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Enthusiast > Fertilising for Enthusiasts > Rotary & Drop Fertiliser Spreaders
Rotary & Drop Fertiliser Spreaders
Rotary Spreader - Lawnsmith Rating 7/10
Drop Spreader - Lawnsmith Rating 3/10
*The above are in the Lawn Fertiliser Spreader Range in the Lawnsmith Shop and discussed below:
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If you are familiar with other lawn fertiliser spreaders, have a good one and find it easy to use then stick with it. There is no point in ‘fixing wot ain’t broke’!
Here are some pros and cons to watch out for:
Rotary Lawn Spreader or Broadcast Spreader (Wheeled)
- Rotary or Broadcast fertiliser spreaders spin and ‘throw’ the fertiliser in an arc
- Fast and reliable
- Should not be used with ‘weed and feed’ products as it is difficult to prevent some going onto plants with deadly results
- Difficult to use in tight areas and slopes
- Cheap versions can be difficult to set up accurately
- Cables can stretch meaning ‘off’ is not necessarily off!
- Ideal if your lawn is easily accessible and a simple shape
- A good spreader should have pneumatic tyres for smooth travel – definitely NOT plastic
- I occasionally use one but only for messy or dusty products
- Some spreaders can be towed behind tractor mowers
Drop Fertiliser Spreader
- Drop spreaders literally drop fertiliser from holes in the underside
- Can ‘wobble’ over dips and humps making you miss patches
- If the fertiliser isn’t dry or fine it can clog
- You need to be pretty sharp to ‘shut it off’ at the end of a run
- Difficult in tight areas or if the lawn contours
- It’s the only spreader to use with combined ‘weed and feed’ products
- They’re good for applying grass seed and possibly lawn sand
- You need to be super accurate otherwise you get different coloured stripes
- There is no such thing as a good cheap drop spreader
