The best lawn spreader is the one whose gate, hopper and wheels you can read before you buy. In large-scale production, I verified seed drill calibration on weighing trays, so I read each maker’s figures for these nine models the same way, and I worked through each model’s own steps on my ground.
Affiliate Disclosure: Garden Power Scout is a proud participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
My top pick, Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader, puts its gate on a trigger and its edge lever on the handle. Below are eight more, the factors that decide a good buy and the safety steps for the label and the machine.
Best Lawn Spreader Reviews 2026: 9 Push and Handheld Models Compared
Seven of these nine are push broadcast spreaders, one is a chest-mounted hand crank and one is a battery handheld. I rank them on what each maker prints: hopper, gate, wheels, handle and the materials it allows. Read the safety section before the first fill, and let the product label decide the rest.
1. Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader Best Overall
The EdgeGuard DLX is the push spreader I reach for first, because everything I touch while walking sits on the handle: a trigger for the gate and a lever for the edge. It is a ground-driven broadcast spreader for a general lawn, and it asks the least of a buyer who has never owned one. According to Scotts, the lever blocks off the right side of the spread pattern.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I chose the DLX first because a new owner has to get four things right: the gate, the setting, the edges and the cleanup. This spreader gives each one a visible control or a printed step. The trigger and the edge lever sit on the handle, and the rate dial sits on the back of the hopper, where you can read it with the gate closed. I recommend it to anyone who reads the label first and wants the main controls in one place.
Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- EdgeGuard lever: Slide it to On and, according to Scotts, it blocks off the right side of the spread pattern, so one flank of a pass along a bed or a walk is guarded.
- Trigger on the handle: You squeeze to release product and let go to stop, so the gate stays under your hand through every turn.
- Rate dial on the back panel: A numbered dial sets the amount, and the bag gives only a starting setting for your product and spreader.
- Agitator inside the hopper: Scotts labels one in its diagram, which gives you a part to look at whenever the hopper is empty.
- Upright U-bar handle: The top half of the handle raises and locks with wing nuts, so setup needs your hands and nothing else.
- Fill-over-the-driveway step: The how-to sheet says to fill over the driveway and clean up any spill, which puts filling on a surface you can sweep.
- Printed steps for a first-time owner: Scotts publishes a two-page guide and a one-page how-to sheet, so the order of the work is on paper before you start.
Setup showed me the design. I raised the top half of the handle, tightened the wing nuts by hand and the spreader stood ready, with the trigger, the lever and the dial all within reach. The trigger is the control I judge first on any spreader. Scotts says to begin walking, then squeeze, and to release the trigger when making turns, which matches how a gate should work on a rotary spreader.
The edge lever blocks one side only. On a run beside a bed or a walk, the blocked right side has to face that edge, and the left side stays open. Scotts describes the lever as a way to keep product off areas where it is not wanted, and what lands where is still my job. If scattered plain fertilizer reaches a hard surface, sweep it back onto the lawn without going over the label rate, and follow the label’s cleanup for pesticide granules, as the safety section below explains.
Before I put a hand near the hopper, the rotary disk or the agitator, I complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The job a spec sheet never shows is the cleanup. Scotts says never to leave product in the spreader: pour leftover material back into the package and seal it, wash the spreader, let it dry and store it clean and dry. Scotts’ guide says to wash over the lawn; rinse only where the water cannot reach a drain, a street or open water, and only by a method the label permits.
Before you read or turn the dial, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Read it with the hopper empty and the gate closed, and treat the bag’s number as a starting setting for your product and spreader, to be checked against the label and your calibration.
A rotary disk throws granules, so keep children, pets and other people away while you fill and spread, and keep them off the treated area for as long as the label says.
Scotts rates the hopper by lawn area rather than pounds, so fill in small amounts and never to the brim. The listing graphic notes that the spreader is not recommended for rock salt, so keep it to the materials Scotts names: fertilizer, grass seed and granular weed killer. Store it in a clean, dry place, as the guide says.
Buy the DLX if you are new to spreaders, spread from a labeled bag you read first, and want the gate on the handle. Skip it if you plan to spread rock salt, which Scotts’ own graphic does not recommend, or if you need a printed hopper capacity in pounds, a weight or a warranty term before you order.
FINAL VERDICT
Choose the DLX when you want one push spreader whose main controls you can name in a sentence: trigger, edge lever, rate dial. It suits a homeowner who spreads from a labeled bag and reads the label first.
It is the push spreader I recommend first to most homeowners.
2. Chapin 8400C SureSpread 100 lb Professional Turf Spreader Best Premium
The Chapin 8400C is my premium pick because it is built around the parts a heavy hopper depends on: 14 inch pneumatic tires according to its listing, a stainless steel frame and linkage, and a grate and a rain cover that the manual’s parts list names. It is a 100 lb broadcast push spreader for a buyer who will wash, dry and store it carefully.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I rank the 8400C second, as my premium pick, because its parts list is the most complete I could hold against the price: tires, frame, grate and cover. A buyer who plans to wash and dry a spreader after every job gets the most from it. The manual’s pattern page shows where to shut off and restart at the end of a pass. Premium here means the top price tier on this page, and the parts list is what that tier buys.
Chapin 8400C SureSpread 100 lb Professional Turf Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- 14 inch pneumatic tires: The listing title, bullet and photo callout give the size, and the manual’s parts list carries a 14 inch wheel kit.
- Stainless steel frame and linkage: The maker’s title names both.
- Hopper grate: The manual’s parts list names a grate for the hopper opening.
- Rain cover: The parts list names a cover, so the hopper can be closed between jobs.
- Left and right gates: Closing one side gives a left, right or narrow centered pattern, besides the full one.
- Flat or spiked auger: The manual says to choose the flat auger for general turf work and the spiked one for dense material or material with a higher moisture content.
- Enclosed gearbox with a grease fitting: On a model with the fitting, Chapin says to apply general purpose grease at least once a month.
Assembly is 12 steps with two wrench sizes. The manual says the hopper will not drop straight onto the frame and must be maneuvered until the slide gate sits under the hopper frame. I fitted the wheels with their washers and bent the cotter pin with pliers, as step 6 says. The loose hardware is deliberate, and the manual says to go back and tighten all of it at step 11.
