5 Best Drop Spreaders

Keeping a healthy and attractive lawn requires a lot of work, as any gardener can tell you. However, having the proper tools may assist you in doing this more quickly. For instance, you must be aware of the significance of fertilizer use. If you’ve already determined which fertilizer is best for your garden, the next task is to decide the equipment you’ll need to apply it.

Drop spreaders are useful equipment for effectively spreading fertilizer, weed killers, and ice melt chemicals without wasting much. It also eliminates the time-consuming task of manually spreading fertilizer.

Reasons to use a drop spreader: 

• Precise and large coverage;
• Nice design with the holes at the bottom;
• Has marks for better distribution;
• Suitable wheels;
• Great for spreading ice melt, salt, seed, fertilizers;
• Decent spread width;

If you’re looking for the best drop spreaders, check the 5 options tested and reviewed below. The comparison table and buying guide can be quite helpful. 

Scotts EdgeGuard Mini Spreader – the best for the accurate spread!

With Scotts EdgeGuard spreader’s unique EdgeGuard Tech to keep the product out of your landscaping, roads, and sidewalks, you can be certain that the product will be distributed evenly. The precise coverage is provided via the control panel with precision rate options.

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The Scotts spreader comes completely built and pre-calibrated, with a fold-down handle for convenient storage. It may also be used to season food. It can cover up to 5000 sq. ft. with Scotts products and is very easy to use.

The Scotts’ unique Edge Guard tech is included. Due to the control panel packed with rate options, precise coverage is possible.

Scotts 76565 Classic Drop Spreader – the best for durability!

You can spread up to 10,000 sq. ft. of grass food for total coverage and precision, thanks to a big capacity hopper and a heavy-duty frame for optimal stability. The Scotts Classic Drop Spreader comes fully built and calibrated, ready to treat your lawn right away.

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The 22-inch spreader is large enough to cover vast areas quickly while being compact enough to store in a shed. Because the drop spreader has comfortable, long handles, it was quite easy to push it around the garden without exerting too much effort. Not to add the big wheels, which made maneuvering a breeze.

The spreader is durable and does not show signs of wear and tear even after extended usage. It has a sturdy frame that keeps the spreader steady and attractive.

The Scotts spreader is basic, straightforward, and low-cost. If you live in a tiny house with a small yard, this may be a useful spreader. This is also an excellent addition to yards with many edges, where a traditional broadcast spreader may not be able to keep up.

Agri-Fab 45-0288 Tow-Behind Drop Spreader – the best for large coverage!

The machine is well-built, with a galvanized steel agitator, a rust-resistant poly hopper, and a spread plate. It contributes to the spreader’s long-term durability.

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Another characteristic that makes it ideal for individuals who have vast areas (up to 40,000 sq. ft.) as well as corporate sites when it spans approximately one acre is the enormous carrying capacity of 175 lbs.

It also has two large 15-inch pneumatic tires for a stable drive behind a tractor on any terrain.

The strong pneumatic tires of the Agri-Fab 45-0288 spreader let it glide over hills and dips in the lawn. It features a simple and smooth to use adjustment level.

Agri-Fab 45-0288 is a good choice for those looking for a dependable model with a robust build and a wide area of coverage.

Brinly P20-500BHDF Push Spreader – the best for easy maneuvering!

The heavy-duty construction of the Brintly P20-500BHDF spreader makes it ideal for a variety of gardening tasks. The complete set may also be ordered with a deflector. The deflector kit includes control material that effectively prevents the product from being applied to areas where it isn’t desired.

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When utilized correctly, this powerful machine delivers consistent results. You can count on dependable product application thanks to its distinctive powder-coated frame and stainless-steel gears. The pneumatic tires will also delight you since they can easily cross most terrains.

Another process of this spreader is that it is simple to clean after the item has been applied. The components are simple to disassemble and resistant to any caustic agents you may use in your garden.

This drop spreader is very straightforward to use because of the simple calibration settings. Furthermore, the heavy-duty construction is resistant to corrosion, fractures, and dents. Spreading materials is simple and straightforward with the handy deflector kit.

Yard Commander YTL-002-179 Spreader – the best for capacity!

This metal-made type, unlike inexpensive plastic spreaders, has a rust-proof hopper with a lid. It’s around 27 pounds and comes with 12-inch pneumatic tires that can handle any weather. All you have to do is hook it up to a tractor or an ATV and let it do the heavy lifting.

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This spreader has a 125-pound capacity and will cover an area of about 25,000 sq. ft. To cut a long tale short, unlike lesser models that need several reloads, you can finish even a thorough spreading job in one go.

It is recommended to invest in this model if you have around half an acre of land that has to be treated and tilled. Furthermore, the high capacity comes in useful when you wish to distribute a denser feed over a larger region.

