Orchard sprayers are machines designed for efficiently spraying pesticides or watering crops on a commercial scale, and in cases where doing it by hand simply isn't feasible. Which is why orchard sprayers have become a mainstay for most vineyards, orchards and crop farmers across the country.
Coming in a range of shapes and sizes, most orchard sprayers can be tailored to suit your crops using various attachments and adjustable components.
Trailed air assist sprayers are probably the most common orchard sprayers on the market at the moment. They operate in a fairly straightforward way, the sprayer is towed behind your tractor and sprays onto your crops as you drive. Basic models will spray in an almost 180-degree angle from the back of the spray, while some have unique designs that allow more targeted and precise spraying.
How much liquid your sprayer can hold will vary depending on the size of the tank, but you'll generally find most models range between 1000L and 5000L. Of course, there are models capable of smaller and larger loads, and your situation will determine which model is best for you.
Another popular orchard sprayer is the trailed over-row style. Much like the trailed air assist sprayers, these sprayers are towed behind your tractor. The key difference is these sit over your crop rows and provide complete spray coverage for two rows. It will also additionally spray one side of the next row on either side as well, significantly reducing your time spent driving up and down the rows of your orchard.
One of the lesser known orchard sprayers is the mistblower. As you'd expect, these machines are designed to spray a light mist over crops. Their design and gentle output makes them the perfect choice for crops where delicate watering is needed, or in situations where only a small amount of liquid is needed. Mistblowers also tend to have smaller tanks than other orchard sprayers, with the larger tanks being around the 1000L mark.
Of course, there are also smaller orchard sprayers available that you can operate by hand, but these are not suited for large, commercial applications. They are more suited to targeting specific sections of an orchard or smaller, personal orchards where a large orchard sprayer won't fit or would be excessive.
Whether it's a large trailed air assist sprayer, or a smaller hand sprayer, orchard sprayers are one of the best ways to water or apply fertiliser onto your crops. As always, make sure you research or consult your dealer about your needs and they'll help pick the right model for you.