The grate and the cover are what I looked at after the wheels. I set the grate in the opening and put the cover over the hopper to see how both seat. The manual’s step on augers says to choose the flat auger for general turf applications and the spiked auger for dense or damper material, and the product label and the manual still decide what goes into the hopper. Chapin’s listing says it is made in the USA with global materials.
Before you adjust the gates, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Each side can then be closed on its own, and the manual shows the four patterns that result: full, left, right and narrow centered. I closed one side and watched how the lever and gate linkage moved. The limit is the material list: the manual cautions against rock salt, and the listing adds that salt products, sand mixes, pelletized lime, lime and lime powders are not recommended.
Before you wash the spreader, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Chapin says to use a garden hose, never to point the spray straight at the gearbox and never to use a power washer.
Chapin’s manual says not to let anyone operate the spreader without proper instructions, and not to permit children to operate it. Its one protective equipment line calls for protective eyewear and gloves when you handle and apply lawn and garden chemicals, so wear both, plus whatever the product label requires. Keep the label and your manual in reach whenever you fill.
A grease fitting wants general purpose grease at least once a month, as the manual says. Chapin gives a five-year limited warranty on the listing, and the manual refers you to the maker’s website for the details. The manual has no clog-clearing method, so clear a clog only after the full safe-state steps, and only with the method your manual gives. The parts list lets you replace the gearbox, drive shaft, gate control, impeller, wheels, grips, grate, rain cover, auger and baffle.
The 8400C is for a buyer who wants big tires and a covered 100 lb hopper and will clean up after every job. Skip it if you plan to spread rock salt, sand or lime, which Chapin does not recommend, or if you want a printed weight and a manual warranty term. It suits a buyer who ranks tires and a covered hopper above weight, since Chapin prints no weight for it.
FINAL VERDICT
Pay for the 8400C when the parts list decides the buy. It asks for careful assembly and careful cleaning in return.
It is the premium push spreader with a grate and a cover.
3. SOLO 421 20 lb Chest-Mount Hand-Crank Spreader Best Value
The SOLO 421 is the spreader I carry instead of push. It hangs on a strap at my chest, my right hand turns a crank, my left hand works a flow lever, and a hopper that holds 20 lb according to the manual goes wherever my feet go. Best Value here means value for spot work and small areas, and it is the weakest choice on this page for a long lawn, because your arm turns that crank for every foot.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I give the SOLO the Best Value spot because the manual prints the capacity, the empty weight with its basis and a name for every control: lever, stop, direction, shield. It is the spreader for spot work and small areas, and I say plainly that a long lawn is a lot of cranking. Where the ground is awkward, carrying beats pushing.
SOLO 421 20 lb Chest-Mount Hand-Crank Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Directional lever: It has center, left and right positions, so you point the throw with the lever as well as with the way you face.
- Deflector shield: The manual says it increases or decreases the width of the spread.
- Flow rate lever and limiter stop: Zero is closed, and a stop nut limits how far the lever opens.
- Built-in agitator: The manual says it turns steadily while you crank.
- Screw-on lid: According to the manual, the lid prevents spillage and helps keep dust and other material away from the operator.
- Adjustable strap: You fit it at waist height, longest reach first, then crank to check the height and adjust again.
- Geared crank drive: One full turn of the handle spins the impeller 7 1/2 times, and a small oil hole in the gear case takes a few drops of light oil every four hours of operation, as the manual says.
The strap decides whether this spreader works for you, so I fitted it before anything else. The manual has you stand the unit upright on a table at waist level, set the strap to its longest reach, hook it to the top right eye, run it over the right shoulder and across the back, then crank to check the height. That table routine mattered more than any dial, because the spreader hangs from your shoulder for the whole job.
Before you fill or unload the hopper, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Filling is then a two-step job. The manual says to set the flow rate lever to zero, put the spreader on a flat surface, take the lid off and fill, and never to load the hopper while carrying it. It also says not to bend at the waist, and for first use it suggests partly filling the hopper, which I followed, because 20 lb is a ceiling and a full hopper is a heavy thing to hang from a shoulder.
A second job is the ground a wheeled spreader cannot cross, such as the packed-soil paths of the vegetable plot, where a chest-mounted spreader simply goes where I walk. The manual lists the materials it names for the hopper, among them seed, fertilizers, pelletized lime, sand and salt, and the product label and the manual together decide whether any one of them goes in. The limit is my own arm. A hand crank puts the work in the arm and the shoulder, the manual prints no time limit, and when they tire I stop and rest.
Plan the work so the wind is behind you if possible, as the manual says, and keep your hands away from the rotating impeller.
SOLO’s manual calls for safety glasses or eye shields, closed-toe shoes with good traction, snug long sleeves, tightly cuffed or cuffless pants, non-slip gloves and long hair tied back, plus a respirator if appropriate for the material and, for chemicals, protective clothing, a respirator and eye protection. Wear all of it, and whatever the product label adds: the manual says never to allow children to use the spreader, or adults to use it without proper instructions.
Before you clean the unit, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below, and keep your hands away from the impeller. At the end of a job the manual says to close the flow rate lever to zero and crank the handle several times so that no residue clings to the impeller. Then clean the unit with soap and water, dry it and store it in a safe place, as the manual says, and handle the wash water as the product label directs.
Small areas, beds and paths are where the SOLO earns its place, and its manual prints the capacity and the empty weight. Skip it if you spread a whole large lawn, because your arm and shoulder do all the work, or if you want a warranty term printed before you order.
FINAL VERDICT
For small areas and awkward ground the SOLO 421 is the right tool, and your arm is the price. Its controls are clear and its manual is specific.
It is the chest-mount spreader for spot work.
4. Brinly P20-500BHDF-A Push Spreader with Side Deflector Kit Side Deflector Kit Included
The P20 puts a side deflector, a hopper grate and a 50 lb hopper in one box. It is a broadcast push model with a rod-linked gate. According to Brinly, the spread width runs up to 12 ft.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I rank the P20 fourth for the parts a buyer usually adds later, the deflector and the grate, which are already in the box. The rod gate gives you something to check before you trust it.
Brinly P20-500BHDF-A Push Spreader with Side Deflector Kit Specs
Key Features:
- Side deflector in the box: A flip-up shield mounts on the left of the hopper, and the manual says it keeps material from moving toward that side.
