The most common types of lawn spreaders are the broadcast spreader and the drop spreader. Both of these utilize hoppers with adjustable holes according to how much fertilizer and seed you want to be spread.
Still, they do differ in the operation and working mechanism. As the name implies, a broadcast spreader is meant to broadcast seed or fertilizer products over a wide section of your lawn.
The hopper has a part underneath that allows the spreader to rotate and scatter the products all around. As you might have already expected, coverage isn't precise.
You would need to make several passes to achieve a more uniform coverage.
Get the Right Fertilizer and Measure the Area
First of all, you should get the right fertilizer. Regardless of the grass you have, you can take a safe bet and use an all-purpose fertilizer.
These include a 10-10-10 fertilizer and a 15-15-15 fertilizer, both of which have equal proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to feed to your grass.
Likewise, you can opt for a slow-release granular fertilizer if you want your lawn well-fed for as long as four months. The next step is to know the total size of your lawn. Calculating this is simple.
You just need to identify both the length and the width of your lawn using a measuring tape. Afterward, you just multiply them together to know the total area.
For example, a lawn with a 10-meter length and a 12-meter width will have a total area of 120 square meters.
Move the Spreader and Fill with Fertilizer or Seed
Next, you should place the broadcast spreader on a sidewalk or on a driveway. The surface of these areas makes it easier to sweep any spilled products.
Now, you should locate the handle and close the flow level near it. As for the amount fertilizer to put in the hopper, you should look at the fertilizer package to see the recommended amount.
Ensure that you are looking at the instructions for using a broadcast spreader, which is sometimes referred to as a rotary spreader. The same goes for when you are reading the instructions on a package of grass seeds.
There should be a distribution rate number ranging from 1 to 10 on the product label. Upon finding it, you should find a rate dial and set it to the recommended number.
Broadcast Over the Lawn
To begin applying the fertilizer, you should place the broadcast spreader a couple of feet from the edge. The fertilizer will be spread at the side of the spreader, so you shouldn't be at the edge.
Now, you must push the handle to release the fertilizer as you slowly and steadily walk on your lawn. Once you are back near the edge, you should release the handle.
However, the operation is not yet over. You must move the broadcast spreader a foot from its first starting point. Like with your first pass, you just have to move on your lawn in a straight line.
What this second pass does is to cover any areas that might not have received enough fertilizer in the first pass. There will be a slight overlap, but this is better than leaving other sections of your lawn without fertilizer.
Lastly, don't forget to irrigate your lawn using a hose or a sprinkler. Likewise, you must rinse away any remaining fertilizer in the spreader using a hose.
Here is a video of using a broadcast spreader:
