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Lawn spreaders are a nutrient and fertiliser broadcasting device that ensures that the correct amount of product is used. A calibrated lawn spreader means your garden gets the right amount of nourishment or seed without waste.

In larger gardens, the time and cost savings provided with a high-quality lawn spreader make them an essential purchase.

Hand Held Lawn Spreaders

As the name suggests, a handheld spreader is carried by the users and is usually only for the broadcasting of seeds and typically not used for fertiliser. The device consists of a hopper which holds, typically, 1 to 2 kilos of seed and a handle to the side of the device which, when turned releases seed.

The amount of product released at each turn is usually controllable by varying either the bore of the chute which releases the seed or the number of times the hopper is opened during each rotation of the handle.

Most uses of hand-held lawn and seed spreaders develop a rhythm and pace of walking and turning which ensures a good, even and cost-effective spread.

Rotary Lawn Spreaders

The rotary lawn spreader spins and throws the feed in an arc allowing for a large area of lawn to be seeded at one time. This is perfect for those of you who have a large area to cover. Unfortunately, it’s drawback would be that it is not as accurate as the drop lawn spreader.

However, if you want the job done quickly this is the perfect tool for you. We would advise against using this with weed and feed products.

Drop Lawn Spreaders

Drop lawn spreaders are incredibly accurate, giving you even distribution of feed throughout your lawn. The top of the range drop lawn spreaders will come with a control mechanism, allowing you to shut the spreader off.

As you are walking up and down your lawn you will quickly notice the feed drop out between the wheels of the spreader. This will help you to line up the lawn spreader with the previous row.

Seed or Fertiliser Spreaders

Garden spreaders are used for two purposes. Seed broadcasting and the equal application of fertiliser.

Broadcast / Spread Rates

There are more or less sophisticated ways of ensuring a good even and appropriate coverage of seed or fertiliser using a spreader. The most simple system relies on the user keeping a steady pace and controlling the broadcast of seed or fertiliser with a simple open or close toggle on the hopper the product is stored in.

Keeping a steady walking pace and setting the bore width for the feeder is all that is required to get a fairly accurate spread of seed or fertiliser.

In recent years more elaborate upright devices have a geared mechanism that is attached to the wheel and uses the rotation of the wheels as a guide to how often the product is broadcast. Typically every full, half or quarter turn. The mechanism opens the hopper to drop one unit of seed or fertiliser at every calibrated event.

Spread rates depend on the product being used. Early season seeding, new lawn seeding and overseeding will all vary in the amount of seed recommended. For fertiliser, early season nitrogen-based products will have a different requirement to late season

Caring for a lawn, seeding, feeding and weeding. Lawn Care tasks throughout the year.

A nice Summer weekend, a barbeque outside, enjoying your lawn. The hot weather and increased foot traffic are likely to leave your lawn in need of a little care and attention. The evening after a hard days use is the right time to get out the lawn spreader and hose out, and perhaps re-seed any worn areas of grass.

A good lawn spreader will make the task of feeding your grass quick and easy and ensures you broadcast the right amount of fertiliser to nourish your garden without waste.

Feeding your Lawn

In mid-spring (often late March to April), use a proprietary spring or summer lawn fertiliser at the manufacturer’s recommended rates. Feeding the lawn will increase vigour and help prevent weeds and moss from establishing. Apply fertilisers when the soil is moist, or when rain is expected.

Early in the growing season, around Easter. A lawn would benefit from feeding and seeding. A good nitrogen-based fertiliser applied when the soil is damp will ensure good growth.

Later in the year, during the hot Summer months a mix of sulphate and ammonia fertiliser mixed with soil to a ratio of 4x soil to 1x fertiliser applied in cool or damp weather. Using a lawn spreader set to 15 grams per meter squared for most lawn types.

It’s not advisable to use strong nitrogen-based fertilisers late in the year. These over nourish the soil and cause late, leafy growth that will make your grass susceptible to damage from early frosts.

The Royal Horticultural Society has detailed advice on how and when to care for your lawn using the products on this page.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=413 

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Over-Seeding your Lawn

Preparing your lawn for seeding you may first want to rake or fork over any hard or compacted areas where the seed is likely to struggle to germinate. Remove any moss and garden debris from the area.

Using high-quality seed, broadcast at a rate of around 15 grams per square meter before lightly raking over the ground to encourage the seed to penetrate.

In many gardens, birds will be a problem. Proprietary lawn netting placed over the re-seeded areas solves this problem. Remember to remove the netting once the grass has taken which is normally between 1 and 2 weeks.

If you are re-seeding during dry weather then an early morning or late evening watering will help the seed thrive and give best results.

For large lawns, and those with frequent use that require re-seeding often, a good lawn seed broadcaster will give you the right coverage per square meter.

Reasons For Not Watering Your Lawn

Watering your lawn isn’t always required. The grass is different from other types of plant and will enter a dormant state when there is no moisture. The plant will resume growth when water becomes available.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/differences-between-dormant-dead-grass-77668.html

No two lawns are alike, all have varying properties and different needs. Most lawns here in the UK will survive through long periods without water. Grass can survive several months in this dormant state without water. The lawn may start to lose its colour but usually, the lawn will not be affected.

Our advice would be to keep your eye open for any drastic change in your lawn. Brown, the tough grass is usually alive and well. A sharp shower will often bring back its verdant glory in no time.

The normal sign of a dead lawn is an area with bald patches of earth, particularly compacted earth, This will require more care and attention before your grass is recovered. Breaking the soil and re-seeding then feeding and watering.

The Case For Watering Your Lawn

There are plenty of reasons why you should water your lawn. If you like to keep a good surface area for playing games or for young children to play then we would advise watering your lawn regularly.

We would always advise you to spray your lawn in the morning and never at night. If you do not have time to water your lawn in the mornings then we would advise you to invest in a sprinkler system.

Of course, sometimes it may not be beneficial to water your lawn. In cases of a drought, or reservoirs are not being replenished, then it may do more harm than good.

How Often Should I Water My Lawn?

Ensuring good lawn care we would always advise you to water your lawn when it tells you too. You should not water your lawn according to some online plan. There are various factors you need to take into account. Your soil type, grass type, exposure to the sun and winds are just a few varying factors to take into account.

Some lawns will need to be watered once per week and other can go a whole month before watering. There is not one rule for everyone.

 The Summer season is right around the corner. You maybe considering gardening with children well in a few weeks, the trees will be in full leaf, butterflies will be flying overhead and you’ll smell the freshly cut grass.

Now would be the perfect time to start working on your garden and introduce your children to the importance of gardening. Firstly always supervise your children when they are in the garden. Your garden is prone to all kinds of dangerous hazards and the last thing we would want is your child injured.

What Not To Do

• It’s essential that when you’re gardening with children you never, ever leave your children unoccupied in your garden. Due to the number of dangerous tools and hazardous chemicals that are around. We would recommend that you isolate sharp tools and harmful chemicals from your children. Keeping them high up out of reach of children in your shed garage.
• We would ideally advise you to avoid using power tools altogether when your children are in the garden. If it is absolutely essential then you’ll need to invest in a circuit breaker and have someone nearby keeping an eye out for danger. 

Gardening With Children – What To Do

• It’s very important when gardening with children to give them their own space. A little plot of land in your garden that they can call their own. Where everything planted is theirs to look after and watch grows over the coming weeks and months.
• Carefully teach your children how to plant seeds correctly, always keeping a close watch on them. Making sure that they do not swallow the seed.
• Educate your young children on bees and other insects that could potentially sting them and how the can avoid being stung.