How to Use Drop Spreaders?
Some people believe that drop spreaders are the ideal solution for their lawn and garden needs, but they still need some information on how to actually use one. They are a bit different than other spreaders, but it’s really not difficult to figure out.
A drop spreader is one of the most useful farm tools that you can have. The drop spreader is a farm implement that is used to distribute dry materials, such as grain, fertilizer, or seed over the ground. The seed or fertilizer is usually stored in a hopper at the top of the drop spreader. The materials are released from the hopper by a lever or pedal, which is usually controlled by the gardener.
The drop spreaders can be used for;
- Seed
- Fertilizer
- Weed and feed
- Salt
Things You Need to Do Before Drop Spreader Calibration
1: Fill Spreader Hopper
Don’t forget to follow the directions on the bag when filling up the hopper. Don’t overfill or underfill it. You don’t want to find yourself clumsily trying to manage the machine over uneven turf. And watch where you walk to make sure you don’t spill any chemicals on freshly watered grass.
2: Find Spreader Settings
Fill and set the spreader settings according to the label on the bag. And set the dial to control how much product the drop spreader distributes in your area.
3: Make Strip/edges
Make a border around the outside area of your lawn. This will help prevent the product from spreading to garden beds and driveways.
4: Area You Want to Cover
Measure the length and width of your driveway, lawn, and deck and add in any house areas where weeds are particularly thick, and then use this sum to determine the amount of product you’ll need.
Look at the bag to find out how many bags you’ll need to treat an area. Each bag treats a certain amount of space, so decide how much space you need to cover.
How to Do Drop Spreader Calibration?
Drop spreader calibration is the most important step during the operation. Calibration will help you to get an accurate and consistent spread pattern. For this matter, you need to know following things:
- You will have to establish the spread rate of your spreader and then have the right product in the spreader. All spreaders come with product information, usually on the side of the fertilizer spreader.
- You will have to divide the surface area you are covering into small sections and then adjust the spreader to cover a specific amount on each section.
- You would also have to determine how many passes you want to make to cover the area and how much fertilizer to add for each pass.
- Finally, you will have to apply the fertilizer and then do the math to figure out how many pounds were applied.
Drop spreader calibration can be done yourself if you have the time and patience to do it.
Reference
https://ag.umass.edu/turf/fact-sheets/drop-spreader-calibration-procedures
I am Ricky Martin, a seasoned landscape designer, a passionate gardener, and a barbecue enthusiast. With 12 years of experience in building and restoring, I welcome you to my website lawnscanner.com