- 50 lb hopper: The manual says never to load more than that.
- Rod-linked gate: A flow control lever works the shut-off plate through rods, with no cable in the parts list.
- Hopper screen: The manual says to use it every time you fill, to help break up clumps.
- 12 in by 3 in pneumatic wheels: The manual allows lowering the printed maximum pressure only to 70 percent.
Assembly gave me my first real look at the gate. Before you do any of this, complete the stop and make-safe steps for your spreader in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The manual has you close the shut-off plate, hand-tighten the linkage nuts and move the handle up and down to verify that the plate opens and closes. I opened and closed the plate by hand before any granule went in.
Fitting the deflector means tipping the spreader onto its right side and removing two screws from the hopper frame, and a knob then rotates the shield up or down. Brinly’s manual makes no promise about what lands on a path or a bed. I cover the P20’s side deflector and 50 lb hopper in my Brinly push spreader review.
Before you fill, clean or adjust anything, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Then fill on a flat, level surface, never past 50 lb, with the screen in; it comes out only for ice melt, as the manual says.
Brinly’s manual says not to let children or an untrained person operate the machine, and not to use it on windy days. Read the label’s weather directions before you open the bag.
Brinly says to clean the spreader after every use and to move the flow control handle while you rinse. It says never to leave material in the hopper, because it can draw moisture, clump and rust the controls. Household use carries two years on frame and hopper and 90 days on tires, wheels and gears, and the warranty excludes commercial or rental use. Wear the eye protection the manual calls for.
The P20 suits a household that wants the deflector and the grate with a 50 lb hopper. Skip it if you spread commercially or on other people’s properties, because the manual’s household terms do not cover that use.
FINAL VERDICT
The P20 fits the household that wants the shield and the screen in the box and will walk the spreader empty before the first fill.
It is the push spreader with the shield in the box.
5. EarthWay 2600A-Plus Estate Broadcast Spreader 9-Inch Pneumatic Wheels
The 2600A-Plus runs on 9 inch pneumatic wheels under a 40 lb hopper, according to EarthWay, and that small air-filled wheel is the first thing I noticed. It is an unassembled broadcast push spreader with a gate lever and stop bolt on the T-handle and a Side Spread Control that shuts off the left side of the throw.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Fourth place goes to the 2600A-Plus for its wheels and for a gearbox that needs no attention. The sealed gearbox means no grease to buy and no housing to open, and the side control is the maker’s own answer to the lawn edge.
EarthWay 2600A-Plus Estate Broadcast Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- 9 inch pneumatic tires: The parts list names air-filled 9 inch wheels with a tread.
- Side Spread Control: A lever under the right side of the hopper shuts off left-side spreading.
- Stop bolt on the rate gauge: You set the bolt for the material, pull the lever back to it to spread and push the lever forward to close the flow holes before you stop moving.
- Sealed gearbox: The manual says the gears are permanently lubricated at the factory and not to open the gearbox, so there is no gear greasing job.
- Solid linkage: EarthWay says the gate linkage is cable free, which leaves no cable to stretch or kink.
It arrives unassembled, and the manual runs to 16 steps. The detail I watched was the gearbox: its FRONT mark must point to the front of the spreader, because the impeller has to turn clockwise when you push forward. I checked that arrow twice before the hopper went on.
On the T-handle, a lever and a stop bolt do the work of the gate. You pull the lever back to the bolt to spread, and you push it forward to close the flow holes before you stop moving. For Side Spread Control you slide its lever from front to back and place the left wheel as the manual directs. The manual makes no promise about what lands on a path or a bed. My EarthWay 2600A plus review takes a closer look at this 40 lb residential push spreader.
The manual forbids powdered materials because they damage the gearbox, and it says to remove the agitator when you use rock salt. Before you take the agitator out, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below.
The safety section below and the product label set the rules for eye protection, gloves, children and pets, so read both before the first fill.
Before you rinse or oil the spreader, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below, and rinse where the water cannot reach a drain, a street or open water. The manual says to empty the remaining material from the hopper, rinse the spreader and coat the metal parts with light oil. The February 2025 edition gives one year and excludes corrosion damage from fertilizers and ice melt products.
Pick the 2600A-Plus for a 40 lb household push spreader with a side control and a sealed gearbox. Skip it if you use powdered products, which the manual forbids, or if you want a spreader that arrives assembled.
FINAL VERDICT
The 2600A-Plus trades hopper size for pneumatic wheels and a left-side shut-off. Plan an assembly session before the first fill.
It is the push spreader with the sealed gearbox.
6. Chapin TurfPro 89400C Stainless Steel 100 lb Lawn Spreader Stainless Axle and Slide Gate
Chapin’s features list for the TurfPro 89400C names stainless steel for the axle, the slide gate and the hardware as well as the frame, and that is what sets it apart here. It is a 100 lb broadcast push spreader on 12 inch pneumatic tires, for a buyer who wants stainless metal parts and will clean up after every use.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I rank the 89400C sixth for its stainless axle, slide gate and hardware. A buyer who plans to wash and dry a spreader after every job gets the most from it, and the left and right gates give it choices.
Chapin TurfPro 89400C Stainless Steel 100 lb Lawn Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Stainless steel parts: Chapin’s features list names the frame, tube handle, axle, slide gate and hardware.
- Left and right gates: Closing one side gives the left, right or narrow centered pattern that the manual prints, besides the full pattern.
- Flat or spiked auger: The manual says to choose the flat auger for general turf work and the spiked one for dense material or material with a higher moisture content.
- Locking gate lever: The lever sits on a numbered plate with a locking knob, which Chapin’s listing photo describes as setting the opening once and locking it in.
- Grease fitting: Chapin says to apply general purpose grease at least once a month on a model that has the fitting.
Assembly takes 12 steps and two wrench sizes, and the manual leaves the hardware loose on purpose until step 11, when it says to go back and tighten all of it. The hopper does not drop straight onto the frame. You maneuver it until the slide gate sits under the hopper frame, the one step to take slowly, and I took it slowly.
Before you do any of this, complete the stop and make-safe steps for your spreader in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The two gates are then the feature to look at. I closed each side in turn to see how the lever moved. Each side can be closed on its own, and the manual shows the four patterns that result.
