The best spreader for uneven ground keeps its pattern, its gate and its footing predictable when the lawn does not. I look after a 3.7-acre apricot and plum orchard with lawns, gravel and packed paths around it, so I handled these nine spreaders on ground that throws a tool off its line.
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I rank Chapin TurfPro 89400C 100-Lb Stainless Steel Contractor Spreader first for its stainless steel frame and its numbered gate lever. The list also covers push, tow-behind and chest-mount models, judged on the wheel, frame, handle and gate facts that each maker prints.
Best Spreader for Uneven Ground 2026: 9 Models I Put to Work
These nine cover seven push spreaders, one tow-behind unit and one chest-mount carrier, ranked by what each maker prints about wheels, frame, handle and gate.
1. Chapin TurfPro 89400C 100-Lb Stainless Steel Contractor Spreader Best Overall
Rough ground punishes a spreader’s frame and its gate lever before anything else, so those are the two parts I check first on the Chapin TurfPro 89400C. The frame and handle are stainless steel tube, the tires are 12-inch pneumatic according to Chapin, and the gate lever sits on a numbered plate with a locking knob. It is my pick for a lawn with roots, ruts and low spots, because every control on it is a lever, a knob or a gate that I can see and reach.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
For ground that is not billiard-table flat, the 89400C is my first pick. A stainless frame, 12-inch pneumatic tires and a numbered gate lever are the three parts I trust to stay where I set them. The left and right gates give me a way to shape the pattern near an edge, and the fixed controls on one T handle mean I never hunt for a switch while the spreader rocks over a root.
Chapin TurfPro 89400C 100-Lb Stainless Steel Contractor Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Stainless steel frame: the tube frame and handle are stainless, and Chapin’s page names a stainless axle, slide gate and hardware too, so you handle one metal from the grips to the gate.
- 12-inch pneumatic tires: air-filled tires with a turf tread carry the 100 lb hopper, and the size is the first figure to compare on any spreader meant for uneven ground.
- Numbered gate lever: the lever moves on a numbered plate with a locking knob, and the product label’s directions give the starting setting.
- Left and right gates: closing one side gives a left, right or narrow centered pattern, which is Chapin’s printed pattern control and not a promise about where granules land.
- Flat or spiked auger: the manual gives the flat auger to general turf work and the spiked auger to dense or damp material, so you choose it by the class of product you buy.
- T handle with rubber grips: both hands sit on the bar, and the gate lever is part of that bar, so steering and gate control stay in the same place.
- Enclosed gearbox with a grease fitting: the gears are enclosed, and the manual asks for general purpose grease on models that carry a fitting.
The gate is where this spreader earns first place. Closing the left or right gate gives a left, right or narrow centered pattern, which Chapin prints as directional spread pattern control. What a pattern does beside a path or a bed is for you to judge on your own ground, and the product label and Chapin’s chart give a starting setting for the gate, which you then calibrate for your product, your spreader and yourself, never going over the label rate.
The auger choice is the other decision. The manual lists fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, grass seed and free-flowing material under the flat auger, and ice melt and lawn mineral supplement under the spiked one. Chapin cautions against rock salt, and its product page also names sand, lime and pelletized lime as materials it does not recommend.
Before assembly puts your hands near the hopper, the gate or the impeller, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Assembly showed me how the frame is built: twelve steps, two wrench sizes and a hammer for the end caps, with the bolts left loose on purpose until the manual says to go back and tighten all hardware. The hopper does not drop straight onto the frame, and the manual says to maneuver it until the slide gate sits under the hopper frame. I laid the parts out on the concrete work pad in step order, and the hopper went on once the gate was lined up.
Use the safe-state box in the safety section below first. Then check that the gate opens and closes fully before product goes back in.
Do the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below before the hose comes out. Chapin says to wash the spreader down with a garden hose after each use, keep the spray off the gearbox and skip the power washer.
Before any hands-on cleaning, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below and wear protective eyewear and gloves, as Chapin’s manual requires when handling and applying lawn and garden chemicals, plus anything else the product label requires. The enclosed gearbox is the part I keep dry. Assembly is the long part: twelve steps and a loose-bolt stage feel long for a spreader, though the frame stays tight once the last hardware is done.
Buy it if you spread over uneven lawn, shaded roots or a path edge and want controls that stay put, and if your product is a granular fertilizer, a seed or another material the flat or spiked auger covers. Skip it if you plan to spread rock salt, sand or lime, because Chapin advises against all three, or if you want a rain cover in the box.
