Your lawn care routine needs more than just a swanky lawn mower to keep it in tip-top condition. Watering, especially during dry spells, is required to keep your grass looking green and the best garden spray gun is just the ticket to allow you to water your lawn evenly and efficiently using your garden hose. Such spray guns are also a must-have for watering plants, rehydrating pots, washing down hardstanding such as patios, paths, driveways, and decks, rinsing off your car, and even for washing the dog.
Attaching to a standard garden hose, garden spray guns give you better control over the water's flow, intensity, and in most cases, the spray pattern your hose can produce. Whether you need a light mist to refresh delicate plants, a wide spray to cover as much lawn as possible, a decent stream to reach your hanging baskets, or a steady jet to fill a bucket or watering can, a garden hose pipe spray gun is the way to go.
Best garden spray guns to cover all your watering needs
While all the garden spray guns we're featuring work on the same basic principle, by attaching to your garden hose pipe, the functionality they offer varies greatly. Some spray guns just provide a gentle shower while others offer as many as eight different spray patterns. We've included a wide variety of garden spray guns in our selection of the best currently available. Have a browse to see which option would best suit your watering needs.
Best garden spray guns
Best overall garden spray gun
HozelockHozelock is a well-trusted brand in the garden watering marketplace and this Amazon best-selling spray gun is a fabulous mid-range option ideal for the average gardener. It has racked up over 14,000 4.5-star reviews thanks to its simple operation and decent functionality.
This gives you five spray patterns; a powerful jet for cleaning, fast fill for filling buckets and watering cans, a fine rose for gentle watering, and a flat spray for rinsing off cars or watering the lawn. This boasts a soft-touch trigger and you can adjust the flow of the water easily with the control option that ranges from 50 per cent to 100 per cent.
Pros
- User-friendly, always-on lock position for prolonged use
- Flow control to adjust the level of the water being sprayed
Cons
- Not as many spray options as alternative products
Best heavy-duty garden spray gun
Fanhao FANHAO offers a robust 100 per cent metal garden spray gun that will withstand extreme temperatures and work reliably year-round. This has a brass nozzle and fittings and a zinc alloy gun body that earns a 100 per cent leak-free guarantee.
This spray gun is controlled by trigger action, with a simple metal catch to create an 'always-on' effect to prevent hand fatigue. There are four spray settings from a fine mist to a strong jet spray which you control by rotating the head of the nozzle.
Pros
- Robust, 100 per cent metal construction including brass parts
- Leak-free promise with a one-year guarantee
Cons
- Heavier than most plastic alternatives
Best budget garden spray gun
Grifema We're highlighting this Grifema spray gun as a great affordable option for any gardeners on a budget, or for those who only occasionally use their garden hose and see no need to spend big on a spray attachment. Despite the modest cost, this offers eight spray settings; these include jet, shower, cone, mist, and full effects.
This is made from high-quality ABS plastic and the handle has a textured, anti-slip design for improved grip. The flow of the water can easily be adjusted by turning the control knob on the head of the gun.
Pros
- Anti-slip handle for a confident, comfortable grip
- Eight different spray settings to suit your watering task
Cons
- Garden hose fitting connector sold separately
Best compact garden spray gun
Gardena From well-respected brand Gardena comes this spray gun that does one thing and does it well - offer a soft shower spray that's ideal for watering borders and bedding areas, potted plants, vegetable patches, and areas of lawn.
Offering Gardena's usual high-quality build, this is frost- and UV-proof so it can be left outside all year round. This is a more compact option than alternatives and fits comfortably in the hand thanks to its ergonomic design and soft-grip finish which offers good purchase even if your hands are wet.
Pros
- Frost- and UV-proof so it can be left outside all year round
- Ergonomic, soft-grip handle that's comfortable to use
Cons
- Only suitable for gentle watering tasks
Best fireman's hose-style garden spray gun
Eden While trigger-operated spray guns may be a logical design option for most gardeners, anyone with conditions such as arthritis, or other hand-related mobility challenges, may want to look for an alternative. This Eden offering is just that - it's operated in the same style as a fireman's hose, with the oversized control lever activating the water spray and controlling the flow.
This has a zinc alloy inner core shaft for durability with a honeycomb grip on the handle to provide extra control. This gun gives you seven spray choices; shower, flat, jet, high jet, full, cone, and fan.
