Home > Lawn & Garden > Commercial Horticulture > Equipment > Spreaders > Self-Propelled Spreaders And Sprayers For Turfgrass [Image: self-propelled spreader] A relatively new class of products in the commercial grounds maintenance industry is the self-propelled spreader and/or sprayer. This kind of equipment can potentially reduce the effort required to apply fertilizer or pesticides to lawns, but it comes at a substantial cost and will require some trade-offs in operating mode. New Version of Spreader.EZ – A Computer Program for Spreader Pattern Analysis Spreader.EZ is a computer program that allows you to analyze the patterns from broadcast fertilizer spreaders, determine the uniformity of the patterns, and select the effective swath width. Avoid Right-angle Patterns with Rotary Spreaders [Image: Normal Spreader Operating Mode] Some spreader experts and some spreader and granular material operating instructions advise you to go over your lawn twice when spreading fertilizer or granular products, with the two trips over the lawn made at right angles to each other. Don’t do it! Applying Controlled-release Fertilizer [Image: controlled-release fertilizer] Most turf fertilizers contain controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer. There are two types of controlled-release fertilizer and one type can be damaged by your spreader.  more articles... Calibrating Your Lawn Spreader [Image: calibration of homeowner rotary spreader] To obtain the best results from your granular fertilizers and pesticides, you have to apply them at the correct rate. One easy step you can take to help assure that your spreader delivers the correct rate of material is to calibrate your spreader. For More Information on Lawn Spreaders The more you learn about lawn spreaders, the more you realize how complicated they really are. The LSU AgCenter has published a bulletin that summarizes 24 years of research on spreaders. Hand-cranked Spreaders [Image: hand-carried, hand-cranked spreader] In some situations, a hand-cranked spreader is more practical than a wheeled model. When spreading granules in nurseries, beds of flowers and ornamentals, and other restricted areas, a wheeled spreader can be difficult or impossible to use. Hand- or strap-carried, hand-cranked spreaders are a viable option in such cases. A Simple Hand Spreader for Gardens [Image: hand garden spreader] A simple hand spreader is often the best tool for applying granular fertilizer or pesticides. Selecting a Walk-behind Professional Rotary Spreader [Image: pattern slide] Most professional applicators use rotary spreaders. Rotary spreaders are not only faster than drop spreaders, but are more forgiving of small errors in swath width. Pendulum-action Spreaders [Image: pendulum spreader] Rotary broadcast spreaders offer many advantages for turf professionals. There are also some disadvantages including pattern skewing and the need to develop pattern settings for each product to center the pattern. Pendulum-action spreaders overcome those problems. Sensitivity of Spreaders to Operating Speed People tend to walk at different speeds. When you are pushing a spreader, this difference in walking speed can cause problems. Fertilizer Spreaders - Metal or Plastic [Image: drop spreader with steel hopper] Some high-quality plastic spreaders have precision equivalent to the better homeowner metal spreaders. There is a tremendous difference in performance among brands and models. Maintenance of Lawn Spreaders [Image: washing spreader] A good lawn spreader is a precision tool and should be treated accordingly. Your lawn spreader doesn’t need a great deal of time-consuming maintenance, but a few simple steps can preserve the life and precision of your spreader. Problems with Pulling Spreaders Backward [Image: pulling spreader backwards] Walk-behind lawn spreaders are designed to be pushed, not pulled. The delivery rate from drop spreaders and the pattern from rotary spreaders are distorted if a spreader is pulled backward. More...