Whether you are planning to seed a brand new lawn or revamp a fading one, it’s paramount that you select the right lawn spreaders that match your lawn requirements. A lawn spreader is the perfect tool for spreading seeds, lime, fertilizer, lime or manure to replenish your fading lawn? For you to achieve a smart and evergreen lawn you need to adhere to regular lawn maintenance practices such as seeding, mowing, dethatching and adding fertilizer.
What is a lawn spreader?
A lawn spreader is a lawn care gardening tool that is used to spread seeds, lime, fertilizer, sand or manure on the lawn. There are different types of lawn spreaders on the market today that come with different functionality, sizes and capacity.
Types of lawn spreaders
There are 3 main types of lawn spreaders. They perform the same function but they are designed for different lawn sizes so as to make the spreading work more efficient. They include;
1. Drop Spreaders
Drop spreaders are designed for small and medium lawns. They work using gravity and they spread the seeds evenly in a row accurately where you want them spread.
The amount of seeds that will be used will be determined by your speed and spreader holes settings.
When seeding your lawn using drop spreaders, it’s also important to ensure that you have overlapped the spreader wheels so as to achieve a uniformed spread in the entire lawn.
Advantages of drop spreaders
- They are accurate with spreading desired areas
- Drop spreaders are easy to operate even for novice
- They are perfect for smaller lawns
- Drop spreaders are easy to navigate even is hard surfaces
- Minimal loss of your seeds or fertilizer due to the controlled spread coverage
Disadvantages of drop spreaders
- They have a limited spreading width compared to the broadcast spreaders
- It takes more time to spread the seeds on the entire lawn due to the limited coverage
- Large capacity hopper holds up to 10,000 sq. ft. of Scotts lawn product, including grass seed and fertilizer
- Heavy-duty frame for optimum stability
- 22-inch spread pattern delivers maximum coverage and accuracy
- Fully assembled
- Ready to use and pre-calibrated
Last update on 2021-07-01 at 02:06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Read Also; Most Common Seed Starting Mistakes that Gardeners Make
2. Broadcast Spreaders
Broadcast spreaders are also known as rotary spreaders. Broadcast spreaders are either pull-behind, push, or hand-held.
They work by spreading the seeds in all-directions using a spinning disk.
The disk contains a few fins that rotates at high speed hence throwing the seeds that have been placed inside the hopper out and away from the broadcast spreader.
Different broadcast spreaders have different settings and application rates.
Generally, they spread fewer amount of seeds on the edges of broadcast spreader itself.
The rate at which you move plus the spreaders’ outlet holes settings will determine the amount of seeds that will be used when seeding your lawn.
When using broadcast spreaders, ensure that you have overlapped the passes so as to achieve a uniform seeding spread. This helps in avoiding stripes when the grass germinates.
Advantages of broadcast spreaders
- They are suitable for large lawns due to their bigger coverage area
- They are faster and they get the job done right away
Disadvantages of broadcast spreaders
- The seeds are sometimes spread in unwanted areas such as driveways, flower beds or hard surfaces. This results to loss of your seeds.
- Both push and tow behind broadcast spreaders require good operational skills in order to achieve an even seeding coverage especially during the wind. Therefore, it’s not suitable for beginners.
- Use the Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader to apply Scotts lawn care products
- Comes pre-calibrated and fully assembled with a fold-down handle for easy storage
- Scotts exclusive EdgeGuard Technology keeps lawn product off landscaping, driveways, and sidewalks
- Features redesigned hopper and agitator for smoother product funneling and consistent coverage
- Holds up to 5,000 sq. ft. of Scotts lawn product, including grass seed and fertilizer – ideal for treating smaller areas
Last update on 2022-09-20 at 12:19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Hand-held Spreaders
Hand-held broadcast spreaders are perfect for those with small lawns.
If you want to spread in a very small area/lawn, consider going for a hand-held lawn spreader.
They are easy to operate and they come with multiple spreader settings so as to give you a clean uniformed seeding spread.
All you need to do is to fill the hopper with seeds, adjust your spreader settings and pull the trigger.
The seeds will be spread to your desired coverage as you walk while turning the crank.
They have a smaller storage capacity and they require regular refilling. Always ensure that you have placed the spreader on a hard surface when putting the seeds or any other material to minimize wastage.
Advantages of hand-held spreaders
- They are faster and makes spreading easy for smaller lawns
- They are simple to operate
- They are affordable and durable
Disadvantages of handheld spreaders
- They have limited use. Not ideal for medium and bigger lawns
- Smaller hopper storage capacity requires frequent refills
- Battery-powered spreader you can use year round—designed to spread grass seed, lawn fertilizer and weed control products
- Designed to cover up to 2, 500 sq. ft. using Scotts lawn care product
- 5-foot broadcast with control of EdgeGuard Technology
- Our most advanced spreader yet, powered by 4 AA batteries with 23 settings for unbeatable accuracy
- Perfect for lawn seed, fertilizer and weed control products
Last update on 2022-09-20 at 12:19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Assessing the size and status of your lawn will help you decide the best lawn spreaders to go for. A neat and well maintained lawn is always attractive and gives your patio a better aesthetic value.