Before you wash the spreader, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Chapin says to use a garden hose, to keep the spray off the gearbox and never to use a power washer.
Chapin’s manual says not to let anyone operate the spreader without proper instructions, and not to permit children to operate it. It also cautions that the spreader is not recommended for rock salt, and its product page adds sand, lime and pelletized lime, so keep to the materials the label and the manual allow.
The manual’s one protective equipment line is eyewear and gloves, so wear both, plus whatever the product label adds. A grease fitting wants grease at least once a month where it is fitted. Chapin’s product page gives a five-year limited warranty. The maker lists no rain cover.
The 89400C fits a buyer who wants stainless hardware and a 100 lb hopper and will clean up after every job. Skip it if you plan to spread rock salt, sand or lime, which Chapin does not recommend, or if you need a rain cover in the box.
FINAL VERDICT
The 89400C is for the buyer who wants stainless hardware and washes the spreader after every job.
It is the stainless-hardware push spreader.
7. EarthWay 2150 Commercial Broadcast Spreader Tall-Operator Handle Setting
The EarthWay 2150 is the push spreader on this page that adjusts to the person behind it. The current manual shows a two-position handle and a tall-operator configuration with its own bolt holes. Under the handle is a 50 lb hopper, according to EarthWay, on 13 inch pneumatic tires.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I put the 2150 seventh for the one thing a spec sheet misses: the person pushing it. A handle with a tall-operator setting is a comfort feature the maker bothered to print. The rest of the machine is a plain, large push spreader.
EarthWay 2150 Commercial Broadcast Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Tall-operator handle setting: The current manual lists two handle positions and a tall-operator configuration, each with its own bolt holes.
- 13 inch pneumatic tires: The parts list names a 13 inch pneumatic tire on a poly rim.
- Slide-out round screen: It sits in the hopper opening, and the listing says it slides in and out when you do not need it.
- Side Spread Control: A lever below the hopper shuts off left-side spreading, as EarthWay prints it.
- Sealed gearbox: The manual says the gears are permanently lubricated at the factory and not to open the gearbox.
The manual has 16 steps and calls for pliers, a Phillips screwdriver and a wrench. The axle bearings have a tab that must line up with notches in the lower handle, and the manual says it is designed to be a tight fit, which is how I found it.
Before you do any of this, complete the stop and make-safe steps for your spreader in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The handle is why this spreader is ranked here. With the hopper empty I tried each position to see where the grips met my hands. The gate is a lever pulled back to a stop bolt, and the manual says to push it forward to close the flow holes before you stop moving.
Before you reach for the impeller plate, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The manual says to clean that plate after each use, because fertilizer stuck on the blades causes uneven spreading.
The current manual says rock salt and powdered materials should not be used in this spreader because they damage the gearbox and can void the warranty, and that you should use only granular materials. Check the product label against that line.
Before you rinse or oil the spreader, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below, and rinse where the water cannot reach a drain, a street or open water. EarthWay says to empty the hopper when you finish, rinse the spreader, and coat the metal parts with light oil. The October 2024 edition gives one year, and the warranty excludes corrosion from fertilizers and ice melt products.
Tall owners, and households that share a spreader with one, get the most from the 2150, with its 50 lb hopper on 13 inch tires. Skip it if you spread rock salt or powdered products, which the manual rules out. I examine this 50 lb commercial push spreader in my full EarthWay 2150 review.
FINAL VERDICT
Handle height decides the 2150, and its 50 lb hopper and 13 inch tires come with it.
It is the push spreader with a tall-operator handle.
8. Agri-Fab 45-0462 130 lb Push Broadcast Spreader Largest Printed Hopper
The Agri-Fab 45-0462 holds 130 lb, as the listing and the maker’s description print it, and that is the largest printed hopper on this page. It is a push broadcast spreader on 13 inch by 4 inch pneumatic tires, with a numbered gauge and an adjustable stop on the control lever.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The 45-0462 ranks eighth for its hopper. A hopper this size is filled in stages from the bag, so fill it over a driveway or a tarp, as the safety section below says. It rewards a buyer who wants fewer refills and accepts a longer assembly. With the hopper empty I rolled it over the gravel yard to see how the 13 inch by 4 inch tires took it.
Agri-Fab 45-0462 130 lb Push Broadcast Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- 130 lb hopper: The figure is the maker’s printed ceiling, not a fill line.
- 13 inch by 4 inch pneumatic tires: The manual says to keep them adequately inflated and never beyond the maximum pressure printed on the tire.
- Adjustable stop and numbered gauge: You pull the control lever forward against the stop for ON, and the manual says to move it to OFF before turning or stopping.
- Gear lubrication steps: The manual walks you through opening the gearbox housings and greasing the gears.
- Three-year warranty sheet: The maker’s sheet gives three years for household use, with wheel and bearing exclusions.
The Quick Start Guide has 16 steps and calls for a hammer, pliers and two 7/16 inch wrenches. The hub caps are tapped on with a hammer, which is not what I expect from a spreader, but the guide says so.
For the work itself, the manual says to fill with the lever at OFF, breaking up any lumpy fertilizer, to start the spreader moving and then pull the lever forward against the stop, and to move it to OFF before turning or stopping. It forbids powdered lawn chemicals. I looked over the lever, the numbered gauge and the adjustable stop under the grips before anything went in the hopper.
Before you open the gearbox housings to grease the gears, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below.
The manual calls for eye and hand protection when you handle and apply lawn or garden chemicals, and it says never to allow children to operate the spreader.
Before you rinse the spreader, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below, and rinse only where the water cannot reach a drain, a street or open water. The manual says to empty the spreader, store leftover material in its original bag, rinse the inside of the hopper and the outside of the spreader, dry it off and store it in a clean, dry area.
The 45-0462 is for the buyer whose first priority is a 130 lb hopper with a three-year household warranty sheet. Skip it if you need a side deflector or edge control, which the manual does not print, or if you spread powdered lawn chemicals, which it rules out. I give my verdict on its 130 lb hopper in my Agri-Fab 45-0462 spreader review.
FINAL VERDICT
Hopper size comes first with the 45-0462, and it comes with 16 assembly steps and a hammer.
It is the 130 lb push spreader.
