Spreader Buying Guide
There are basically four types of fertiliser and seed spreader that you would use around the home, lawn or garden. We list three of them below; the fourth are the hand held spreaders which Lawnsmith do not rate at all.
Shoulder or Bag Spreader - Rating 10/10
Ups...
- Bag spreader for fertiliser, grass seed and salting hard areas
- Perfect for all lawns regardless of size, shape, slope or obstacles
- Very easy and quick to use
- Even coverage
- Perhaps the best value spreader on the market today
Downs...
Can't think of one!
Rotary or Broadcast Spreaders - Rating 8/10
Ups...
- Great for fertiliser, grass seed and salting hard areas
- Easy and quick to use
- Even coverage
- Ideal for medium to large lawns
- Great on relatively smooth simply shaped lawns
Downs...
- Can tip on steep slopes
- Not as easy as the Shoulder Spreader on irregular shaped lawns
- Not as easy as Shoulder Spreader around obstacles – trees, play frames, shrubberies
Drop Spreaders - Rating 3/10
Ups..
- Ideal for 'Weed and Feed' and Grass Seed
- Best with fine or powdery products
- Suited to flat lawns with straight sides
Downs...
- Needs practice to use, start or stop
- Will leave stripes if not used very accurately
- Can be problematic with pelleted or larger granular feeds
- Slow and tricky on large lawns
- Virtually impossible on sloping or bumpy lawns
- Impossible around obstacles – trees, play frames, shrubberies etc
Common Q&A's
Can I use the spreader for grass seed?
Yes you can but because of the elongated shape of grass seed it does not 'flow' consistently through rotary or broadcast spreaders. This means that though a spreader is an excellent method for spreading seed, settings are unreliable which is why we suggest a one third open setting to start and applying in several lots starting from a different side of the lawn each time to ensure consistent even coverage.
Why can't I use 'weed and feed' in some spreaders?
You can but rotary or broadcast spreaders fling the fertiliser out which can, if not controlled carefully go on to none target plants. If you are therefore using a combined 'weed and feed' product the weed killer element could kill your border plants.
In addition, some fertiliser contains Ferrous Sulphate which can stain hard surfaces so once again the same issue arises.
Lawnsmith Fertilisers do NOT contain weed killer so all our feeds can go through the spreader of your choice and should some go on border plants then they'll just grow a little bigger! The only Lawnsmith Fertiliser that has a potential stain issue is Winter Green so once again your property is safe with all our other fertilisers.
