It’s easy to ignore waterhemp that sprouts in a flooded pothole after a summer cloudburst. Ditto for scattered Canada thistles that infest a pasture or stubborn leafy spurge infestations in a ditch.
Enter ATV sprayers. They work well for those hard-to-spray areas like field borders, pastures, potholes, road ditches, fence lines, or wooded areas.
ATV sprayers come in a variety of models designed to fit individual situations. Following are buying considerations.
Frequency of use. Spraying once a week requires a more durable sprayer than one that’s used once or twice annually, says Matthew Firth, Enduraplas marketing manager.
Price. Generally, the more that is paid for an ATV sprayer, the higher quality that results. Prices can widely vary, but more expensive ones will last longer, says Katie Jo Miller, CropCare marketing project manager. If you expect you’re going to spray frequently, Miller advises shopping for a unit with a sturdy boom, durable spray handgun, and a manufacturer’s warranty.
Weed species and chemical type. Knowing weed species helps peg what type of pressure will be required of a pump and nozzle type on a spray wand and boom, says Firth. The pump and plumbing must have the correct seals to curb corrosion, he says. “Know which chemicals you will run through it,” says Jon Kulzer, customer sales rep for Master Manufacturing. Some chemicals are more corrosive than others. Sprayers with more durable components will stand up to more corrosive chemicals than less-corrosive ones.
Your ATV. “Know what size ATV you own and how you want to mount the ATV sprayer,” says Miller. “You can consider sprayers that mount on the back of the ATV or small tow-behind trailer options.”
Spraying terrain. Standard booms allow for a more targeted application, and they work well on flat terrain. “You want even coverage and the boom to be at the same height in all locations,” says Miller. Level terrain doesn’t always occur. Enter boomless nozzles. “They are perfect for pasture conditions or when you have lots of rough and rocky terrain,” Miller notes. “They let you enter an area that you can’t get into with a boom.”