There are a number of excellent spray technologies on the market for weed spraying. This post rounds up (no pun intended!) the main methods, including our own Mankar CDA/ULV sprayers, so you can choose the best option for your particular application. Most of these technologies are for medium-large scale spraying such as in amenity settings.
Mankar CDA/ULV Sprayers
www.prosprayers.co.uk/products/mankar
- How it Works: Combines Controlled Droplet Application (CDA) with Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) technology to apply undiluted herbicides in precise droplets, minimising waste and drift. Mankar sprayers are lightweight, portable, and available in handheld, wheelbarrow, or vehicle-mounted models for flexibility.
- Advantages:
- Up to 80% herbicide savings due to precise, targeted application.
- Lightweight and independent of a water supply, reducing operational hassle
- No special mixed chemical formulations needed, neat herbicide is sprayed
- Less refills needed (4 refills for 8 hours spraying compared with 16 for conventional sprayers) so more time efficient
- Environmentally friendly with low drift potential
- High coverage consistency, even in uneven terrains
- Operator safety improved: no mixing or diluting means reduced exposure to chemicals, fine droplets almost entirely eliminated thus reducing risk of drift and respiratory contamination
- Disadvantages:
- Initial cost is higher than conventional sprayers, though savings on herbicides offset this.
- Limited to herbicides that can be applied undiluted
Nomix Sprayers
www.nomixenviro.co.uk/
- How it Works: Closed transfer system applies pre-mixed, ready-to-use herbicide solutions, eliminating mixing and measuring onsite.
- Advantages:
- Simple to use with pre-dosed cartridges, reducing operator error.
- Reduces exposure to chemicals during application.
- Ideal for smaller or irregular spaces.
- Disadvantages:
- Higher ongoing cost due to reliance on proprietary cartridges.
- Less flexibility in herbicide choice compared to other systems.
Foamstream Spraying
www.weedingtech.com/foamstream/
- How it Works: Uses a hot water and biodegradable foam solution to kill weeds by thermal shock. Often deployed on hard surfaces, parks, and near sensitive areas.
- Advantages:
- Non-toxic and chemical-free, making it ideal for environmentally sensitive areas.
- Effective on a wide range of weeds, moss, and algae.
- Suitable for urban settings, schools, and playgrounds.
- Disadvantages:
- Equipment is costly, and the operational speed is slower than chemical spraying.
- Requires substantial water and energy, making it less efficient for very large areas
Other Methods
Traditional Sprayers:
- High-volume systems using diluted herbicides.
- Advantages: Cost-effective for large-scale, uniform applications.
- Disadvantages: High drift potential, inefficient water use, and greater environmental impact.
Steam Weeding:
- Involves applying steam to kill weeds.
- Advantages: Non-chemical, suitable for organic farming.
- Disadvantages: Slow and resource-intensive.
Mechanical Weed Control:
- Includes hoeing or brushing systems.
- Advantages: No chemical use, safe for all environments.
- Disadvantages: Labor-intensive and not feasible for all terrains.
Cost Comparison
- Mankar CDA/ULV Sprayers: Higher initial investment than other sprayers but lower herbicide costs over time.
- Nomix Sprayers: Medium initial cost, with higher recurring costs for cartridges.
- Foamstream: Very expensive initial equipment cost and operational costs but ideal for non-toxic requirements.
- Traditional Sprayers: Lowest upfront costs but inefficient in herbicide and water usage.
We hope you find this a useful comparison of technologies and solutions for successful weed spraying.
