Best Lawn Spreader For a Perfect Patch of Grass
Publushed by:
RebeccaLast updated:
January 12, 2022RUNNER UP
Scotts Turf Builder
- Affordable
- Easy-to-use
- Up to 5.000 sq ft coverage
BEST BUY
Titan Attachments
- Perfect for large gardens
- Premium quality
- Long lasting
A properly fertilized lawn is a healthy, luscious one, but rather than throwing the nutrients on yourself, a spreader can make light work of the job.
The right lawn spreader must be used though, and finding one in such a saturated market can be overwhelming.
What does a lawn spreader do? A lawn spreader or broadcast spreader scatters grass seed and fertilizer evenly across the lawn as it’s pushed along or held in your hand.
The most common features of these spreaders are a long handle for pushing, a mesh basket for the fertilizer or herbicide, and durable materials that can withstand the elements.
With a lawn spreader in your arsenal, you’ll have aerated and even coats of fertilizer across your lawn and all without breaking a sweat.
We’ve rounded up the handful that made the top of our list to show you what you should be looking for when shopping for this gardening must.
Our Recommendations for the Best Wheeled Lawn Spreader
A wheeled lawn spreader is considered the more efficient method, capable of scattering feed and weed killer over larger surfaces.
If you’re in the market for this style of spreader, we’ve got the best-wheeled models worth considering.
Best Overall: Landzie Spreader
Short summary
Landzie’s Lawn Spreader is a high-quality and durable powder-coated steel spread coming in 24 inch, 36 inch, and 44-inch widths.
With a mesh basket featuring ½” and ¾” openings, you can spread peat moss, manure, dirt, fertilizers, and herbicides, coating the grass evenly and breaking up any clumps as it moves.
The lawn spreader is heat-treated against rust and corrosion and it’s lightweight at 24.2lbs for the 24-inch size.
If you’re looking for commercial quality broadcast spreaders, look no further than the Landzie option.
Coming in three sizes to suit most yards, you can choose between 24-inch, 36-inch, and 44-inch widths, all featuring exceptional quality and crafted with heat-treated and powder-coated steel.
Although durable, it’s surprisingly lightweight, and people loved how easy it was to roll along with their lawn, even on rough terrain.
Landzie has designed this to be peat moss, dirt, herbicide, and fertilizer spreader all in one, so any top dressing you want to apply, it can get the job done.
The spreader features both half and quarter-inch diamond openings that let the product inside come out evenly and it breaks up clumps and lumps while you’re pushing it along to ensure that you get it all out.
As it moves, it mixes the product in with the soil, ensuring that it gets in where it needs to be.
There were loads of features that made the Landzie Lawn Spreader easy to use, including a comfortable handle grip, hinge door for simple access, and straightforward installation.
Disappointingly, there’s doesn’t seem to be a warranty on this spreader even though it’s expensive, although they do offer a vague product guarantee.
If you’re after a tough and efficient spreader for lawn care, the Landzie is our hands-down favorite.
Quick Facts
- Type: Wheeled
- Material: Metal
- Mesh Basket Design: Yes
- Width options: 24 inch, 36 inch, 44 inch
Pros
- No wasting product
- Easy for beginners
- High-quality materials
- Even distribution of product
Cons
- Expensive
- No warranty coverage
Runner-Up: Scotts Turf Builder
Short summary
Scott’s Turf Builder Broadcast Spreader is a wheeled spreader that comes in three sizes including Deluxe, Drop, Mini, and Elite, covering different areas of lawns from 5,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet.
With a curved hopper, dual bladed agitator, fold-down design, and EdgeGuard that protects non-lawn areas, it’s packed full of features that would make any gardened happy.
Scott’s has designed an affordable and easy to use alternative with their Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini Broadcast Spreader, also available in larger sizes.
The mini model is capable of holding enough fertilizer for up to 5,000 square feet so most homes should be covered, otherwise, you can upgrade to their larger sizes that offer three times as much coverage.
People found this worked best as a fertilizer spreader, although Scott’s says it can do other things, and it’s better suited to granulated products as well which can be somewhat limiting.
