With the large variety of spreaders on the market, today finding the right one for the job is a critical part of choosing the best product for your needs. In order to ensure we could find the best spreader for your yard’s needs, I selected products that would be capable of spreading over the smallest and even some of the larger yards. The spreaders on this list are capable of spreading seed or fertilizer between 2,500 and 18,000 square feet. This area of effect will allow you to cover anywhere from a quarter acre up to a full acre of land making them nearly ideal for household or light commercial use.

When choosing a spreader you will need to determine the rough area in which you need seed and consider how you will access the area. A wheeled spreader will need to be able to roll over the area without impediments that can affect the distribution. Handheld spreaders, however, are more accommodating to tight spaces or smaller areas in which a full-sized spreader may not be capable of covering. After you’ve determined the area you will need to estimate the amount of seed or fertilizer you will need for the area. Wheeled spreaders can generally hold a substantially higher amount of seed or fertilizer and are well suited to larger areas. Handheld spreaders usually reach a 20-pound capacity and this added weight makes them better suited to smaller jobs. We included both options on this list and rated them based on their capacity.

A key performance trait of any spreader is how evenly it can distribute the seed or fertilizer. Many fertilizers are very particular about the distribution as too much in a single area can cause your soil to become “hot”. This means that there are way more nutrients than your plant life can reasonably intake and it can cause your plants to go into shock and blister the leaves. Similarly, should you be planting new grass or patching a dead spot the distribution of the grass is very noticeable after growth and the change in density is very noticeable which can be counter-intuitive to the original purpose? Many of these spreaders have a control panel or use another drop method that will funnel the seed or fertilizer in a way that distributes it evenly ensuring to maintain the density you desire.

With some of these spreaders holding in excess of 45 pounds of seed or fertilizer it is important that you are capable of easily manipulating the spreader without having to exert a substantial amount of force. The way a spreader is designed can go a long way in assisting your handling of a fully-loaded spreader. The use of rubber wheels, steel arm handles, and sometimes even a breaking handle will greatly increase the control you have over the spreader during its operation. Some of these spreaders have all of those wonderful additions while others are intended for either handheld use or can be mounted much as a hunting backpack would.

Equally as important as where you want to use your spreader is where you don’t want to use your spreader. Should you be spreading fertilizer being conscience of the nutrient requirements of your plants is critical to success. Generally, most plants need the same three basic nutrients to ensure they are properly fed ( Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium ) and overexposure of these nutrients can be harmful. Furthermore, should you have any plant life that requires a different ratio of these nutrients than another plant you will need to be able to accurately spread your fertilizer? A few of the spreaders we selected use a guard that is adjustable and will allow you to control the direction of your spread.

While it may not seem like a very common occurrence the weight of your spread and uneven terrain can lead to your spreader becoming damaged. Generally, this happens when a wheel is misaligned or your spreader becomes jammed. Regardless of how it happens to be able to easily replace a part on your spreader can save you time and money and keep you from having to purchase another spreader. Nearly all of the spreaders we selected did have an outlet in which you can find replacement parts to keep your spreader running smoothly.

Part of using a spreader is being able to calibrate the flow of your spread. This will make sure your spread is applied in an even manner and will work to keep your spreader from clogging. Additionally, the type of fertilizer or seed will determine how you calibrate your spreader as each one has a unique size, shape, and weight. Calibrating your spreader is a multi-step process and will need to be done each time you swap fertilizers or seeds. Many of the spreaders on this last use a quick calibration panel or another way to make the simple and small adjustments you will need in order to ensure you’re getting even distribution.

Like nearly anything you could potentially build, spreaders included, the foundation is a critical point in the structural integrity. These spreaders use either rubber or plastic wheels and each has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Rubber wheels provide exceptional control and will not be affected by the presence of light dew or another water contact. However, rubber wheels also need to be refilled with air and can be popped should a sharp item penetrate their membrane. Plastic wheels are highly durable and will not be affected by sharp objects or require any out of the ordinary maintenance. Unlike rubber wheels, however, the plastic options operate poorly with the presence of water and they are more difficult to control. We chose to include a few that used both types as each would be better suited for different scenarios.