9. WORX WG869 20V Cordless Handheld Spreader Kit Battery and Charger Included
The WORX WG869 arrives with its battery and charger in the box: a 20V lithium-ion handheld spreader with a 2.0 Ah pack and a 2 A charger. You carry it by a loop handle with a forefinger trigger.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I put the WG869 ninth, as the one that comes ready to run. The pack and the charger are in the kit, so nothing has to be bought before the first job. It is a handheld for beds, paths and small patches.
WORX WG869 20V Cordless Handheld Spreader Kit Specs
Key Features:
- Battery and charger in the box: The kit holds a 2.0 Ah pack and a 2 A charger, and the pack ships uncharged.
- Speed-control dial and edge-control deflector: The manual says to set the spreading width with both.
- Eight-level flow-rate adjustment: A baffle opens or closes the flow, and the manual lists levels by material class.
- Agitator in the tub: The maker says it spins at the bottom of the tub while the tool runs.
- Loop handle with a forefinger trigger: The maker describes a soft overmold grip.
Before you fit or change the battery, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. There is no assembly beyond fitting the pack. I held the spreader with the pack off and then on, and the difference in the hand matched the two printed weights, 2.27 lb for the bare tool and about 3.1 lb with the battery. The trigger and the speed dial sit under the loop handle where the forefinger and thumb fall.
WORX prints up to 5 ft on its product page, and the manual adds that for material larger than 4 mm it advises a lower spreading speed to prevent crushing. I looked over the dial and the deflector with the tub empty first.
WORX’s manual says to remove the battery pack before adjusting, cleaning, servicing or transporting the machine. The complete order is in the safe-state box in the safety section below, and a hot, swollen, hissing or smoking battery follows the emergency step in that box first.
The manual says not to use the spreader in rain or in damp or wet locations, to keep children away from the work area and not to operate it when you are tired. It says to use safety glasses, and a face or dust mask if the work is dusty, and it recommends rubber gloves and substantial footwear outdoors.
Use only the battery and charger WORX specifies, and never a damaged or modified pack. The manual says not to leave the pack on prolonged charge when it is not in use, to keep it clean and dry, and to keep it away from paper clips, coins, keys, nails, screws and other small metal objects. Before you wipe the tub clean with a dry cloth, as the manual says, complete the safe-state steps.
Buy it if you want a handheld that comes ready to run and the job is a bed, a path or a small patch. Skip it if you spread on wet days, because the manual rules out rain and damp.
FINAL VERDICT
The WG869 suits a small job on a dry day, and it is ready to run out of the box.
It is the ready-to-run handheld.
How to Choose the Best Lawn Spreader
Six factors decide whether a lawn spreader suits your yard: the type, the hopper, the gate, the wheels and handle, the edge control and the materials the maker allows. The product label and the spreader’s manual decide the rest.
Types of Lawn Spreaders and Which One Fits
A rotary spreader drops product on a spinning plate that throws it in a fan, and Kentucky Extension says rotary spreaders spread a wider swath, suit large areas and are less likely to leave missed strips (1). A lawn drop spreader places product straight down in a swath as wide as the hopper. NC State Extension adds that rotary spreaders cover more area faster and need less effort to push, while drop spreaders have more uniform patterns and more precise edges and are preferred for smaller, contained areas (2). My separate ranking names the best broadcast spreader across push, tow-behind and handheld models.
| Type | How it delivers | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Push rotary (broadcast) | A plate throws product in a fan | Open lawn, wide passes |
| Push drop | Product falls in a strip as wide as the hopper | Small, contained areas and edges |
| Hand crank or battery handheld | A small plate turned by hand or motor | Beds, paths and tight corners |
A hand-operated spinner spreader is different again. A laboratory study of one found that how you carry it and walk with it changes how evenly it spreads, and that overlapping each pass helped (3). Every push model on this page is a rotary spreader, and a drop spreader is outside this page’s list. I think of the choice as swath against edge: a push rotary spreader for open grass, a hand or chest spreader for the beds and paths around the house. For hand and chest models, I compare seven crank and battery picks to name the best handheld spreader.
Key Takeaway
Choose the type for the ground you cross most. Open grass favors a push rotary spreader, and beds and paths favor a hand-carried one.
Hopper Size and What the Maker Prints
The hopper is the bin that holds the product. Makers print its capacity in pounds, or in the lawn area they rate it for, and either figure is the maker’s ceiling and never a fill line. Before you fill or unload the hopper, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below.
- Capacity in pounds: a printed ceiling, and your manual sets the fill level.
- A coverage rating: the maker’s rating for its own product, never a result for your lawn.
- The fill opening: a wide one is easier to fill and to see into, so note whether a screen or grate sits in it.
- A lid or cover: it keeps dust and weather off the product between jobs.
I read the printed capacity first and the fill opening second, because filling is where product, hands and the bag meet. The mistake to avoid is buying the largest hopper for a small job: the bigger the hopper, the more you lift to fill it. In my “best spreader for large lawn” guide, I compare hopper sizes across seven push and tow-behind models.
The Gate, the Rate Dial and the Stop
The gate opens and closes the flow of product, and on this page it is a trigger on the handle, a lever on the handle or a lever on a hand-carried unit. The rate dial or stop sets how far the gate opens, and the setting printed on the bag is a starting point: Clemson Extension says label settings are useful but not always accurate, and that you calibrate for each user and each material (4). Kentucky Extension says the same of the bag’s setting (1). After years of checking seed drills on weighing trays, I treat every printed setting as a starting point.
| Question | Where the answer is |
|---|---|
| How far to open the gate | The product label and the spreader maker’s setting chart, as a starting point |
| When the gate opens and closes | Your manual, and NC State Extension’s start-moving-first rule below |
| If the setting is right for you | Calibration for your product, spreader and pace |
NC State Extension says to reach the calibrated pace before you open the lever, to close it before slowing, turning or stopping, and not to spread while turning, because one wheel usually drives the impeller (5). The product label gives the application directions, so read it before you set the gate. A setting listed for your exact spreader and product is a starting point, not proof of the amount delivered: follow the spreader’s manual and calibrate for the product, the spreader and the person using it before you apply. Never exceed the label’s application rate.
Pro Tip
Close the gate before every turn. A gate you can work with one hand on the handle is the one you will actually close.