As there’s no mesh design like others, it might not be suitable, but if you have granules, it does a great job of applying them evenly and easily.
You can even use it to distribute salt onto your driveway and walkway during winter, so you’ll get good use out of it year-round.
The use of their EdgeGuard system means you can turn off one side of the spreader so you’re only applying the product where it needs to go.
Furthermore, there are loads of other settings you can adjust that make it just right for your lawn.
Scott’s Mini Broadcast Spreader is affordable and easy to use, so if you don’t need a larger commercial grade machine to do your fertilizing, it’s one of the best.
Quick Facts
- Type: Drop spreader
- Material: Plastic
- Mesh Basket Design: No
- Width options: 22 inches
Pros
- Affordable
- Multiple setting options
- 5,000 sq ft coverage
- Easy-to-assemble
Cons
- Hard to navigate
- Not versatile
- Feels cheap
Alternative: Titan Attachments
Short summary
Titan Attachments Broadcast Spreader is a professional grade device that holds up to 50lbs of product inside, so you can use it to weed, feed, or apply anything else you need.
The durable machine is made with steel and plastic, featuring large axle and tires, three flow settings for the spreader, and comfortable handle grips, so you put in minimal effort to get the job done, all in a lightweight 25lbs package.
Titan Attachments Broadcast Spreader is a serious machine for large and professional gardens.
With a 50lbs hopper capacity, you can fill it with anything from weeding to feeding products, and it’ll do a good job of evenly spreading it across the grass and even on the roughest terrain.
The work on your end is minimal as well, thanks to the large wheels and comfortable double handles, with a 45 inch height that means no bending over.
The Titan brand is known for its premium quality and this spreader is no different, with a durable plastic and steel construction that will last for decades to come.
Everything from the large wheels and axle to the durable steel body indicates quality and it’s one of the most dependable options for a lawn spreader on the market today, with a hefty price tag to match.
Setting up the Titan Broadcast Spreader is no easy feat and lots of customers mentioned their frustration with the process.
However, it’s one of the heaviest duty and serious spreaders that suit people with large yards, so if you’re prepared to put in some effort during the assembly phase, it’ll pay off.
There’s no warranty but you get the guarantee of the Titan brand, making it one of the best options for a large-scale broadcast spreader.
Quick Facts
- Type: Broadcast spreader
- Material: Steel and plastic
- Mesh Basket Design: No
- Width options: N/A
Pros
- Standout product
- For all kinds of terrain
- Comfortable
- Big capacity
- Long-lasting
Cons
- No warranty
- Expensive
- Arduous setup
Best Hand Held Lawn Spreader: Scotts Wizz
Short summary
Scott’s Wizz Handheld Spreader is a battery-powered device that can be used to spread seed, fertilizer, and other products.
The handheld spreader reaches a five-foot broadcast radius and covers 2,500 square feet of lawn each time you fill it, suiting most yard sizes, and it’s powered by AA batteries and with 23 different settings you can use.
If you prefer the simplicity of a handheld spreader, the Wizz Handheld Spreader from Scott’s is the best way to go.
This simple device is held in your hand and can broadcast seeds, fertilizer, and weed control products to a five-foot radius, without you having to do any of the hard work.
Operating with AA batteries, it’s easy to get going, and requires no tricky installation process.
Using this handheld spreader means you can cast the product in a five-foot broadcast radius and it’s held in your hand like a suitcase as you walk casually around the yard.
One fill of the hopper will cover around 2,500 square feet of lawn which should be enough for most people to do without refilling it.
However, the fact that it uses AA batteries means the running time isn’t that impressive before you have to replace them, so making a switch to a rechargeable model would be a good idea for Scott’s.
Scott’s lets you use this spreader how you wish with 23 settings to control the width of the broadcast radius.
You also have the ability to fill it with most of their products to spread over the lawn.
It’s affordable and easy to use but comes with no warranty coverage, so you’ll want to follow the care and maintenance instructions.
