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Want to buy new spreader for lawn

16 years ago

Looking for a good quality broadcast spreader for my lawn . Any recommendations for something other than the Scotts/Vigoro models at the local home centers? Looking for something between the $30 home center models and the $350 Lesco jobs. The Scotts SpeedyGreen I'm using doesn't seem to meter well, the control gets stuck, and it has trouble discharging the last bits of material in the hopper.

Thanks.

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Comments (11)

zymurgist
16 years ago
I'm still looking, but I think I've narrowed my search down to one spreader brand - Earthway. Earthway seems to offer the best compromise between Lesco and Scotts. Checkout their models on their webpage. I'm not sure about your location, but they are hard to find out west. Only a few places have them but there are a few online dealers. I've looked at them at Horizon Irrigation and they have a ~$100 model that is very nice (#2100P). I think that is even overkill, but my Scotts drop spreader is junk and I don't want to replace it with more new ~$40 junk. Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Earthway
mooch91
Original Author
16 years ago
Saw the Earthway website and even looked through it a bit this morning. The 2050 and 2100 seem to be very good models. I like the 2100 a bit better; it has smaller capacity (50#), but I think the 2050 is overkill (80# capacity) for my 1/2 acre. I may end up picking one up online.

Thanks for the suggestion!
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Don't do any of those things. Let the grass that has germinated continue to grow. Cut back on the watering frequency but start increasing the volume per session. You want to slowly start transitioning to watering only once a week (and watering for a long enough time to put down 1 inch of water as measured by a rain gage or tuna can). Cut it when it's 3 inches tall to a height of 2 inches; make sure it (and the soil) is dry on that day! After the first cut, raise your mower blade height to the highest setting (ideally 3.5 to 4 inches). That is the height you want the fescue to be maintained at. Never cut off more than 1/3 off at once (so cut when it's about 5 inches tall). Because your lawn is new ... And because you made the big mistake of planting in the spring, you WILL get weed pressure. Resist the urge to apply any herbicide. Your grass will weaken as a result. Resist the urge, resist the urge, resist the urge. Fall is the ideal time to plant fescue, but what's done is done and you will be throwing money away by spraying herbicide. Resist the urge. On Memorial Day, think about putting down an application of lawn food. I wouldn't recommend any Turf Builder or other synthetic fertilizer until the fall, but organics are great. I like Milorganite personally because it's safe for kids/animals and won't burn the lawn. Give it another dose of organic lawn food on July 4th. Once the lawn your put down has established, you might be surprised how well the bare spots will fill in. (Even with fescue.) deep and infrequent watering + mowing high and often is the recipe for success. For any bare spots that you are still unhappy with come September, save yourself some trouble and just buy a jug of Scotts EZ Seed. It should match the Scotts tall fescue that you put down already. It's meant for patching and it's kind of goof proof.
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jdgt225innh
16 years ago
I use a Spyker broadcast spreader. Stainless steel hopper and pneumatic tires. Works well for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Spyker Lawn Spreaders
turf_junkie
16 years ago
I've got .5 acres and I use the Earthway 2170PRO. It's GREAT. Especially for applications of Milorganite where you have a ton of material. I ordered it from earthway-outlet.com with no hassles.

http://www.earthway-outlet.com/2170pro.htm
deerslayer
16 years ago
I have an Earthway tow behind that I use with my garden tractor. It works great.

-Deerslayer
enigma7
16 years ago
I have the Scotts drop spreader and like it. What am I missing? I use organics so I won't suffer the possible burn lines, but I'm concerned about using it for overseeding in a couple months. The way it feeds the drop looks like it would chew up the seeds!
zymurgist
16 years ago
enigma,
I don't think you're missing anything. If you've been doing well with your Scott's drop spreader that's great. Other posters have beautiful lawns with Scotts spreaders.

My experience with the one I own and a friends has not been positive. Mine is cracked and somewhat broken with little abuse. Before switching to organics, I was afraid to use it for Nitrogen application for fear of burning my grass. I'm sure a new $45 or less model might work fine, but I don't want to have to chance buying 2 or 3 more when I can spend ~$100 now. My perception of the quality levels are really night and day.

Perhaps, some of us are really just taking this stuff too seriously and wasting $ on overbuilt equipment :).
enigma7
16 years ago
But I should be fine with the Scotts for seed application? (ie not tearing up the seeds)
ncgreenthumb
16 years ago
I use the Scott's Speedy Green 3000 drop spreader for seed and fertilizer spreading. I've never had any issues with seed not dropping right and I haven't seen any crushed or broken by the dropping mechanism. Remember to make two passes, 1/2 rates each and 90* to each other.
metal
16 years ago
Tractor Supply has the Precision Pro for $69. It looks to be built pretty well and has pneumatic tires.

Here is a link that might be useful: TSC Spreader
parafly9
16 years ago
I feel like my Scotts Deluxe Edgeguard has a very uneven spray ... just based on how my lawn looked this year.

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