By Bill Kleiman, update of April, 2024

I find it pleasant when driving the preserve and I spy one autumn olive out in the prairie and I have my little sprayer in the truck. I don’t need to remember to return to take care of the problem.

Below is a Stihl SG11 we use for basal bark oil herbicide, so mineral oil with about 20% broadleaf herbicide of Garlon 4. They hold about 1.5 quarts. Sprays water solutions too, of course.

Although the directions for these state to empty and wash them with warm soapy water after each use, I fill them with slippery basal bark solution and have one of them sitting in a bucket in the bed of my truck year round, cleaning it a few times a year for good luck.

The Stihl SG11 costs about $35. I have been trying several of these for about two years and they still works. Amazing! The tip is not adjustable which is one weakness. It sprays a cone pattern only. So you want low pressure and get very close to the stem. A few of our crew find this cone only pattern frustrating. The tip and its mount are stout. It has an orange pressure release on the side for storage.

A few times we have had them report they would not build pressure. This was the rubber ring that pushed against the air to build pressure. The seal was out of place. To fix, clean sprayer with warm soapy water, then find that rubber ring on the pump plunger and fit it back into place. Then test.

For about a year I have been trying the Birchmeier brand “Superstar 1.25” of these sprayers at $70! I like it too. The tip can pivot up and down which maybe helps with some situations. And the brass nozzle tip is adjustable for cone or stream. Both models can release the pressure when you are putting them away in your vehicle.

Below is the working parts of the Birchmeier. In this photo you can see the trigger I am holding has split on the far end. The red plunger is pointing at crack. This is the third time this has split right here. The supplier was responsive and sent me triggers at no charge.

Below, the Birchmeier innards. See the clear pickup tube slides over a smooth hose bib. Basal bark fluid is slippery and this tube was sliding off. This bib should have been made with barbs. To fix it, I took a very small clear cable tie and cinched it on. You can just see them in the photo below. I put a cable tie on the filer end too. It works.

Back to the Stihl hand sprayer. If the issue with the Stihl squirt bottles is that it is hesitant to release the liquid when you pull the trigger, then I have a solution.  In the photo I am touching the plastic nut which holds the mechanism together.  If that nut is too tight you get the hesitant trigger.  Just loosen it about a tenth of a turn (counter clockwise) and I have found that problem is solved.

Likely someone tightened it to make sure it would not leak.