How to Choose the Best Lawn Spreader for The Job

A lawn spreader is a versatile landscaping tool used to evenly dispense seed or fertilizer over your lawn. It can also be used to quickly and accurately spread sand, lime, moss, compost and many other landscaping materials.

The three basic types of lawn spreader are the hand-crank spreader, the drop spreader, and the broadcast spreader. The type of spreader you choose will be based on the size of your lawn as well as the complexity of the area to be covered. You will also need a spreader with a hopper big enough to hold the amount of seed or fertilizer required to cover your lawn.

The hand-crank spreader is only useful for very small patches of lawn or for touching up bare spots on larger lawns.

The drop spreader and broadcast spreader are walk-behind models used for larger lawns which require large amounts of seed and fertilizer. The drop spreader is more accurate since it allows the seed to drop directly onto the lawn. The broadcast spreader is faster but less accurate since it throws the seed in a circular motion, up to 8 feet in every direction.

Choose the drop spreader is your lawn is less than 5,000 square feet or if accuracy is more important than speed. For example, if you have flower beds in the middle of your lawn you will want to use a drop spreader to avoid seeding your flower beds. The drop spreader is easy to use, inexpensive, and will handle the average lawn with ease.

If speed is more important to you than accuracy, then you will want to go with the broadcast spreader. Since it can throw seed up to 8 feet, depending on the model, it will allow you to cover as much area as possible in much less time. The broadcast spreader requires a little more skill to use since you must be moving before you turn it on and continue moving at a constant speed while spreading. But if you have large areas of open lawn the broadcast spreader will make short work of them. Any tight areas the broadcast spreader cannot reach can be touched up later with a hand-held spreader or a drop spreader.

The main point to keep in mind when choosing your spreader is the size of your lawn. The drop spreader is best for the average lawn since it is easy to use and spreads well along sidewalks and other landscaped areas in or around your lawn. The broadcast spreader is best for very large areas that need covered as quickly as possible.