Best Small Yard Fertilizer Spreaders
So as to have a lush green lawn, it’s essential to have an effective fertilizer spreader in your equipment. When looking for one, it’s not just about the price, but also about quality, design, performance, and size. Not any fertilizer spreader you’ll find on the market is suitable for your lawn. And there are many. Regardless of their design, they’re made to work with granular materials. They’re built to be used not only with seeds but with fertilizers and ice melters as well. Depending on your needs and your budget, the following reviews will help you choose the most suitable fertilizer spreader for your lawn. First, you can check out the top 3 small yard fertilizer spreaders reviews, and then, if you scroll down, you will find some useful info on how to choose the best one for you!
Top 3 Small Yard Fertilizer Spreaders
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Best Overall Small Yard Fertilizer Spreader – Nylon Bag Seeder / Spreader
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The Earthway 2750 over-the-shoulder spreader, which spreads the fertilizer evenly all over the lawn, is among the best fertilizer spreaders on the market. The nylon bag holds up to 25 pounds of material, and it features an adjustable shoulder strap and a long crank handle for comfortable operation. However, it’s not recommended to fill it to the top, but half to three quarters. A hand-operated system is attached at the bottom of the bag, which allows you to spread wherever you need to. The gears on the spreader are plastic, but still, it has a smooth operation. But, metal ones would make it last longer. Also, the nylon bag is made to resist corrosion from fertilizers.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Holds up to 25 lb of material | Needs to be refilled often |
Features a zippered top, adjustable shoulder strap, and a long handle | The plastic parts could’ve been replaced with metal ones |
Rot-proof | |
5-year limited warranty |
Depending on how fast you turn the handle, it throws the seeds about 8 to 10 feet on each side, and in front. What’s more, you can use the spreader not only with fertilizer and seeds but also with granular pesticides if needed. The zippered top will prevent the granules from spilling if there’s a need to put the spreader on the ground. Moreover, this nylon bag compared to a walk-behind spreader is suitable for any kind of terrains, whether hilly or flat. It can reach places a walk-behind can’t. But, it has a lower capacity.
You shouldn’t purchase the Earthway spreader, only if you have a weak back since it must be carried on the shoulder. Otherwise, it’s the way to go. Especially, if you have a small yard to take care of.
Make sure you are comfortable with the fertilizer and how to apply it. There are some chemicals in the fertilizer that can be harmful if not treated carefully.
Scotts Whirl Hand-Held Spreader
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When you need to treat a small yard, the Scotts Whirl hand-held spreader is a perfect option. It comes at a lower price than the previous product, yet it’s also efficient in doing its job.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Holds up to 1500 sq. ft. of product | Made of plastic |
Adjustable arm support for comfortable operation | Some of the fertilizer will end up on you |
A dial to change the spreading span | Not suitable for left-handed persons |
Easy to target specific areas |
The spreader is so easy to use. You just need to hold it at the back with one hand, while you turn the crank with the other. It spreads the fertilizer evenly across the lawn. The adjustable arm support it comes offers maximum comfort while spreading. The spreader holds enough fertilizer to cover an area of up to 1500 sq. ft. But, it’s not suitable for fertilizing the whole lawn only, but also you can easily cover specific areas. It features a dial to change the spreading span, which also depends on how fast you turn the handle. The spreader works with any kind of granules, as long as they are small enough to fit into the openings. However, the manufacturer recommends to use it with any of their own fertilizers.
On the other hand, since the spreader is made of plastic, make sure you don’t use too much strength to turn the crank. It can snap off easily. Also, the product you’re spreading can end up not only on the ground but on your legs and chest, too. But, it’s yard work.
However, the Scotts Whirl hand-held spreader works well and does exactly what it’s intended for. If you aren’t left-handed, and if you don’t have a large lawn to cover, don’t hesitate to invest in one.
Earthway 2600APlus
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The Earthway 2600APlus walk-behind broadcast spreader comes at a much higher price than the previous two, but also with much higher capacity. The spreader can carry up to 40 lb. of materials in its hopper. It works with granular materials only, like the rest of the spreaders. It features an EV-N-SPRED 3-hole drop shut-off system, so it spreads the materials evenly across the lawn. Moreover, the drop rate of the seeds can be adjusted, so you don’t release an excessive amount of materials over narrow areas.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Maximum capacity of 40 lb. | Non-adjustable handle height |
EV-N-SPRED 3-hole drop shut-off system for even spread pattern | |
Adjustable drop rate | |
Made of good quality materials | |
SideSpred Control (SSC) |
The Earthway spreader is built to last. The “T” handle is made of steel, while the chassis is coated in epoxy powder so it resists corrosion. The gearbox is designed in such a way that it doesn’t undergo any damage from debris. The pneumatic high-flotation 9” tires will roll smoothly over hilly and uneven ground. However, the product requires some assembly, which will take up to 30 minutes. The SideSpread Control comes as a great feature when you need to keep materials off of flower beds, or sidewalks.
