Now that your soil is prepared for planting, it’s time to consider how to spread your grass seed. The method used in spreading seed is a topic of hot debate among lawn care enthusiasts, but here’s a quick glance at several more common tools:
Broadcast spreaders help distribute grass seed over a large area quickly and can be either pushed by hand or towed using an ATV or lawn tractor. It should be adjustable, of quality construction and have a rust- and clog-proof spreading mechanism. Some spreaders can also do double duty by spreading fertilizer and other compounds.
Handheld spreaders can work well for seeding smaller lawns or providing reseeding for areas that are thin because of high traffic, shade or other problem areas. Consider ease of use and storage issues when shopping for a handheld spreader. You’ll want a shoulder strap for larger capacity spreaders to help avoid muscle fatigue during use. They can also spread a number of other products such as fertilizer and deicer, making it a multi-purpose purchase.
Pull behind spreaders attaches to an ATV or lawn tractor and spreads a great deal of seed very quickly, requiring a minimum amount of effort to operate. It may be somewhat more difficult to get into tight areas, possibly requiring additional seeding using a more compact spreader. The spreader should be of high-quality construction to prevent damage during towing and have wide tires to prevent soil compaction.
Drop spreaders do exactly what they say – they drop seed directly below the spreader, unlike a broadcast spreader’s ability to throw seed beyond its own footprint. This is very helpful if you have additional beds in your lawn that you don’t want grass seed to fall on. They are very simple devices that can be used to distribute other granular material as well, such as deicer and fertilizer.
You’ll want to check the bag of grass seed to set the proper spreader rate for your grass to come up thick enough to block weed growth, but not so thick that it chokes itself out. One way to ensure there are no bare spots is to put down two layers of spreading, with the second layer crossing the first.