Year in and year out these spreaders can get some mileage and part of picking a durable product is determining the products used in its development. Of the wheeled spreaders, we tried to select products that used a more durable plastic trough that would be capable of withstanding the weight of your spread. For the handles, we picked spreaders that used steel or other highly durable metal that wouldn’t bend or break during use with a heavier load. The handheld and carrying models we selected spreaders that used straps and bands that will allow you to hold them much like you would a backpack and wouldn’t be capable of holding more than 20 pounds of spread.

Part of keeping a spreader in proper working order is performing regular maintenance on it to ensure its running smoothly. While this takes the extra time it’s one of the best ways to ensure your purchase will last you for some time to come. Generally, the maintenance on these spreaders is quite simple and usually entails clearing the trough of leftover spread and refilling rubber tires. Additionally, we tried to identify any upkeep cost these spreaders could potentially cause and found that aside from buying the spread and unforeseen damages there is little to no upkeep cost associated with these spreaders.

When using fertilizer often times it will tend to clump up and this can and will cause your spreader to jam. Should you not notice that your spreader is jammed early enough this jam can even damage your spreader. As a common issue, many companies introduced an agitator that will work to break down your fertilizer prior to it funneling out to your rotary or other distributors. Many of the spreaders we selected to use an agitator and should you be experiencing clumping issues those spreaders will likely become your new prized possession.

First time user or annual expert the ease of use was a very important aspect in which we made a focal point when selecting these products. Spreaders come in all shapes and sizes and are even used in large-scale farming operations and those can have multi-functions and can be much like operating heavy machinery. While these aren’t on this scale some of the smaller spreaders can be confusing to use. Each of the spreaders we selected is relatively simple to use and with a little time and effort can be mastered by any user.

One of the features we needed to balance perfectly was the weight of these products. Trough style wheeled spreaders in particular need to be lightweight because should you have excess fertilizer or seed more commonly than not the only way to save your expensive spread is generally to upend the spreader. The handheld and strapped models also needed to be lightweight because the spread you use can be quite heavy and you will feel each extra pound with every step you take. The spreaders we included weighed between 1 and 27 pounds. The heavier spreader would be better suited for commercial use.

Some of the spreaders on this list are capable of maintaining a swath of up to 16 feet. While this is an amazing accomplishment this may not be a great size for your standard quarter acre lawn and a smaller alternative size would probably be the better bet. Perhaps you like the model however and want the same functionality in a smaller package. A few of the spreaders we chose do have different size options which ensure you can get the same performance on a smaller scale.

A huge part of what makes a great spreader is finding one that is produced by a company that lives by its product. Aside from including multiple features and a diverse line of products the best manufacturers stand by the craftsmanship employed to make the best possible product. A manufacturer’s warranty speaks volumes about the quality of the product and will surely help to ensure you have the highest level of satisfaction when purchasing a spreader. Many of the spreaders we selected use a “No Quibble” money back guarantee and will refund you no matter the reason should you be unhappy with your spreader. So if these are specific to an item and not the entire company it is critical that you read all disclosures before making a final decision.

Older spreaders or ones that use a poor design would generally start spreading your seed or fertilizer the moment you start pushing your spreader. While it did the job you often will experience some waste this way unless you begin in the exact position you intended to start. That means you either would have had to carry your potentially heavy bag to your spreader or push your spreader there and seed or fertilize areas you may not have intended to. Newer models and the ones that are quite well designed now use an application handle that will prevent your spreader from dropping seed or fertilizer until you activate the handle and many on this list use this valuable addition.

A major part of using a spreader is determining the effective swath that your spreader possesses. The swath is the area of effectiveness that is measured and established on each side of the spreader then combined into the total area of coverage. Knowing your swath will help you to determine the spacing you will want to use and help you to choose a spreader that will work best with the area in which you intend to use the spreader. Of these spreaders, the most common is a 180-degree swath and a 10-foot area of effect. While this varies from product to product and will change depending on the seed or fertilizer, testing the swath yourself is the best way to make this determination.

Whether you’re working on a budget or just prefer the products you buy to be priced reasonably we took the time to do a comprehensive cost analysis across these different spreaders to determine which products had the best value. We started by identifying the key traits of each spreader and took into account any additional products or potential bundles that were included. With each those that came in at a lower price but had more features or additional items were placed higher than those with a higher cost and fewer features.