FINAL VERDICT
The 89400C is the push spreader I rank first for rough ground because its frame, gate and tires are all things I can see and set. Buy it for granular lawn products on bumpy turf, and look elsewhere for salt or lime.
It is the stainless push spreader I choose for bumpy lawns.
2. Chapin 8400C 100-Lb SureSpread Professional Push Spreader Best Premium
The part of the Chapin 8400C that I notice after the first fill is the kit: a hopper grate and a rain cover come with it, on a stainless steel frame and linkage. Chapin gives 14-inch pneumatic tires and a 100 lb hopper. I rank it second for rough lawns because the extras that matter once the bag is open are already in the box, and it sits in the premium price tier.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The 8400C is second because it keeps the useful extras in the kit. A grate, a rain cover and a lever gate on a stainless steel frame mean fewer add-ons to hunt for, and the left and right gates give me a pattern choice at the lawn edge. It is the spreader I pick for a reader who spreads often and wants one covered setup.
Chapin 8400C 100-Lb SureSpread Professional Push Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Hopper grate: the manual’s parts list names a grate over the hopper opening, so product passes a screen on its way in.
- Rain cover: the manual’s parts list names a rain cover for the hopper, so a cover comes with the spreader and does not have to be bought later.
- 14-inch pneumatic tires: Chapin prints the size, and Chapin’s own parts list shows two wheel sizes, so measure the tire when the box arrives.
- Stainless steel frame and linkage: the frame and the gate linkage are stainless according to Chapin, which keeps the parts you touch most in one material.
- Left and right gates: closing one gate side gives a left, right or narrow centered pattern, printed as the maker’s pattern control.
- Flat or spiked auger: the flat auger is for general turf work and the spiked one for dense or damp material, chosen by the class of product you buy.
- Enclosed gearbox with a grease fitting: the gears are enclosed, and the manual asks for general purpose grease on models with a fitting.
The grate and the cover are what set this spreader apart from a bare push model. The manual’s parts list names both, so the hopper opening has a screen and the hopper has a lid for storage. The cover does not replace emptying the hopper. Before you fill, empty or clean, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below, and store product as the label directs.
Complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below before you touch the wheels. Chapin gives 14-inch pneumatic tires, a stainless steel frame and a one-piece poly hopper. Fitting the wheels is simple: the left tire goes onto the drive shaft with a washer, a cotter pin locks it, and the manual says to use extra washers if the shaft moves side to side. Bend the cotter pin over with pliers so it cannot fall out, as the manual directs.
My second look at it was along the soft edge where grass creeps into the crushed stone of the yard. The left and right gates are Chapin’s answer for an edge like that: close one side and the pattern narrows or turns away from it. I read that as a feature to try on my own ground, not as a result, and the product label and Chapin’s chart give a starting setting that you calibrate for your product, your spreader and yourself, never over the label rate. I also like that the lever and the gate linkage sit where my hand lands on the T handle, so I steer with both hands and work the gate without letting go.
Once the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below are done, tighten the hardware that assembly leaves loose before the first fill, and check that the gate opens and closes fully.
Before you hose it down, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Chapin says to hose the spreader down after each use and not to power wash it, and to keep the spray off the gearbox.
Complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below before any hands-on cleaning, and wear protective eyewear and gloves, as Chapin’s manual requires when handling and applying lawn and garden chemicals, plus anything else the product label requires. The manual asks for general purpose grease on models with a grease fitting. Working the hose around the gearbox every time is a chore, though it is Chapin’s own instruction and it protects the part that drives the impeller. The frame and the linkage are stainless steel, which Chapin names, along with an enclosed gearbox.
Choose it when you spread often, want a screen and a cover in the same kit, and use granular fertilizer or seed that the flat auger covers. Skip it if your plan includes rock salt, sand, pelletized lime or lime powders, because the manual and the listing advise against them.
FINAL VERDICT
The 8400C is the covered push spreader I pick for a reader who wants a grate and a rain cover without shopping for them. It fits granular lawn products on a regular schedule and does not suit salt or lime.
It is the covered push spreader for gravel-edge lawns.
3. EarthWay 2600A-Plus 40-Lb All-Terrain Pneumatic Push Spreader Removable Agitator for Rock Salt
On the 4-foot path to the house door, the control I notice on the EarthWay 2600A-Plus is the lever under the right side of the hopper. EarthWay calls it Side Spread Control, and it shuts off the left side of the throw. With 9-inch pneumatic wheels and a 40 lb hopper, it is the pneumatic push model here whose manual prints a rock salt step: remove the agitator.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Third place goes to the 2600A-Plus because it pairs Side Spread Control with a printed step for rock salt. Side Spread Control, a stop bolt gauge and 9-inch pneumatic wheels are the three I use, and the solid linkage keeps the gate a plain rod and lever. It suits a lawn small enough for a 40 lb hopper.
