When you’re trying to grow a lush, thick lawn, having a fertilizer spreader makes your job so much easier. Using one of these tools is far easier than spreading fertilizer or grass seed by hand and will also save you a ton of time.
When you use a fertilizer spreader, you also get much more consistent results which means that you’re unlikely to have patches of lawn that you’ve missed.
Fertilizer spreaders are multi-use tools which makes them excellent value. You can use them to broadcast grass seeds, add lime to the soil and spread fertilizer. These units can also be used for insecticides and fungicides if you have lawn problems.
But, when it comes to fertilizer spreader, the choice is almost limitless. For this reason, we’ve researched some of the top spreaders on the market and given you the benefits of each one to find out, once and for all, what’s the best fertilizer spreader!?
This cuts down on your own research time and lets you select a spreader that is best suited to your needs. Here are the top five fertilizer spreaders that we’ve selected.
Best Fertilizer Spreader: Our 5 Favorites
1. Scotts Elite Spreader
- Scotts Elite Spreader is advanced, accurate and engineered for a 20% faster...
- Push spreader can be used for feed, seed, weed, salt and melt while...
- The dual rotors provide exceptional accuracy while the ergonomic handle...
- Scotts Elite Spreader comes equipped with EdgeGuard technology
- The lawn spreader holds enough product to cover up to 20,000 sq. ft. with...
The Scotts Elite fertilizer spreader is quick and easy to use. It has an ergonomic handle with a smartphone holder. The large hopper can hold up to 20,000 square feet of product which means that you have to refill it less often. That’s equated to 60 pounds of fertilizer.
It’s easy to maneuver around your yard because it has excellent plastic tires that will never go flat. These wheels are made from a soft plastic that allow the spreader to roll over slightly uneven terrain much easier.
You’ll also find that the unit gives you a fast and accurate coverage. This is thanks to the dual rotors that provide exceptional accuracy when dispensing fertilizer over your lawn area. And, because there’s two rotors, it allows you to dispense twice the amount of fertilizer in the same amount of time. This easily allows you to cover a six foot wide path with every pass.
Key Features:
- The hopper has the capacity to hold 60 pounds of product.
- Dual rotors spread twice as much product with each pass.
- Soft plastic wheels that travel over slightly uneven terrain and never go flat.
- Ergonomic handle with smartphone holder.
- Covers a 6 foot wide path.
- Can be used to seed, feed, and weed your lawn.
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2. TIPU Handheld Spreader
- Efficient Use - No more over spray and wasted Grass Seed/Fertilizer/Ice...
- Versatility- 3 Adjustable Openings for spreading any material you need. No...
- Easy to Use- Twist open the lid, fill the garden Spreader, screw the lid...
- Ergonomic Handle for Comfort.-Spacious handle design provides a comfortable...
- Portability-Durable and multifunctional tool. Made of sturdy plastic, Up to...
The TIPU hand spreader is ideal for people who only have a small yard or a small area of lawn to maintain. It has an adjustable opening that allows you to select three different sized holes to dispense from depending on what you’re spreading.
This portable and lightweight spreader is so easy to use. You just need to unscrew the cap, pour in the product, screw the cap back on and select the correct opening to being dispensing.
The handle has an ergonomic design to assist in more comfortable use. Plus, the hopper can hold up to 80 ounces of product.
Key Features:
- Made from thick, durable plastic.
- You have the option of 3 different sized holes for dispensing.
- Has an ergonomic handle
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3. EarthWay 2170 Commercial Broadcast Fertilizer Spreader
This heavy-duty spreader is commercial-grade and can hold a massive 100 pounds of product. It also has large 13-inch pneumatic tires that allow easy maneuverability. The hopper is rust-proof and the crate is clog-free. This allows you to work in any type of weather without fear of the unit getting wet.
The ergonomic handle is height adjustable so you can position it so that it’s comfortable to walk behind no matter how tall you are. In addition, the drop rate is also adjustable. There are 3 different sized holes that allow for even spreading. You can also close off spreading from the right side if you’re walking beside a driveway or path.
The unit is well-constructed and highly durable with its oversized steel frame and heavy-duty gearbox. It’s primarily designed for commercial use so it will handle constant use for many years to come.
So, if you have a large yard or lawn area, this spreader will do the job perfectly and won’t let you down.
Key Features:
- Solid metal frame for durability
- 13-inch pneumatic tires
- Large hopper that can hold 100 pounds of material
- Length-adjustable handle
- Heavy-duty gearbox with enclosed gears
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4. Agri-Fab Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader (45-0463)
- MADE IN USA
- HOPPER CAPACITY: 130 lbs.; 1/2 acre (25,000 sq. ft.)
- SPREAD WIDTH: 10-12 ft. spread
- WHEELS: 13" x 4" pneumatic tires
- OPERATION: Easy to use universal hitch & direct rod control
This is the largest fertilizer spreader on our list and has a hopper that can hold up to 130 pounds of product. It’s designed to be towed behind a small tractor, ride-on mower or 4-wheeler. It has a universal hitch that is suitable for most tractors.
