Micro Sprayers Buying Guide
Micro sprayers are excellent for densely planted landscapes or ground cover areas. Sprayers offer a way to provide a larger coverage area than single emitters can. Picking a suitable sprayer for your space doesn’t have to be challenging if you have the correct information. There are two types of micro sprayers: fixed and adjustable. A fixed sprayer has a designated spray radius and output flow. An adjustable sprayer will have a radius and output flow range. The radius and flow will increase cohesively.
Fixed Sprayers
DripWorks has an assortment of fixed sprayers to choose from.
Our only pressure-compensating sprayer is the Antelco PC Shrubbler. The Shrubbler sprays six fingers of water to create a full circle pattern. This fixed sprayer is unique because while it cannot be manually adjusted, you can reduce the flow and radius by reducing the pressure in the system. This sprayer has a flow and radius dependent on the pressure in your system. All sprayers in a system will produce the same spray pattern as long as there are no significant pressure changes within the system. The chart below shows the flow and radius of the PC Shrubbler. The operating pressure range is 15-45 PSI.
|
PSI |
Flow Rate GPH |
Spray Diameter |
|
15 |
6.6 |
7 inches |
|
20 |
7.5 |
8 inches |
|
30 |
8.1 |
12 inches |
|
40 |
9.3 |
14 inches |
Our most popular fixed sprayer is the Antelco C-Frame Down sprayer. These sprayers have an operating pressure range of 10-20 PSI. There are two flow options, low or high, but they have the same flow coverage. The sprayer directs the water downward in a 20-24" circle. The downward spray pattern greatly reduces the amount of water that hits the plant's foliage, preventing disease. This chart shows the flow and spray diameter based on pressure.
|
PSI |
Flow Rate |
Spray Diameter |
|
|
Black |
10 |
4.8 |
24 |
|
15 |
6.0 |
24 |
|
|
20 |
7.0 |
20 |
|
|
Blue |
10 |
7.0 |
24 |
|
15 |
8.9 |
24 |
|
|
20 |
10.5 |
20 |
A Spot Spitter or Horizontal Spray Stick can be an excellent choice in pots or with balled rootstock plants. The spot spitter uses 1/8’’ tubing and has a gentle directional spray pattern. These can easily be turned off by flipping the stake upside down and attaching the tubing to the plug on the bottom side of the stake. These come in three flow rates with a maximum pressure rating of 20 PSI.
Mini Jets have the most options of all our fixed sprayers for flow rates, coverage area, and spray patterns. The operating pressure range is 5-30 PSI, with flow rates and coverage tested at 15 and 30 PSI. There are four flow rate options, which are identified by color. Each color also has four spray pattern options, making this sprayer an excellent option for mixing and matching in a diverse planting area. The spray patterns available are 300-degree, 180-degree, 90-degree, and a strip spray.
Adjustable Sprayers
An adjustable sprayer has a flow rate and spray coverage that can be adjusted or changed to fit your plant's needs. Ideal for watering planter boxes, large pots, flowerbeds, groundcover, and small trees. There are several options available to fit your needs and watering requirements.
The Adjust-A-Bubbler is a high-volume, low-coverage adjustable sprayer. This sprayer is used for plants requiring a large volume of water in a small space. The most extensive coverage from the bubbler is a 12" diameter. At the same time, the highest flow is 35 GPH. The operating pressure range is 15-30 PSI. These come on a 1/4'" barb to be inserted directly into a mainline or on a 5" stake to use with a 1/4" micro tube away from the mainline.
The Pot stream is an adjustable sprayer used in pots. This sprayer has five fingers of gentle spray. The coverage area is adjustable up to 12.4" with an adjustable flow rate of up to 9.7 GPH. The operating pressure range for the Pot stream is 5-40 PSI. The inlet is a standard 1/4" barb. The stake is angled to allow the tubing to lay flush against the pot. These sprayers mount cleanly to the edge of the pot.
The Spectrum Sprayer by Antelco comes in a barbed, threaded, or staked option. The operating pressure range is 15-30 PSI with an adjustable flow rate up to 24 GPH. The maximum diameter of coverage is 11' at 30 PSI. The adjustable, gentle, full-circle spray pattern makes these sprayers an excellent option for long-term use. The spray pattern can be dialed down as your plants are young and then increased as they grow to cover more of the growing root zone.
The Micro-Jet Sprayer has a 10/32 threaded base to be used in a rigid riser, EZ stake assembly, and 1/4" micro tubing. This sprayer has three spray pattern options: 360, 180, and 90 degrees. The operating pressure range is 10-30 PSI. These sprayers have a maximum spray diameter of 26'. The flow range is up to 31 GPH. These sprayers are perfect for densely planted landscapes, lawn spaces, and seed propagation. Placing these sprayers on stakes and risers puts them above the plants to cover a larger area. They can also be set below the canopy to cover the ground without hitting the foliage.
To choose a micro sprayer, consider the garden layout, the type of plants, and the overall flow available. For irregularly shaped spaces, an adjustable sprayer gives the flexibility of dialing the sprayer into the exact coverage needed. An adjustable sprayer also allows you to purchase one that will "grow" with your garden. A set sprayer is an excellent option for established areas, lawn spaces, regularly spaced beds, bushes, and shrubs.
DripWorks has a team of drip irrigation experts ready to assist you. Give us a call at 800-522-3747 or email us at support@dripworks.com
Choosing the right product for your needs will guarantee a thriving garden.