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For spreading fertiliser, grass seed and other lawn treatments you can either do it the hard, inefficient way by hand, or pay out a little on a specialist fertiliser spreader. Spreaders come in a couple of basic types and are a vastly more efficient and safer way of fertilising a lawn area especially if your garden is on the larger side although equally good for smaller gardens.

Drop Spreaders

For smaller or more accurate results, fertilizer drop spreaders are the recommended solution. These drop the fertiliser or lawn seed straight down under the spreader machine as you wheel it along allowing for accurate placement. As the fertiliser drops down in a width equal to the width of the hopper, you do need to be careful about achieving a full coverage and as failure to do so can lead to a striped effect. Most models will allow you to adjust the volume of product dispensed as you walk in accordance with your fertiliser manufacturer's guidelines.

Broadcast Spreaders

Also know as rotary spreaders, these use a spinning disc underneath the hopper to fling seeds and fertiliser out in a fan shape around the spreader as you wheel it along. Broadcast spreaders are ideal for covering large areas in short times but are obviously lesss accurate and you need to ensure you make several passes to ensure good coverage of an area. Due to the 'flinging' action you may find you need more control by using a drop spreader if you are working on an area close to somewhere you wouldn't want to be throwing fertiliser (like the street or a neightbour's garden).

Which Spreader Is Best

If you have a small area or require more control over where the spreader deposits its payload then opt for a drop spreader. A broadcast spreader is also not very good at handling denser materials like mulch and compost which are also better suited to drop spreader use. For very small area like flower beds, a crank operated handheld broadcast spreader is best suited whilst if you have a large area to cover then a broadcast spreader is definitely recommended.

Spreader Care and Maintenance

After finishing with the spreader, whichever type you choose, you are well advised to give it a good clean to ensure it remains in tip top condition for the next time it is needed. Fertilisers and pesticides have corrosive properties which will damage the metal parts of your spreader if left unchecked. Be sure to follow your manufacturer's cleaning instructions after every use.