This unit will cover around 25,000 square feet with just one fill. That’s around half an acre. This makes it ideal for larger properties and large areas of lawn. It also features 13-inch pneumatic tires with a wide wheelbase to give you excellent stability even on rough terrain.
The gearbox is fully enclosed and features tapered gears to allow even spreading. It’s also removable for easy maintenance.
The on/off flow control is easy to operate even while sitting on the tractor. Plus, the steel frame is heavy-duty and designed to be durable for many years of use.
Key features:
- Large hopper that holds 130 pounds of product
- The spread width is 10 to 12 feet
- 13-inch pneumatic tires and a wide wheelbase
- Universal hitch to fit most tractors
- Enclosed and removable gearbox
- Easy to operate on/off steel rod flow
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5. Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader
- Use the Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader to apply...
- Comes pre-calibrated and fully assembled with a fold-down handle for easy...
- Scotts exclusive EdgeGuard Technology keeps lawn product off landscaping,...
- Features redesigned hopper and agitator for smoother product funneling and...
- Holds up to 5,000 sq. ft. of Scotts lawn product, including grass seed,...
This small, lightweight spreader is ideal for people who have smaller areas of lawn of up to 10,000 square feet. The hopper has the capacity to hold around 25 pounds of product to cover around 5,000 square feet.
This spreader also comes fully assembled and calibrated right out of the box. Plus, the handle folds down for convenient storage.
The unique EdgeGuard design helps to keep your fertilizer and other products directed onto the lawn area and not surrounding garden beds, driveways or paths.
There’s also a control panel dial on the back of the hopper that allows you to accurately control the flow rate.
Key Features:
- Small and lightweight with fold-down handle
- Hopper holds up to 25 pounds of product
- The EdgeGuard design means that product does not spill onto garden beds or driveways.
- No assembly required
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Fertilizer Spreader Buying Guide
At first glance, it can be quite difficult to decide which spreader will work the best for your particular situation. That’s why we’ve put together this buying guide of features that you should consider to make your choice easier.
Primarily, you want to consider the size of your lawn and whether you want a spreader that you push along or whether a spreader that’s towed behind a vehicle would be more practical. You also want to note the size of the hopper and how often you’ll need to fill it to cover your entire lawn area.
Here are some prime considerations to think about.
How You Operate The Spreader
There are various ways that you can operate a fertilizer spreader. There are hand held models that you use to broadcast fertilizer manually. Then, there are push spreaders that you walk behind while the fertilizer or other product is spread onto the ground in front of you between the two wheels. Other units that you walk behind can also spread fertilizer from the sides, giving you a wider coverage for each pass that you make. These are generally referred to as broadcast spreaders.
Additionally, there are larger models that you tow behind a lawn tractor or ride-on mower. These are generally designed for larger properties and areas of lawn.
To determine which type is best for you, consider the size of your lawn and how often you’ll be using the spreader. If you only have a very small lawn area, then a handheld spreader might be sufficient if you’re good at controlling the release of the fertilizer evenly.
On the other hand, for most suburban yards, a push along fertilizer spreader is both more convenient and easier to use. By filling the hopper and walking across the lawn evenly, the fertilizer will be distributed across the area at a fairly even rate. This gives you better control and will save time.
Alternatively, for people with large yards or acreages, a tow-behind spreader will come into its own by saving you heaps of time and making the job much easier.
The Hopper Capacity
In determining what size hopper is best for your needs, consider how many pounds of product the hopper will hold. Ideally, you want to ensure that the hopper has enough capacity that you only have to fill it once to cover your entire lawn area.
For small lawns that are under 1,500 square feet, a handheld spreader may be sufficient and anything larger than that could be considered overkill. For people that have medium-sized lawn areas up to around 5,000 square feet, a smaller walk behind fertilizer spreader would be ideal.
If your lawn area is larger than this, then you might want to consider one of the larger-capacity walk behind spreaders. On the other hand, if you live on a larger property and your lawn areas is larger than ½ an acre, you would be better off considering a durable tow-behind fertilizer spreader.
Flow Rate And Precision Of Spreading
The last important aspect you want to consider is whether the flow rate and precision of spreading is controllable. You will find that a drop spreader is far more precise than a broadcast spreader in this respect.
This is particularly important for larger areas of lawns and those that abut garden beds, driveways and paths. You don’t want to waste precious lawn fertilizer by having it deposited onto these areas.
In this situation, you want to select a spreader that has the capacity to turn off the flow on one side to ensure that you’re not wasting that precious 20:20:20 fertilizer.
In Summary
A fertilizer spreader makes applying fertilizer and other products onto your lawn faster and easier. To select the correct spreader for your purpose, choose one that has enough capacity to spread product over your lawn area without having to be filled numerous times.
It’s also important that you select a spreader that you find comfortable to use and that is just the right size for your yard and capabilities.
