The broadcast fertilizer spreader is used to distribute a range of lawn care chemicals such as fertilizer, pesticide and weed killer on the garden to keep it trim and healthy. It is quite straightforward to use and comprises a tub on wheels with a handle and handlebars. When the user walks, he/she squeezes the leaver which in turn dispenses the chemical out of holes in the bottom. The amount of material spread can be adjusted by a dial which alters the size of the holes.
Read the instructions of the chemical carefully before using the spreader. They will indicate how much of the compound to use and when it should be applied. Some chemicals need to be watered into the soil while others won’t be effective if rain ensues in the following 24 hours. Applying too little of the chemical will result in failure of its purpose while too much may lead to burned lawns and wasted products.
Spreading chemicals including herbicides and pesticides, can be harmful to the skin, eyes and lungs so protective materials such as gloves and a mask must be worn at all times. Always check the instructions when using harmful chemicals.
It is always a good idea, especially for the amateur, to test an area of land first to see what quantity and what level to have the chemical dispensing at – check the package first as this will often give instructions as to how much needs to be used for each setting.
Once the dial has been adjusted, get testing. It spreads chemicals in an arc of about 5-10ft. However, the distance of the dispersal much depends on the speed and pressure you use. The faster and harder you push – the further the chemical spreads.
Once you have had a test and are comfortable using the spreader, walk up and down in straight rows to ensure there is no overlay of chemicals. On the turn, gently release the lever until you are ready to start dispensing to the next row. Make sure you keep the tub as near to level as possible. This will eliminate flinging chemical too high up or too low into the ground.
Make sure you have a good idea of what area you are covering so that you don’t double up on yourself. If you need to cover smaller more precise areas, use a drop spreader rather than the broadcast spreader as this will target the area more precisely. The drop spreader is ideal for specific areas such as edges of lawns or edges of paths as their dispersal only covers a width of about 2 feet.
Like the broadcast spreader, you must be careful not to cover the same ground twice. Or similarly to miss sections. A broadcast fertilizer spreader is quite handy in that they spread more material to one side than the other. When you do your test area you should be able to see which side this is.
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