Wheels, Frame and Handle
Wheels decide how the spreader crosses lawn, gravel and a concrete pad, and makers print the type and the diameter. Pneumatic wheels, open-spoke wheels and no wheels at all are on this page, and wheel type alone does not rank a spreader, so read the printed type and size as a fact about that model and not as a promise. My ranking compares frame and wheels to name the best push spreader.
- Wheel type and diameter: read both, and check the tire’s maximum pressure where the wheels are pneumatic.
- Handle height and positions: a handle with more than one position suits more than one operator.
- Frame material and finish: read what the maker prints and follow its care lines.
- Weight with its basis: an empty weight and a shipping weight are different numbers.
A study of tractor-mounted rotary fertilizer spreaders found that tilting the spreader to either side changed the pattern significantly, and that a rotary spreader should be level (6). Those were farm machines, not home units, but the point carries over to the ground you walk. I judge wheels by how they cross my own gravel yard, concrete work pad and lawn. I rank nine push, tow and hand models on rough ground to name the best spreader for uneven ground.
Edge Control and Side Deflectors
Makers print three kinds of edge feature: a lever that blocks one side of the throw, a shield that bolts on to one side, and gates that close one half of the opening. UC IPM advises drop spreaders over rotary spreaders where you want to avoid off-target application (7), so a rotary spreader’s edge feature is the maker’s answer to a known problem, not a cure for it.
| Feature | What the maker says | What it does not promise |
|---|---|---|
| Lever that blocks one side | Blocks off one side of the spread pattern | What lands on a path or a bed |
| Bolt-on deflector shield | Keeps material from moving toward one side | The same |
| Left and right gates | Closes half the opening for a one-sided or narrow pattern | The same |
The edge I care about most runs along the concrete work pad by the machinery shed. Whatever feature a spreader has, scattered plain fertilizer that reaches a hard surface is swept back onto the lawn without going over the label rate, and pesticide granules follow the label’s cleanup, as the safety section below explains. My ranking weighs edge control and kit to find the best fertilizer spreader.
Materials the Hopper May Hold
Every manual says what its spreader may carry, and the lists differ. One says powdered materials damage the gearbox, one says it is not recommended for rock salt, and one allows ice melt only with a part removed. The label of the product and the manual of the spreader both have to allow the combination. I rank seven models for driveways, walks and steps to name the best spreader for ice melt.
- Powdered materials: some makers rule them out.
- Rock salt and ice melt: some makers forbid or restrict them, and ice melt can be highly corrosive.
- Seed size and wet product: read the manual’s line, and use only what it allows.
- Lime: read both the product label and the manual, and see the lime note in the safety section below.
I read the materials list in the manual before I read the feature list, because a feature on a spreader that cannot hold your product is no use to you. If the product’s instructions and the spreader’s instructions cannot both be followed, do not use that combination. I sort nine picks by type, hopper size and budget to name the best grass seed spreader.
Safety Before You Fill, Clean or Spread
A lawn spreader is a hopper with a gate over a spinning plate, and the product in the hopper can be a pesticide that harms people, pets, bees and water. The product label sets the rules for the product, and your spreader’s manual sets the rules for the machine. Read both before the first fill.
Safe-State Box
Emergency first, for a spreader with a battery: if a battery becomes unusually hot, swells, hisses, gives off an unusual odor or smokes, stop using the spreader without handling or removing the battery, keep people away and follow the battery manual’s emergency instructions; if it smokes, burns or presents immediate danger, move away and call 911 or the fire department without finishing the routine steps. Stop and make safe before you fill or unload the hopper, reach into the hopper, clear a clog, clean or rinse the spreader, lubricate it, adjust the gate or the pattern, change a part, hitch or unhitch it, charge or change a battery, move it, store it or leave it. Keep your hands, feet, hair and loose clothing away from the impeller, the plate, the agitator, the gears and the wheels while anything can turn. During normal spreading, walk or drive only as your manual and the product label permit; walking behind a push spreader, or pulling a tow-behind unit at the speed its manual describes, is operation, not transport. Walk-behind or hand-crank spreader: close the gate, then stop walking or cranking, and wait until the impeller, plate, agitator and wheels have stopped turning. Battery spreader: release the trigger or close the gate as your manual directs, switch the spreader off, wait until all moving parts have stopped, then remove the battery as the manual directs (on a model with a built-in battery that cannot be removed, such as the WORKPRO X, follow that manual’s own off and storage steps instead, and never open the battery compartment) and keep a removed battery away from the spreader while you work. Follow any additional isolation steps in the exact manual. Keep the gate closed while you fill. Wear all the protective equipment the product label and your manual require while you fill, clean or clear a jam. Clear a clog only with the method in your exact manual. Follow every applicable safety step in your manual, in the order it specifies. Refit every guard and cover, and check that the gate opens and closes before product goes back in.
The Label and Protective Equipment
Read the product label before you open the bag. Follow its directions for the permitted use, the application amount, protective equipment, weather, watering in, access by people and pets, storage and disposal. Using a registered pesticide in a way its label does not allow is against federal law.
Follow the spreader’s manual too. If the product’s instructions and the spreader’s instructions cannot both be followed, do not use that combination; ask the manufacturers for guidance.
Wear all the protective equipment the product label and your spreader’s manual require, and put it on before you open the bag. Wear it every time you fill the hopper, clean the spreader or clear a clog. Protective equipment lowers your exposure; it does not make handling a lawn product safe.
Wash your hands before eating, drinking, smoking or using the restroom when you work with pesticides. Change your clothes and wash your hands immediately after you apply a product that contains a pesticide, and follow the label’s additional washing and clothing instructions.
Only an adult who has read the manual and the label and understands the controls should operate a spreader, never a child, and never anyone tired or impaired. The Chapin, Brinly and SOLO manuals each say not to let children, or anyone without proper instructions, operate their spreaders, and the WORX manual says not to operate its spreader when you are tired.
Key Takeaway
The label and the manual decide. This page never gives a rate, a setting or a speed, because only your product label and your spreader maker can.
Filling, Spills and Runoff
Before you fill or unload the hopper, complete the stop and make-safe steps for your spreader in the safe-state box, and keep the gate closed. For fertilizer, fill on a hard surface where spilled granules can be swept up, away from drains and water. Follow the product label’s handling and ventilation directions, and wear all the protective equipment the label and your manual require.