For those wanting the simplicity of a handheld spreader, the Scott’s Wizz is one of our favorites.
Quick Facts
- Type: Handheld
- Material: Plastic
- Mesh Basket Design: No
- Width options: Yes
Pros
- Easy-to-use
- Good spreading
- Lightweight
- 2,500 sq ft coverage
- Lock function
Cons
- Effort required
- Low battery life
- No warranty
Runner-Up: Scotts Whirl
Short summary
Scott’s Whirl is a manual handheld spreader suited for smaller yards that only cover up to 1,500 square feet of space. The spreader works with all kinds of products including ice melt, weed killer, fertilizer, and seeds.
The Scott’s Whirl Handheld Spreader is their manual entry into the market and a good fit for yards that only have a little ground to cover.
Using this spreader, you’ll get around 1,500 square feet of coverage without having to fill it back up again, so you should assess your yard to see if this manual option would work.
For most, they found it the easiest option with no assembly and it’s especially good if you’re not a serious gardener who plans on spreading seed and fertilizer every day.
As a manual spreader, the Whirl requires more effort to get the job done when you need to turn the handle, but most people didn’t mind doing the turning themselves.
You get a good, even spread of product and it features an adjustable arm that makes it comfortable to use for long periods.
Most people have reported around a six feet broadcast radius when using the Whirl Handheld Spreader, but as there’s no width adjustment, you’ll want to position it exactly where you need it.
The Scott’s Whirl Handheld Spreader is a plastic device that can feel a little flimsy, but it’s affordable and still gets the job done.
You can use it all year long, including during winter with an ice melt inside, so you get even more bang for your back.
Those wanting a manual approach who aren’t afraid of a little extra effort will love the simplicity and spread that the Scott’s Whirl Handheld Spreader delivers.
Quick Facts
- Type: Handheld
- Material: Plastic
- Mesh Basket Design: No
- Width options: No
Pros
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Lock function
- Even-spread
Cons
- Not adjustable width
- Not long-lasting
Lawn Spreaders FAQ
A lawn spreader can make taking care of your lawn a whole lot easier, but you need to know what you’re getting into before you purchase one.
Check out these FAQs on lawn spreaders that can give you some insight into what they’re all about.
What Do You Use A Lawn Spreader For?
A lawn spreader can be used for either spreading fertilizer or herbicides onto the grass, with some models being capable of both and others with just a single use.
These accessories let you evenly broadcast seeds and herbicide so that the entire lawn is coated and aim to save time and energy from doing it yourself.
What Type Of Lawn Spreader Is Best?
There are many types of lawn spreaders so it’s imperative to choose one that suits your lawn layout and your gardening style.
Walk-behind and broadcast spreaders are better for large areas, drop spreaders are good for accuracy, and handheld spreaders are the simplest devices and are good for small lawns.
Do I Need A Lawn Spreader?
Although you don’t need a lawn spreader to put down fertilizer or herbicide, it’s recommended for most products.
Using a spreader will evenly distribute the product on the lawn, reduce your contact with it, and make the job a lot less physically taxing when you have one of these devices.
Can You Just Sprinkle Grass Seed On Lawn?
You can just sprinkle grass seed onto the lawn without using a spreader but it’s not recommended, and many products will even specify that a spreader should be used.
Using one of these devices makes it safer, easier, and more efficient to spread and ensures that the seed is scattered evenly across the grass.
Spreading for Success
If you regularly fertilize your lawn or apply a weed killer and are looking for an easier way to get the job done, a grass spreader is a solution.
With our top picks for the best handheld and wheeled spreaders, you’ll walk away with a gardening accessory that can truly change the way you care for your lawn.
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Rebecca
Rebecca Vargas is an experienced gardener and landscaper and has been rendering professional services for many years. Her services cover both private homes and commercial properties. Leveraging that rich experience, Rebecca Vargas now dedicates a chunk of time to show just about anyone how to maintain their garden and yard, whether at home or workplace. GreenIQ is his way of reaching and teaching millions of homeowners across the globe about proper gardening and lawn care practices.