sprayer prices here.
- Type: Hose End
- Power: Hose and hand pump
- Pressure: Depends on your water pressure
- Adjustable Nozzle: Yes
- Capacity: NA
- Weight: 11 ounces
Now for something completely different… As far as hose-end sprayers go, this product from Ortho is by far my favorite. It offers great performance, versatility, and value for money.
To use Ortho’s Dial N Spray Hose End Sprayer, simply pour your treatment directly into the spray canister, set what level of dilution you want, attach it to your water hose, squeeze the handle, and go.
It is worth noting that the dilution control on this type of sprayer means they are less efficient and cost-effective than tank-based dilutions.
In a tank the dilution control is perfect, for example, you mix a cupful of concentrate per gallon of water. Simple! With a hose-end sprayer, the water flow can tend to draw out more concentration and therefore get through it faster. However, the increased cost of concentrate could be offset by the low cost of this hose end unit when compared to a tank sprayer.
What I like most about this sprayer is how easy it is to carry around and use. There’s no need to switch nozzle attachments because the nozzle itself is adjustable to three different spray patterns. There’s also no need to carry around a tank because all you need is your water hose.
This sprayer is perfect for reaching trees up to 25 feet tall. The only downside to this sprayer is the requirement to be close to the water faucet or tap. Perfect for small gardens with tall fruit trees.
Check the latest price of Ortho’s Dial N Spray Hose End Sprayer at Amazon.com
- Type: Extension
- Power: NA
- Pressure: NA
- Adjustable Nozzle: No
- Capacity: NA
- Weight: NA
I couldn’t finish these reviews without reviewing this wand extender. If you’re like me and have medium-tall trees, you’ll likely need all the help you can get to reach the top. This universal wand extension is a good addition to any pressure tank sprayer.
This wand is 48 inches long and will give you that extra reach to get over the top of your trees to thoroughly coat them.
This is a standalone attachment, and you will have to either already have a sprayer or purchase one to use it.
It’s simple, but a good option for anyone who already has a tank sprayer but needs that extra few feet to reach the tops of your growing fruit trees.
Check the latest price of Leonard’s Watering Wand Extension here on Amazon.com.
Verdict: Best Fruit Tree Sprayer
Overall, if you’re looking for a high-quality fruit tree sprayer that can get almost any job done, I recommend the Field King backpack sprayer. It’s versatile and has the great build quality to help you cover the hard-to-reach areas on your fruit trees.
Best Backpack Sprayer
Field King Battery-Powered Backpack Sprayer
Exceptional 4-gallons battery-powered backpack sprayer. Adjustable nozzle, 40psi pressure. Weighs 14lbs.
It hits that sweet spot of jack of all trades, not too big and not too small. However, if you’re working on a commercial scale or have an orchard, then you will need the NorthStar ATV High-Pressure Orchard Sprayer 16-Gallon.
