New PreGro Plant Sprayer Delivers Versatile Alternative to Current Prefilled Garden Aerosols

Chicago, IL, May 16, 2015 --(PR.com)-- With a new spring under way, Illinois-based Preval is on a mission to combat the collapse of honeybee colonies while arming do-it-yourself gardeners with a tool to transform their work.

The introduction of the indoor/outdoor PreGro Plant Sprayer (MSRP $8.95) offers DIY gardeners limitless options to protect and nourish their plants in a careful, strategic way.

Retailers and consumers have pressed for application method alternatives, demanding more innovation in the lawn and garden industry. Meanwhile, local governments have begun to restrict spraying many chemicals because of the harmful effects of some insecticides, pesticides and herbicides. Satisfying these market demands, Preval developed the PreGro Plant Sprayer, a precise, uniform sprayer that makes it easy to tend to plants without affecting adjacent areas. The PreGro Plant Sprayer is completely customizable; it can be filled with any organic compound, natural solution, or chemical.

Why Preval Made PreGro

In developing the PreGro Plant Sprayer, the company considered retailer concerns about aerosols pre-filled with harmful chemicals. With the PreGro, the user can fill the sprayer with unlimited liquid solutions to combat a problem area and still achieve the precise and even spray of an aerosol.

Recent research suggests neonicotinoids (a type of insecticide) plays a role in the collapse of honeybee colonies. Two commonly used neonicotinoids have a high likelihood of triggering Colony Collapse Disorder, which involves bees abandoning their hives during the winter and ultimately dying, according to a study from Harvard School of Public Health published in 2014.

During winter 2013-2014, managed honeybee colonies nationwide experienced losses of 23.2 percent, according to an annual survey administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bee Informed Partnership. These honeybee deaths present significant cause for concern, since approximately one of every three mouthfuls in U.S. residents' diets benefits directly or indirectly from bee pollination, according to the USDA. As a result, some policymakers are seeking to restrict the use of insecticides. Oregon has created a state rule prohibiting the user of four bee-killing chemicals on lindens, basswood trees and related species, according to The Oregonian.

Furthermore, environmental friendliness is a growing priority for consumers, according to the report "Marketing to the Green Consumer – U.S. – March 2014" from market research firm Mintel Group. Approximately 93 million people report they're dedicated to buying green products and services, according to the report.

Using the PreGro Sprayer to administer neonicotinoid-free solutions is one way environmentally conscious consumers can respond to the honeybee crisis while still keeping their gardens healthy. Preval has created a microsite to answer consumers' questions about making their own organic solutions.

Additionally, PreGro is safer in handling toxins and harsher chemicals. It’s designed with an ergonomic handle and trigger that easily attaches to the sprayer and minimizes finger fatigue.

“The PreGro Plant Sprayer should be first choice to for spraying insecticides like malathion,” says Jim Sanford, industry expert and manufacturer representative. "It increases the safety factor dramatically."

"From what we see in the field, there are so many uses for spraying on and around a plant problem area," says Preval President Sam Averbuch. "Each PreGro Sprayer will apply roughly 120 square feet of even coverage, for commercial and domestic use. Many users pour from bulk containers and use our PreGro system for small-surface, precise applications. And DIYers have the ability to achieve the same precision and coverage with the homemade remedies many favor, such as pure lemon juice."

The Many Uses of PreGro for the DIY Gardener

Spraying regularly can stop pests and diseases from harming lawns and gardens, according to the Lowe's "Garden Sprayer Buying Guide." A garden sprayer like PreGro allows consumers to apply an exact amount of pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer, or another desired solution to a particular area. The following are just some of the ways PreGro can prove useful as a gardening aid:

Protecting plants. Use PreGro to eliminate the threat of common pests and diseases, ranging from black spot to blight to cutworms and caterpillars. The PreGro microsite offers do-it-yourself organic recipes to fix these problems. For instance, you can ward off cutworms and caterpillars with a mixture made from garlic, vegetable oil, liquid dish soap, and water.

Feeding and fertilizing. The PreGro is also used to apply DIY liquid fertilizers, such as seaweed solution, rock phosphate, and nettle liquid fertilizing tea, among others. Creating homemade, organic fertilizers is a low-cost option for gardeners looking to provide their plants with essential, easy-to-absorb nutrients, according to Burlington Permaculture, a Vermont-based urban agriculture group.

Preserving flowers. The PreGro Sprayer —which comes fully pressurized and secures to a glass jar — can also help consumers create dried flower arrangements, according to the American Rose Society. Use PreGro to apply denatured alcohol and Pro-Seal 2000 to a perfectly formed rose as part of the preservation process.