How to select a landscape spreader.
A broadcast/rotary spreader being used for a fertilizer application. Photo by Itzel Guillen for Gardenipedia.com
Selecting a landscape spreader is not all that difficult once you know a few basics regarding the differences between the types of spreaders available. First of all, you need to know what a spreader is. A spreader is any device that dispenses a product (be it fertilizer, herbicide, mulch, etc.) in the garden, usually at a predetermined rate. There are a few different types of spreaders out there, but the most important ones are:
1) Broadcast or Rotary Push-type Spreader
A broadcast spreader is one of the most common types of spreaders available. It is the spreader in the picture above. A broadcast spreader is similar to the drop spreader discussed below, but differs in the way the material is spread throughout the landscape. In a broadcast spreader, a rotating disc below the material bucket disperses the product over a large area as you walk with the spreader. This helps you cover more area quicker than you would with a drop spreader. It is a great spreader when you need to reduce application time or when applying a product that is not dangerous to nearby plants and precision is not required. The disadvantage is that it if you are applying herbicide or a potent fertilizer, you may harm nearby plants you were not intending to cover with the product simply because of the wide area of application. This has always been my preferred spreader of choice.
2) Drop Push-type Spreaders
Similar to the broadcast spreader, the drop spreader’s main difference is that it drops the material straight down under the spreader. While this means more work for the person applying the material, this type of spreader does give you a lot more control over where the material is being applied. This is the preferred type of spreader for weed killers that may harm plants near lawns, for example, as it ensures the herbicide does not get thrown all over the place. Use this type of spreader in small yards and tight spaces.
3) Hand Carried, Portable Spreaders
When applying fertilizers or herbicides to landscape beds, you can’t exactly run a push-type spreader over the plants. The method that most gardeners use to get around this is to use their hands for these applications (hopefully, a gloved hand). However, the human hand is not very accurate at dispersing material at a predetermined rate or evenly, so this is where hand spreaders come in. Hand spreaders are small, hand carried versions of rotary spreaders that you carry around in one hand and operate a hand crank on it with your other hand. They help the gardener apply material more evenly and at the proper rate. Some gardeners feel they work well enough with their hands, though, and would rather not spend money on one of these spreaders.
4) Hitch-mounted spreaders
For extra-large properties with great expanses of lawn, it may be impractical to push a broadcast or drop spreader around all day, so hitch mounted spreaders, which can be mounted on a truck or landscape tractor/ATV are available. These come in broadcast and drop models and carry a lot more material than their push-type variants. The advantage of these is simply that they allow you to do in minutes what it would take you much longer to do with a regular spreader. Do note that some of the push-type spreaders previously discussed come in powered models which require little effort from the operator.
Once you’ve selected the type of spreader you need for the job, you need to decide how sturdy you need the unit to be. Of course, everyone wants the sturdiest spreaders as nobody wants to have to repair theirs or buy a new one too soon, but the difference in cost between regular low-end spreaders and the upper-end commercial ones with sturdy parts is huge. A low-end spreader used for three or four applications a year on level, non-rough terrain can cost as little as twenty dollars, but a high-end commercial one, used for very frequent applications and rough, uneven terrain, can be in the hundreds of dollars. There is no need to waste hundreds of dollars on a spreader if you don’t need the functions offered by these sturdier spreaders and you are careful with your equipment. At my own home, I’ve been using a lower end residential spreader which has lasted me over six years now with no problems.
When deciding how much to spend on a spreader, the important factors are frequency and application terrain. If you have a small yard, with even terrain, and you intend to do less than six applications or so a year, you may be fine with a lower cost spreader with plastic wheels. You won’t spend too much on your spreader and it will do the job. However, if your yard is full of rocks, is uneven or large, and you plan to apply more than six times per year, I would try to get a sturdier spreader with inflatable, rubber tires. It will last you a lot longer and will be much easier to carry over uneven terrain. Of course, if you measure the area of your yard in acres, you may want to get a powered or hitch-type spreader if you can afford one.
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