We have used various different types of equipment since we first started painting lawns back in 2015, and some of the sprayers we have used have been a lot better than others. The first sprayer that we started with was a Solo pump backpack sprayer. While it was affordable and convenient because it didn’t need to be plugged-in, it definitely had it’s pitfalls. The biggest issues with this sprayer was that: you needed to pump it constantly, it didn’t spray strongly, and that it would clog up easily. These sprayers were designed to spray pesticides which are a lot finer than paint, so it’s not surprising that when you put grass paint in these sprayers it clogs up. So while pesticide pump sprayers can still work because grass paint is more like hair dye than paint, they are not optimal for grass paint. Which is kind of funny because most of the lawn painting tutorials online recommend using a pesticide pump sprayer to apply the paint.
So, what is the optimal type of grass painting sprayer then?
The answer is that the best type of sprayer for painting grass is an electric paint sprayer. While it may be more expensive, it will be much quicker and easier to paint your lawn with one of these. Electric paint sprayers will also arguably produce a better final result, but that part of it is negligible to be honest. You can still get a good looking lawn with a paint pesticide sprayer, but it will just take you forever to to finish the job. So with that explanation out of the way, here’s our professional opinion on which sprayers are the best paint sprayers for turf in no particular order.
Wagner Control Pro 130 Power Tank Paint Sprayer
This is a great entry level electric paint sprayer that is super simple to use and comes with it’s own built-in paint bucket so you don’t have to get a separate one. The only issue with this sprayer is that it only holds a 1.5 gallons of paint at once so you probably have to refill it a couple of times if you are painting a standard sized lawn. That being said, it doesn’t take that long to refill this sprayer and you can have paint pre-mixed in a 1 gallon bottle to make it easier to refill. All you have to do in that case is dump the paint from the bottle in the sprayer once it’s running low on paint. Just make sure to use the exact same paint to water ratio and brand of paint throughout the entire lawn so that you don’t have any color variations.
Graco Magnum X5 Stand Airless Paint Sprayer
While this sprayer is a little bit more expensive than the Wagner Control Pro 130, it’s probably generally a little higher quality. All around the internet people rant and rave about this sprayer being a great quality sprayer for the price and it’s no wonder why it’s one of the most popular. That being said, the only downsides to this sprayer when compared to the Wagner is that it’s more difficult to use and that it doesn’t come with its own tank/paint bucket. On the bright side though, an external paint bucket can hold much more paint than the Wagner can hold in its built-in tank. This benefit alone might be worth the investment to spend a little bit more time and money on using this sprayer if you plan on offering grass painting services. If you plan on just painting your own lawn though, we would recommend getting the Wagner instead of this sprayer because this sprayer is a bit overkill and a little bit more difficult to learn to operate.
Necessary Paint Sprayer Accessories
In order to prevent breaking your back by bending over to paint the lawns, it is quite necessary to also get an extender wand like the one below. This is the same one that we personally use.
Conclusion
While you may be tempted to use a cheap pump sprayer for painting your grass, we can assure you that it’s worth spending the money to get a nice sprayer. That being said, all of the needed materials to paint your lawn yourself will probably cost you the same amount as just hiring us to professionally paint your lawn for you. Not to mention all of the time that you will save because you don’t need to figure out how to paint your lawn. Get a free grass painting quote now!