The only disadvantage of this broadcast spreader (apart from the high price, of course!) is that the height of the handle can’t be adjusted. However, if you decide to spend your money on one, you’ll get your money’s worth without a doubt. You’ll get a beautiful green lawn, as well as a fertilizer spreader that will last for years.
Things to Consider Before Buying Small Yard Fertilizer Spreaders
Choosing an ideal fertilizer spreader that will fit your needs can be quite tricky. There is a number of things you need to consider, so make sure you check the following points prior to buying one. That is, the market offers quite a lot of different small yard fertilizer spreaders, and you want to the one that fits your needs specifically!
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Size of the lawn
Size matters! The first thing to consider is the size of the area you need to cover. All of the fertilizer spreaders come with different capacity and coverage features, so you need to determine if you need to fertilize a flower bed or an entire field. If you need to cover an area larger than an acre, it’s for the best to tow the spreader behind a lawn tractor or riding mower. For smaller areas, a hand-operated spreader is the best option. For middle-sized lawns, a walk-behind spreader will perfectly do the job. Speaking of small yards, you might want to get a sprinkler for a small yard, to keep it well-irrigated.
Capacity
In order to get the job done in a timely manner, it’s essential to find a spreader that you won’t have to refill at every turn. Low capacity models are suitable mostly for small lawns. On the other hand, for large areas, you need a spreader that will carry heavy loads in the field.
Durability
For the spreader to stand the test of time, it’s important to be build of quality materials. The handheld spreaders are usually made of plastic since they should be lightweight to be easily carried around. But, unlike the metal spreaders, they can be flimsy. On the contrary, the solidly built walk-behind and tow-behind spreaders guarantee quality and sturdiness and are made to last for years.
Settings
Adjustable settings allow you to choose the amount of seed or other materials you want to distribute in a particular area. The spreaders with such settings have holes that can be opened or closed to a certain degree, depending on the material you need to distribute.
Price
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get quality. However, make sure the spreader meets your requirements before you spend your money on one.
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Types of Fertilizer Spreaders
There are different types of fertilizer spreaders, and not all of them are suitable for your lawn. Generally, they’re divided into two main categories, drop spreaders and broadcast, or rotary, spreaders. The first ones, as the name suggests, drop the materials between the wheels, so you can apply the product precisely over the lawn. The broadcast spreaders spread the materials to the front and sides, covering a larger area.
Depending on the way they’re operated, the spreaders come into three different types:
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Handheld Spreaders
Simple and inexpensive units, which are operated by hand cranking. They’re usually made of plastic in order to be lightweight for easier carrying, and their capacity is low. However, they’re perfect for small lawns.
Walk-Behind Spreaders
These wheeled spreaders need to be pushed forward from behind in order to operate. They have a higher capacity than the handheld spreaders, so they can carry a significant amount of materials. This way, you won’t have to refill the hopper quite often. They are suitable for small or middle-sized lawns.
Tow-Behind Spreaders
If you have a large yard, a tow-behind spreader is the fastest way to spread materials across the entire lawn. They work in such a way that you fill them with material, then tow them behind a lawn tractor or ride-on mower, so they spread it over the whole area. They’re made of high-quality materials that guarantee durability.[/alert]
Small Yard Fertilizer Spreaders FAQs
[accordiongroup id=”899″][accordion group=”899″ title=”Can I use a fertilizer spreader to spread grass seed?” active=”true”]Yes, you can. The fertilizer spreaders work with any type of granular materials under the condition the size of the granules isn’t larger than the size of the openings. Actually, fertilizer spreaders are the fastest and the most efficient way to spread grass seed across the lawn. [/accordion][accordion group=”899″ title=”Can you put down grass seed and fertilizer at the same time?” active=”true”]In order to avoid uneven distribution of materials that will result in patchy areas, or to prevent an excessive amount of fertilizer from burning the seedlings, you should never apply grass seed and fertilizer at the same time. It’s recommended to apply the fertilizer before planting the grass seed.[/accordion][/accordiongroup]
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Martha M.
I'm passionate about small DIY projects and my modest garden. I'm always up for a challenge! Soon after getting out of university, I realized I won't find many if I don't set the ground myself. Soon after, TopYardDesign.com was created.