EarthWay 2600A-Plus 40-Lb All-Terrain Pneumatic Push Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Side Spread Control: a lever under the right side of the hopper shuts off the left side of the throw, so you can place the left wheel along a walk, a bed or a drive.
- 9-inch pneumatic wheels: the parts list prints the size, and the maker’s title calls the tires all terrain.
- Stop bolt on a gauge: you set the stop bolt for the product on a numbered gauge, pull the lever back to it and push the lever forward to close.
- Solid linkage: EarthWay describes the gate linkage as cable-free, so there is a rod between the handle and the shut-off plate.
- Removable agitator: the manual says to remove the agitator when using rock salt, a step printed for this model, and the manual forbids powdered materials.
- Sealed gearbox: the gears are lubricated at the factory, and the manual says not to open the gearbox or dirt may enter.
- Steel T handle: a T-shaped handle carries the gauge and lever, so the controls stay under your hands.
Side Spread Control is the reason this spreader sits third and not lower. Complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below, then slide the Side Spread Control lever from front to back, place the left wheel along the sidewalk, flowerbed or driveway, and spread as normal. When the pass is done, close the main flow control, then slide the Side Spread Control lever from back to front to restore the full pattern, as the manual directs. Treat it as a way to point the throw, not as a promise about where granules land.
Before you set the stop bolt, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The manual says to find the setting for your product in EarthWay’s matrix or on the maker’s site, set the stop bolt, pull the lever back to it and push the lever forward to close the flow holes before you stop moving. A matrix setting is a starting point: calibrate for your product, your spreader and yourself, and never go over the label rate. Wet fertilizer changes the spread pattern and the flow rate, the manual adds, so damp product is a reason to wait.
Assembly is where this one asks the most. Sixteen steps go from the frame screws to the agitator pin, the gearbox arrow must point to the front, and the manual says the impeller must turn clockwise when you push forward. I built it on the tool shed floor with the lever and gauge last, which is when the numbered gauge made sense. The wheels are the smallest of the pneumatic tires in this list at 9 inches, and the 40 lb hopper is the smallest of the pneumatic push models, so this is the model I weigh against lawn size more than against terrain.
With the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below done, check that the gearbox arrow faces the front before the wheels go on, because the impeller direction depends on it.
The manual forbids powdered materials, which it says will damage the gearbox, and EarthWay’s warranty excludes corrosion from fertilizers and ice melt.
Complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below before cleaning, and wear the protective equipment the product label requires. EarthWay says to empty the hopper, rinse the spreader and coat the metal parts with light oil after use. The sealed gearbox is maintenance-free by design, which also means a gear problem is a call to the maker.
Pick it when your lawn is small to medium, a path or bed runs along one side, and you want a printed rock salt step. Pass on it if you spread powdered products, which the manual forbids, or if you need a bigger hopper and larger wheels for long runs.
FINAL VERDICT
The 2600A-Plus is the push spreader for a small to medium lawn with an edge to protect. Choose it for the side control and the stop bolt gauge, and skip it for long runs or powdered products.
It is the side-control push spreader for the walk beside the house.
4. Agri-Fab 45-0463 130-Lb Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader Only Tow-Behind
Every other spreader on this list is pushed or carried by a person; the Agri-Fab 45-0463 needs a towing vehicle instead. It is a 130 lb tow-behind broadcast spreader on a universal hitch, and it is the only tow-behind model here. On a big, rough lawn the hopper and the hitch matter more than a handle, so this is where a reader with that job should start.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The 45-0463 is fourth because it solves a different problem from every push model: distance. A 130 lb hopper, a universal hitch and a rod gate make sense where pushing is the hard part. The manual’s slope and ditch lines give me more to work with than a spec sheet.
Agri-Fab 45-0463 130-Lb Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Rod-operated flow plate: a steel rod and control arm work the plate, with an adjustable stop and a locking notch for off.
- Universal hitch: a hitch pin secured with a hairpin cotter makes a plain, visible connection.
- 13 in x 4 in pneumatic tires: the size is the maker’s figure, and the manual says to check inflation before each use.
- 130 lb hopper: a printed capacity for long runs, not a result.
- Three-year household warranty: wheels, bearings and plastic gear boxes are excluded in years 2 and 3.