Pros
- Seven different spray options from high jet to shower
- Easy-to-use fireman's hose-style control lever
Cons
- Not the most compact option available
Best eco-friendly garden spray gun
GardenaIf you always try and opt for the eco-friendly choice, consider Gardena's EcoLine water sprayer. The plastic parts in this tool are made up of more than 65 per cent recycled materials and the metal elements are 45 per cent recyclable.
This boasts a lockable trigger for extended use and the ability to adjust the water volume with one-handed operation on the top of the handle. Even the packaging of this spray gun is environmentally friendly - it's made from 100 per cent recycled and recyclable cardboard printed with water-based inks.
Pros
- Made from recycled materials and has recyclable packaging
- Lockable trigger for comfort during long periods of use
Cons
- Does not offer multiple spray pattern options
Best long nozzle garden spray gun
Offcup Looking like a prop from a James Bond movie, this Offcup option has the unique selling point of a long nozzle. This design is useful for watering in hard-to-reach areas, giving you extra reach to water through heavy undergrowth, for example.
This spray gun is made of metals; a durable brass nozzle and an electroplated aluminium body. This has four different watering modes that can be changed by rotating the nozzle to switch between the settings. This is trigger-operated and has a small metal clasp to activate an 'always-on' setting.
Pros
- Simple to adjust the settings and pressure using the nozzle
- 24cm long nozzle for improved reach in difficult areas
Cons
- Offcup do not recommend leaving this outdoors
Best garden spray gun all-rounder
Draper is a trusted name in the garden tools arena, and this award-winning garden spray gun is a great all-rounder with some high-quality touches. These include an aluminium body and a brass hose fitting for hard-wearing durability. This has an ergonomically shaped handle for comfortable use.
We're naming this as a great all-rounder thanks to its versatile spray options. There's fine mist, ideal for watering flower beds, jet - great for cleaning muck off cars and bikes, and shower and soaker settings for lawn watering duties. Other options include fan and cone.
Pros
- Seven different spray settings for versatility
- High quality brass hose fitting for durability
Cons
- No always-on lock option
Best garden spray gun for intensive use
HozelockDesigned to fit neatly in your hand, this Hozelock spray gun is comfortable to use over extended periods of time thanks to the soft touch trigger and the ability for the trigger to be locked in position to reduce strain on the hand. The rear flow control allows you to have a variable flow from 50 per cent to 100 per cent.
There are seven spray settings, from a fine mist for seedlings and other delicate plants, up to a dirt-busting jet spray. This spray gun's fan spray option gets praise from reviewers as being ideal for rinsing soap suds off cars and other vehicles.
Pros
- Seven spray settings to suit different watering tasks
- Soft touch trigger that's comfortable to use
Cons
- Mainly plastic construction is not frost-proof
How we chose the best garden spray guns
All of these garden spray guns have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the spray options, ergonomics, and build quality in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching garden spray guns to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
What to look for in a garden hose spray gun
If you're just going to be using your spray gun to water plants or the lawn, a simple option that offers a gentle shower spray, such as the Gardena Watering Sprayer, will suffice. The light spray will ensure you don't damage more delicate growth.
Anyone who uses their garden hose for multiple tasks, such as car and bike washing, should consider a spray gun that gives you a more comprehensive set of spray options including stronger jet settings.
If you use your garden hose often, ergonomics is something to consider. Does the handle have molded hands grips? Is there a soft touch trigger to make it more comfortable to use? And, if you use a hose for extended periods of time, to water a large lawn, for example, the ability to lock the trigger for 'always-on' action is very useful.
Materials are also something to look out for. While most of these domestic garden hose spray guns are primarily plastic, there are some metal options that will last longer and be more weatherproof. If you do opt for a practical and lightweight plastic spray gun consider ones with a brass or stainless steel hose connector - they will be more durable.
FAQs
Will I need a connector?
A hose pipe coupling, or connector, will be required to attach the spray gun accessory to your garden hose. Many of the options we're featuring come complete with the correct part you need. If not you can buy a plastic or brass universal connector separately.
How often should I water my lawn?
During the warmer months, the Royal Horticultural Society advises that watering the average lawn every seven to 10 days is normally sufficient, but advises watering less if the weather is damp. Overwatering can damage your lawn just as badly as drought conditions, so don't overdo it.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.