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The Best Operating Techniques
The Best Operating Techniques
The key to operating a broadcast spreader is to achieve
even dispersal at the right concentration. To do this:
Dial in the product manufacturer’s recommended setting on the spread rate gauge, and test and measure the product’s dispersal pattern through the spreader. First, sweep dirt and debris off your driveway and then conduct the dispersal pattern test. With a broadcast spreader, the right side of the dispersal pattern will be a foot or two wider than the left. Use this test information to establish the pattern you’ll use to push the spreader across your yard for total coverage with 6 in. to 1 ft. of overlap.
TIP: Write this “wide side,” “narrow side” measurement information on a piece of masking tape and stick it to the back of the hopper so you don’t forget the broadcast pattern for each side. Important: Don’t sweep, blow or wash this test material into the street. Sweep it up and dump it back in the hopper.If the product doesn’t list a recommended setting for your spreader, consult your owner’s manual for generic equivalents of each product. Otherwise you’ll have to resort to trial and error. Set the spreader to a light coverage (try a 1/4-in. to 3/16-in. hole in the hopper), apply the product over the recommended square footage, and check how much product you have left in the hopper. Adjust the dial to spread the remaining material over the same area, going perpendicular to the first pattern.
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Begin your yard pattern by spreading across hills first. This way, you’ll have enough lawn product in the hopper to reduce “skipping” over the uneven terrain.
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Maintain the pace you’d use to take a middle-aged, midsized dog for a walk (about 3 mph). Your walking speed affects how wide and how much product the broadcaster throws. Walking too slow reduces the throw width and increases product density; walking too fast thins out the coverage.
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Each time you’re ready to stop or make a turn, close the flow lever to stop dispersing the product and continue one more stride. This reduces waste and avoids damaging the lawn from saturated product coverage. Avoid pulling the spreader backward when the flow lever is open; you’ll release more of the product.
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Operate the spreader, keeping the impeller plate close to level. Tilting the handlebar up or down from level throws the product too high or low, resulting in uneven coverage.
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Don’t overapply fertilizer and weed killer. Follow the recommended coverage rate for each product. Overuse and overapplication can lead to lawn runoff that contaminates lakes and streams. Protect yourself by wearing gloves and a nuisance dust mask when handling chemical lawn products that contain pesticides and herbicides.
Buying and Maintenance Tips
We recommend you spend $45 to buy a better-quality
broadcaster spreader with these features:
High-impact polypropylene hopper and tubular steel handles with a baked-on finish for a longer, rust-free life.
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Hopper capacity of at least 25 to 30 lbs. of product so you’ll spend less time refilling the spreader.
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Large, 8- to 10-in. wheels—preferably high-impact plastic—for easy rolling over bumpy lawns.
Using a garden hose, quickly rinse out the spreader every time you change lawn products. When you’re finished using the spreader for the day, invest 15 minutes in maintenance to prolong its life. Lay the spreader on its side and use a forceful blast from a garden hose to thoroughly clean the hopper, wheels and impeller plate. Operate the flow lever back and forth and wash off the shutoff plate inside the hopper. After the broadcaster is dry, periodically use a light lubricant spray like WD-40 to protect all moving parts, the axle bushings on the wheels and the gear-box. Avoid lubricants that contain Teflon or silicone. They may seal in certain chemicals from the fertilizers and speed up corrosion.
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