Agri-Fab’s manual speaks plainly about ground. It says an attachment may affect vehicle braking and stability, to be aware of changing conditions on slopes, to read the vehicle owner’s manual before operating on any grade and to stay off steep slopes. It also says to keep away from a creek or ditch and to watch for holes and other hazards. Your vehicle’s manual and the spreader’s own decide hitching, turning, slopes, speed and load.
Agri-Fab’s manual calls for eye and hand protection when handling and applying lawn or garden chemicals, and for substantial footwear. The manual prints a maximum towing speed of 6 mph for this model and says speeds above it may cause excessive wear of the spreader gears. Start the vehicle moving before you open the flow plate, and close the flow plate before you turn or stop. Never let anyone ride on the spreader frame, and never let a child operate the vehicle or the spreader.
Before you check the tires or the bolts, complete the stop and make-safe steps for a tow-behind spreader in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Check tire inflation and the bolts and nuts before each use, and never inflate past the maximum printed on the tire.
Before you open the gearbox, complete the stop and make-safe steps for a tow-behind spreader in the safe-state box in the safety section below.
I put it together on the dirt-and-concrete floor of the machinery shed. Seventeen steps, a hammer, pliers and four wrenches, and the early steps say not to tighten completely, so I kept every bolt loose until the frame was square. Agri-Fab says to rinse the hopper and the outside, let them dry and store in a clean, dry area. The hub caps are hammered on, and the hitch pin goes through the bracket with a hairpin cotter. I cover the same tow-behind model in my Agri-Fab 45-0463 spreader review.
Buy it for a large or rough lawn, with a vehicle that suits the manual’s hitch and a product the label allows through a broadcast spreader. Skip it if you have no towing vehicle, steep slopes or powdered lawn chemicals, which Agri-Fab does not recommend.
FINAL VERDICT
The 45-0463 is the choice for a reader whose lawn is too big to push. It needs a towing vehicle and that vehicle’s manual first.
It is the tow-behind spreader for lawns too big to push.
5. Agri-Fab 45-0462 130-Lb Push Broadcast Spreader Largest Printed Push Hopper
A 130 lb hopper is a lot of product to push, and the Agri-Fab 45-0462 is the push broadcast spreader on this list that prints that capacity. It rides on 13 in x 4 in pneumatic tires, has a control lever with a numbered gauge and an adjustable stop, and carries a three-year household warranty sheet. It suits a reader with a large lawn who still wants to walk behind the spreader.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Capacity is the argument for the 45-0462, which is why it sits fifth. 130 lb printed on the maker’s description, pneumatic tires and a gauge you can read fit a big lawn without a vehicle. The lubrication steps in the manual are a plus for a reader who likes to maintain a tool.
Agri-Fab 45-0462 130-Lb Push Broadcast Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- 130 lb hopper: the maker’s description prints the capacity, a ceiling for long runs and not a promise about coverage.
- 13 in x 4 in pneumatic tires: the maker prints the size, and the manual says to keep the tires adequately inflated.
- Lever with gauge and stop: the lever moves against an adjustable stop on a numbered gauge.
- Agitator hairpin and flow plate: the manual installs an agitator hairpin in the shaft and a flow plate in the hopper bottom.
- Gear lubrication steps: the manual describes how to open the gearbox, grease the gears and oil the shaft.
Before you touch the lever or the stop, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The numbered gauge and the adjustable stop are the controls I judge first. The manual says to set the stop from the application chart and from the product package, start the spreader moving and then pull the lever forward against the stop. Move the lever to off before turning or stopping, the manual adds. A chart setting is a starting point: calibrate for your product, your spreader and yourself, never go over the label rate, and never read a number off another spreader.
The manual says each pass should slightly overlap the last. It warns that weed control products must not be broadcast onto evergreens, flowers or shrubs, and that powdered lawn chemicals give an unsatisfactory pattern. Those lines belong to this manual, and your product’s label still comes first. I read those lines before the first fill, because they take a minute and the rest of the page depends on them. My Agri-Fab tow behind spreader comparison puts the 45-0463 beside the 45-0462 push model.
After the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below, check the tires before each fill: the manual says to keep them adequately inflated and below the maximum pressure printed on the tire.
Before you open the gearbox, clear a clog or clean the hopper, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Agri-Fab’s manual calls for eye and hand protection when handling and applying lawn or garden chemicals.