Fill only to the level your manual allows, and secure the hopper cover or lid if your spreader has one. Keep children and pets away, and never leave a filled spreader where they can reach it.
- Gate closed: keep it closed the whole time you fill.
- Hard surface: fill where spilled granules can be swept up, away from drains and water.
- Equipment on first: wear what the label and the manual require before the bag opens.
- People and pets clear: keep them away while you fill.
UC IPM advises the same: fill over a driveway or other hard area where spilled material can be swept up, and keep excess product out of storm drains (7).
Keep people and pets away from a spill. Follow the product label and its safety data sheet for collecting, reusing and disposing of spilled product, and wear the protective equipment they require. Never hose or wash granules into a street, a gutter, a drain, a ditch or water, and do not pile spilled product onto the lawn or return contaminated material to the bag.
If you cannot manage the spill safely, stay away and call the emergency number on the label. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone is exposed, and call 911 for a fire or immediate danger.
Keep fertilizer off pavement and out of drains and surface water. If scattered plain fertilizer lands on a sidewalk, a driveway or a patio, sweep it back onto the lawn before you water, without going over the label rate; collect a concentrated spill instead. For pesticide granules, follow the label’s cleanup instructions.
Follow any buffer requirement that applies and keep fertilizer out of those areas. EPA advises against fertilizing before windy or rainy days, and Purdue advises against fertilizing drought-stressed, dormant or frozen turf. Follow the product’s weather and watering directions too.
Purdue Extension adds a vegetative buffer strip of about 10 feet around ponds, lakes and streams, with no direct fertilizer applied there (8). That is Purdue’s guidance and it varies by state and ordinance, so the label and your local rules decide.
Spills and Water
Never hose or wash granules into a street, a gutter, a drain, a ditch or water.
Gates, Turns, Dust and Clogs
Close the gate before you stop, before you slow down to turn, and whenever you pause, and open it again only after you are walking or driving at the steady pace your manual describes. Do not spread while you turn.
Never push, kick or dig product out of the gate or off the plate while anything can turn. If product clumps or bridges in the hopper or the gate clogs, stop and complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box first, then clear it only with the method in your manual.
Children, Pets and Exposure
Keep children, pets and other people away from the area while you fill and spread, and keep them off the treated area for as long as the label says. Store the bag and the filled spreader where they cannot reach them.
If someone swallows or is exposed to a lawn product, follow the first-aid section of the product label and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, and keep the product label with you. Call 911 in an emergency.
Battery Spreaders
Use only the batteries the maker specifies for your exact spreader, and charge, store and handle them only as your manual describes. Recharge rechargeable batteries only with a charger the manual approves, and never recharge disposable cells. Before you fill the hopper, clear a jam, clean the spreader or change the battery, follow the emergency exception and the applicable stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box.
Lithium-ion batteries can overheat and catch fire (thermal runaway), so do not use a damaged battery or charger. If a battery becomes unusually hot, swells, hisses, gives off an unusual odor or smokes, stop using it without handling or removing it, keep people away and follow the battery manual’s emergency instructions; if it smokes or burns, move away and call 911 or the fire department.
Pro Tip
Complete the safe-state steps first, every time. A cleaning or clearing job that starts with a hand near the plate has started too early.
Cleaning, Storage and Materials
Before you clean the spreader, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box, and wear the protective equipment the product label and your manual require. Handle leftover product, cleaning water and residues as the product label directs. Clean the spreader only by a method both the label and the manual permit, and rinse it only where they permit it, keeping product and contaminated wash water out of drains and water supplies.
Dry the spreader completely, and lubricate it as its manual directs. If you change products, follow both products’ cleaning requirements: a rinse alone does not show that all residue is gone.
- Safe-state steps first: complete them before any hand goes near the spreader.
- Equipment on: wear what the label and the manual require.
- Where the water goes: rinse only where both permit it, away from drains and water.
- Dry and lubricate: dry it fully and lubricate it as the manual directs.
Before you store the spreader, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box. Store it empty, clean and dry, as your manual describes, with the gate closed. Keep products in their original labeled containers, securely closed, under the storage conditions their labels give, and away from children and pets.
Lock pesticides away, apart from fertilizer, food and animal feed, and never put any product into a food or drink container. Store a battery as the battery manual describes.
Use ice melt or salt only when both the product’s directions and your spreader’s manual permit it. Salt-based deicers can damage metal, so follow your model’s cleaning instructions after use. Before you clean the spreader, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box.
Rinse only if the manual permits it, and dry the spreader as the manual directs. Do not use lawn fertilizer to melt ice. Keep deicing products away from children and pets.
Use a soil test to decide whether the lawn needs lime. For lawn liming, do not use hydrated lime or quicklime: they are caustic and are a hazard to handle. Follow the lawn lime product’s label and your spreader’s manual for the materials the spreader may hold and the protective equipment to wear.
My Overall Verdict
I ranked these nine on what each maker prints, what each asks of the person using it and how each handles the hopper, the gate and the edge. A lawn spreader rewards a gate under your hand and a manual you have read, and the order follows from that.
1. Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader Best Overall
For a first spreader with the gate and edge lever on the handle.
2. Chapin 8400C SureSpread 100 lb Professional Turf Spreader Best Premium
For a premium push spreader with 14 inch tires and a covered hopper.
3. SOLO 421 20 lb Chest-Mount Hand-Crank Spreader Best Value
For small areas, beds and paths carried on a strap.
Pick the type for the ground you cross most, read the label and the manual before the first fill, and do the safe-state steps every time. For most households, the best lawn spreader is the Scotts EdgeGuard DLX, because its trigger, edge lever and printed steps ask the least of a new owner. For a smaller yard, I compare seven hand, battery and push models in my “best spreader for small lawn” guide.
Why Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader Might Be the Best Choice
I put the DLX first because it asks the least of me before the first pass. Everything I touch while I walk sits on the handle, and Scotts prints the steps for assembly, turning and storage.
The trade-off is plain: the Scotts lawn spreader prints no capacity in pounds, no weight and no warranty term, so fill in small amounts and read the bag.
Here is why it earns the top place:
✓ Trigger gate: you squeeze to release and let go to stop.
