Applying fertilizer correctly is important. Driving down neighborhood streets you’ve likely seen a few zebra stiped lawns. A perfect example of poor fertilizer application. No matter what kind of lawn products you use, their performance depends in large part on the quality of the spreader that you use to apply them. At Gertens, we have high quality spreaders available for rent; complimentary with a purchase of fertilizer or weed prevention products from us.
A poor-quality spreader can not only leave missed streaks or patches in the lawn but also cause unsatisfactory control of weeds, insects, and fungus disease.
Rotary or Drop Spreader:
If both spreaders are of equal quality, a drop spreader usually will provide better accuracy. However, a high-quality rotary will be more accurate than a lower-quality drop spreader.
Drop spreaders meter out the fertilizer and drop it directly on the lawn. A drop spreader is best if:
You have a small lawn
Doing the job as precisely as possible is most important to you
You don’t mind taking a bit longer to apply products to your lawn
Rotary spreaders meter out the fertilizer and throw the granules in a swath up to several feet wide. A rotary spreader is best if:
You have a very large lawn
You like to get the job done as quickly as possible
You do not have flower beds or gardens in the middle of your lawn
Fertilizing your lawn unevenly can lead to blotchy spots.
How to Use your Lawn Spreader for Best Results:
Make sure the spreader is turned OFF.
Set the spreading rate on the spreader to the setting indicated on the back of the lawn product you are applying.
Always fill the spreader on a driveway or walkway, not on the lawn, in case of spillage.
Begin spreading, using the following guidelines.
For a Rectangular Lawn:
Start by making two "header strips" at each end of the lawn. This provides an area for turning the spreader on and off. Go back and forth between the ends, shutting the spreader off when you reach the header strips. When starting back, put the spreader in motion before opening it in the header strip area.
If using a drop spreader, make sure the wheels overlap the wheel marks in the grass from the previous swath to prevent missed strips.
If using a rotary spreader, be sure to overlap the edge of each swath with the edge of the previous swath to prevent missed streaks.
For an Irregularly Shaped Lawn:
Apply a "header strip" around the edge of it. Go back and forth the longest direction, shutting the spreader off when you reach the header strip.
The experts atGertensare always available to answer your questions!
Drop spreaders tend to be a more accurate spreader. This is due to the fact that product is only released over the areas that it is rolled over. To coincide with this, drop spreaders spread more evenly than a broadcast spreader due to its spreading pattern.
Ideally, having both allows for efficient lawn coverage with the broadcast spreader and precise application near sidewalks, driveways and flower beds with the drop spreader. Both spreaders are durable investments. A broadcast spreader is generally more versatile if you can only choose one.
A pedestrian drop spreader is the best option for small to medium areas. It gives an accurate application to ensure your lawn develops uniformly, avoiding patches which can occur if spreading by hand. It can also be used to apply lawn fertilsier, making it an essential tool for any gardener or lawn care enthusiast.
A spreader will allow for a more even application and save you time and effort. For granular top dressing, you can use a regular broadcast or drop spreader, such as the Scotts® Turf Builder® Classic® Drop Spreader or the Scotts® Turf Builder® EdgeGuard® Mini Broadcast Spreader.
Plus, using a broadcast spreader will save you gobs of time, cutting your passes by more than half. So here are the general rules: For fertilizers put the setting a notch or two above half. For example, if there are 20 notches on the spreader, 11-12 would be the setting.
Rotary spreaders allow an effective pattern ranging from 30 inches to 8 feet -- depending on the type used. This wide swath makes lawn applications faster.
Use tighter pattern spacing for seed (3.5 to 4.5 ft) and pesticides (4.5 to 5 ft) than fertilizer materials (8 to 10 ft). Spread wheel track to wheel track (or footprint to footprint); space pattern so that the farthest thrown granules are hitting the wheel marks of the previous pass.
Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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