The YTL-002-179 model is one of the most highly regarded fertilizer spreaders online, but instead of believing the hype, we decided to put it to the test. It’s not the cheapest choice on the marketplace, but after we began using it, we realized that it had enough useful features to warrant its premium price.

The Buyer’s Guide

Hopper

A hopper constructed of plastic doesn’t imply that it is fragile. Nevertheless, it should be long-lasting. Keep in mind that not all plastics are created equal, so inspect the hopper’s quality carefully. Plastic hoppers that are resistant to corrosion (such as PVS or polypropylene hoppers) are an excellent option for distributing fertilizers. Of course, you may choose a stainless steel hopper, since this material is proven to enhance the drop spreader’s accuracy.

Another essential consideration is that the openings should be large enough for the goods to fall through. The flow will be disrupted and the work will be delayed if the fertilizer can’t pass through easily.

Axle and wheel​s

Both the wheels and the axle must be sufficiently strong. The drop spreader’s wheels are usually 10 to 12 inches in size. The hopper cannot be positioned at a suitable height if the wheels are too tiny to prevent dirt and other things from clogging the holes and interrupting the flow. Although the wheels are constructed of plastic, they should be durable enough to transport the spreader across rough terrain.

Plastic wheels are more lightweight and less expensive to manufacture, but they don’t handle big bumps or uneven terrain as well. They don’t need any upkeep. Pneumatic tires are ideal for slopes and tougher terrain, but they do, in most instances, require regular maintenance.

Capacity

The hopper’s size determines the spreader’s capacity. It’s one of the first things to look for, and your decision will be mainly determined by the size of your lawn. You may buy a small drop spreader, such as a 50-pound unit if you’re working on a little piece of land. Meanwhile, if you’re dealing with a bigger lawn, some spreaders have hopper capacities ranging from 80 to 175 pounds.

Materials

Because they are heavy-duty and rust-resistant, stainless steel and sturdy plastic are among the finest choices. Check to see whether the structure, particularly the frame, is durable enough to withstand the elements. To make them appropriate for usage in any terrain, the wheels and axles should be made of rust-free and heavy-duty materials.

Application

Spreaders are mostly used to disperse fertilizer. An expensive gardening equipment, like a drop spreader, should not, however, be limited in its ability to handle these two garden items.

If you can use the machine with a range of ingredients, such as snow-melting agents, salt, or anti-pest pellets, it is a great benefit. You may also purchase a drop spreader that can manage granules to enhance the greenness of your lawn for added efficiency. A hopper that can retain sand for landscaping or construction may also be beneficial.

Handle

A drop spreader’s handle should be long enough so that a person can easily push it. The handle’s height is one of the most unexpected frequent complaints regarding a drop spreader type. People can’t utilize certain handles because they’re too short. As a result, consumers are forced to humbly bow their backs. The handle on the drop spreader should be high enough for the user to easily push or pull it.

Fortunately, most modern drop spreaders feature adjustable handles. As a result, by simply reducing or increasing the handle height, different individuals may utilize the same model. Furthermore, some handles have padding on them to improve grip and reduce strain when using the drop spreader.

Rust resistance

Because drop spreaders are often used on damp soils, it’s critical to get the most bang for your buck by investing in a rustproof spreader. The rust resistance of a spreader is entirely determined by the materials used in its construction. As a result, the products constructed of galvanized steel are preferred since they are rustproof.

Aeration

Aeration is necessary to guarantee that fertilizers and seeds are firmly rooted in the soil. One of the major advantages of a tow-behind hopper is its capacity to provide distance, allowing you to fertilize a big part of your lawn over time.

These kinds of spreaders are more costly, but they can smoothly aerate the soil, guaranteeing that your garden is properly cared for. As a result, choosing an aerating spreader with galvanized spikes is critical since they assist perforate the soil, making it easier to distribute materials on the ground.

Controls

Drop spreaders are preferred because they provide more control to the operator. They allow you to control the amount of seeds that fall and where they fall. As a result, choosing a drop spreader with a variety of selection knobs is critical.

Adjust the hopper to 3-4 settings to let it spread in the appropriate area for better coverage. Check the hopper’s settings to make sure you have control over the stuff being distributed.

How to maintain a drop spreader? 

You may lay your drop spreader on its side if it doesn’t need to be reassembled after usage. Using a water hose, clean the hoppers, wheels, and moving components. After that, dry it with a little lubrication spray.

If you need to reassemble your model after usage, rinse each component with water and then let it dry fully. If required, you may lubricate, clean, and store your equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The moving components may be oiled and stored in a dry location.

Useful Video: Spyker Spreaders Drop Spreader UNBOXING!

Final thoughts 

Did you like the list of drop spreaders for your garden? Keep in mind that the best fertilizer spreaders should be durable and deliver even material distribution to prevent you from losing money or time. Make sure to choose the drop spreaders with an extended warranty too.