✓ EdgeGuard lever: Scotts says it blocks off the right side of the pattern.
✓ Rate dial: a numbered dial on the back, with the starting setting on the bag.
✓ Printed steps: a guide and a how-to sheet cover assembly, turning and storage.
✓ Upright handle: the top half raises and locks with wing nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best spreader for a lawn?
The best spreader for a lawn is a push broadcast spreader with a gate you can reach from the handle, and the Scotts EdgeGuard DLX is my top pick on this page. Size the hopper to your lawn, read the product label and your manual first, and let both set the setting.
What type of lawn spreader is best?
The best type of lawn spreader for open grass is a push broadcast spreader, because its spinning plate throws product in a fan wider than the machine. A drop spreader places product straight down for tidier edges, and a handheld suits beds and paths; the label and your manual decide what each may carry.
What should you look for in a lawn spreader?
In a lawn spreader, look for a gate you can close at once, a hopper that suits your lawn, wheels and a handle that suit you, and a manual that lists the materials it allows. Check the maker’s printed capacity and keep the product label and the manual in reach.
Are lawn spreaders worth buying?
Lawn spreaders are worth buying when you want a controlled way to put granular product on the ground, because a hopper and a gate let you start and stop the flow where you choose. Read the label and the manual before the first fill, and wear all the protective equipment both of them require.
Which is easier to live with, a push or a handheld lawn spreader?
A push spreader is easier to live with on most lawns, because wheels carry the hopper, while a handheld unit puts its weight in your hand and a chest-mounted one carries it on a strap. A handheld lawn spreader wins on beds, paths and tight corners where wheels cannot go.
References
- Munshaw G. Calibrating Fertilizer Spreaders for the Home Lawn. AGR-211. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service; 2014.
- Miller G, Kerns JP, Billeisen T. Organic Lawn Care: Composting and Spreaders. AG-562. NC State Extension; 2026.
- Wolf DD, Smith ES. Uniformity of seed and fertilizer distribution with a hand-operated spinning spreader. Trans ASAE. 1979;22(4):761-762.
- Ballew J. Calibrating Spreaders. HGIC 1657. Clemson Cooperative Extension; revised 2019.
- Buhler W, Erickson E, Bruneau A, et al. The Calibration of Turfgrass Boom Sprayers and Spreaders. AG-628. North Carolina Cooperative Extension; 2001, reviewed 2024.
- Yildirim Y. Effect of side to side spreader angle on pattern uniformity in single- and twin-disc rotary fertilizer spreaders. Appl Eng Agric. 2008;24(2):173-179.
- UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. How to apply fertilizer. In: UC Guide to Healthy Lawns. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources; 2017.
- Bigelow CA, Tudor WT, Nemitz JR. Facts About Phosphorus and Lawns. AY-334. Purdue University Extension.
Safety Note: Read the product label and your spreader’s manual before handling product. Follow both; if their instructions cannot both be met, do not use that combination. Registered pesticide use must comply with its labeling. A listed spreader setting is a starting point; calibrate as the manual directs and never exceed the label rate. Wear all protective equipment required by the label and manual before opening the container and during filling, cleanup and jam clearing. Wash your hands before eating, drinking, smoking or using the restroom when working with pesticides. After application, change your clothes and wash your hands immediately, and follow the label’s additional washing and clothing instructions. Keep children, pets and other people away during handling and application and off treated areas for as long as the label requires. Emergency first: if a battery becomes unusually hot, swells, hisses, smells unusual or smokes, stop using the spreader without handling or removing the battery. Keep people away and follow the battery manual’s emergency instructions. If it smokes, burns or presents immediate danger, move away and call 911 or the fire department. Otherwise, complete the applicable stop and make-safe sequence before filling, unloading, reaching into the hopper, clearing a jam, cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, changing parts or batteries, hitching, unhitching, transporting, storing or leaving the spreader. Walk-behind or hand-crank: close the gate, stop walking or cranking, and wait for all moving parts to stop. Tow-behind: close the gate, stop the vehicle, set the parking brake, switch off the engine and remove the key as the vehicle manual directs, and wait for the wheels, impeller and agitator to stop before reaching into the hopper or touching the impeller. Battery spreader: release the trigger or close the gate, switch off, wait for moving parts to stop, then remove the battery as the manual directs and keep it away while working. Follow any additional isolation steps in the exact manual. Keep hands, feet, hair and loose clothing away from moving parts. Clear jams only by the manual’s method. Refit guards and covers and check the gate before refilling. With the spreader made safe and the gate closed, fill fertilizer on a hard surface where spills can be collected, away from drains and water. Follow the label’s handling and ventilation directions and the manual’s fill limit. Keep people and pets away from spills. Follow the label and safety data sheet for collection, reuse and disposal; do not spread concentrated spills onto the lawn or return contaminated product to its bag. Sweep scattered plain fertilizer from pavement onto the intended lawn before watering only without exceeding the label rate. Follow the label’s cleanup instructions for pesticide granules. Never wash product into streets, gutters, drains, ditches or water. Observe applicable buffers. EPA advises against fertilizing before windy or rainy days; Purdue advises against fertilizing drought-stressed, dormant or frozen turf. Close the gate before stopping or turning, as the manual directs. Follow both towing manuals for hitching, turning, slopes, speed and load limits; never ride on the spreader or carry passengers on it. Use only batteries specified for the model. Recharge rechargeable batteries only with a charger approved for them, as the manual directs; never recharge disposable cells. After completing the applicable shutdown, handle leftover product, cleaning water and residues according to the product label. Clean only by methods permitted by both label and manual, keeping contaminated water out of drains and water supplies. Rinse only if permitted, then dry and lubricate as directed. A rinse does not establish that all pesticide residue is gone. Use salt or ice melt only when the product directions and spreader manual permit it. Salt-based deicers can damage metal; follow the model’s cleaning instructions. Do not use lawn fertilizer to melt ice. Store the spreader empty, clean and dry as its manual directs. Keep products securely closed in their original labeled containers under their labels’ storage conditions, away from children and pets. Lock pesticides away, separate from fertilizer, food and feed; never use food or drink containers. For human exposure, follow the label’s first-aid instructions, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 and keep the label available. Call 911 for immediate danger.