Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Acabo de pulverizar o jardim contra as pragas. - I have just sprayed the garden against the pests.

In Portuguese, the structure acabar de followed by an infinitive (like pulverizar) means that an action has just been completed. You can use either the present tense (acabo de) or the past tense (acabei de) to say "I have just". Using the present tense is very common in European Portuguese, while acabei de is also frequently heard in everyday speech.

I remember learning that acabar por means to end up doing something. How does that compare to acabar de?

They both use the verb acabar (to finish) but have very different meanings depending on the preposition. Acabar de means an action was just completed ("I have just sprayed"). Acabar por means you eventually did something after a delay or process ("I ended up spraying"). This is a common trap, so always pay attention to the preposition that follows the verb!

Could I use regar instead of pulverizar if I am spraying my garden with a hose?

Yes, but it changes the meaning entirely. Regar means to water plants. Pulverizar specifically means to spray a fine mist, powder, or aerosol. It is the exact word you need when applying pesticides, fungicides, or chemical treatments to your garden, rather than just giving it a drink of water.

Does the word pragas always mean "pests" in Portuguese?