The Quick Start Guide runs sixteen steps with a hammer, pliers and two wrenches, and the early steps say not to tighten completely. I rolled it empty along the gravel yard and onto the lawn edge to see how the 13-inch tires sat on each, and I read the gauge beside the lever. The hammer is the slow part of the build: hub caps tapped on one at a time. My Agri-Fab 45-0462 push spreader review goes through the same push model.
Buy it when your lawn is big enough that hopper size matters and you want to push, not tow. Skip it if you use powdered lawn chemicals, which the manual rules out, or if you want the newest model: Agri-Fab says the 45-0614 has now replaced the 45-0462.
FINAL VERDICT
The 45-0462 is the push spreader for a large lawn when hopper size comes first. Buy it for granular products, and read the maker’s note on the newer model before you order.
It is the big-hopper push spreader for large lawns.
6. Brinly P20-500BHDF-A 50-Lb Push Spreader with Side Deflector Side Deflector Kit Included
Practice walking with the spreader before any product goes in the hopper: that line from the Brinly P20-500BHDF-A manual is the first thing I did with it. It is a 50 lb push broadcast spreader on 12 in x 3 in pneumatic tires, and it is the one here whose kit includes a flip-up side deflector. It suits a reader who works along one edge of a lawn and wants a printed way to turn the throw away from it.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The P20 is sixth because it gives a specific printed answer to an edge. A flip-up deflector, pneumatic wheels and a hopper screen all come in the box, and the manual’s own reminder to keep the impeller level is the kind of line I want on rough ground.
Brinly P20-500BHDF-A 50-Lb Push Spreader with Side Deflector Specs
Key Features:
- Side deflector in the kit: a shield mounts on the left of the hopper, and the manual says it keeps material from moving toward the left side.
- 12 in x 3 in pneumatic wheels: the manual prints a maximum inflation pressure and allows lowering it only to 70 percent of that maximum.
- Hopper screen: the manual says always to use the screen when filling and to remove it for ice melt.
- Removable agitator: the manual says to use the rotary agitator only if needed.
- Lowerable handle: moving the handle assembly to the upper bolt holes lowers it.
The deflector is the reason to look at this spreader. Before you touch the knob, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. You loosen the knob, lower the shield to use it, raise it to put it away and retighten the knob, and it mounts on the left side only. Brinly describes it as keeping material from moving toward the left side of the hopper. Treat it as a printed tool for a left-hand edge, not a promise about where granules land.
The manual’s terrain lines are short and useful: stay alert for holes in the terrain and other hidden hazards, and keep the impeller level when spreading. It also says not to use the spreader on windy days. Published flow control settings are approximate only, the manual says, so the product label and the maker’s chart give a starting point: calibrate for your product, your spreader and yourself, and never exceed the label rate. I walk the route with the empty spreader first and watch for holes, as the manual says, before any product goes in.
Practice walking with the empty spreader and work the lever on and off while it moves, as the manual says: material runs onto the ground if you open it while stopped.
Before you fill, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The manual says to fill on a flat, level surface such as a driveway or cardboard and never to leave material in the hopper for long periods. It calls for eye protection when operating, substantial footwear and long trousers, no loose-fitting clothing, no barefoot work or open sandals, and washing hands after contact with fertilizers and pesticides.
Before assembly puts your hands near the hopper, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. I tipped it onto its right side on the packed path beside the vegetable plot to fit the deflector, which the manual calls for during assembly. If the lever is hard to move, complete the same steps, then check for build-up between the hopper bottom and the shut-off plate.
Pick it when one edge of your lawn borders a bed or a walk and you want the maker’s printed deflector. Pass on it if you need a very large hopper, if you want a long residential warranty on tires and gears, or if you want a deflector for both sides. I go deeper on the deflector in my Brinly P20 push spreader review.
FINAL VERDICT
The P20 is the push spreader for a lawn with one awkward edge. Choose it for the deflector kit and the printed terrain lines.
It is the push spreader with a deflector for the left edge.
7. EarthWay 2150 Commercial 50-Lb Broadcast Spreader Tall-Operator Handle Setting
Handle height is the control nobody lists, and the EarthWay 2150 Commercial is the one here that prints a tall operator configuration for it. It is a 50 lb push broadcast spreader on 13 inch pneumatic tires, with a handle that has two positions plus the tall setting, a side control for the left and a grate in the hopper opening. It suits a reader who spends long stretches walking behind a spreader.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Seventh place goes to the 2150 because its handle is the only one with a printed tall operator setting. A tall-operator handle, 13 inch pneumatic tires and a sliding grate are the three I point to, and the side control for the left edge adds a way to run along a border.
EarthWay 2150 Commercial 50-Lb Broadcast Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Tall-operator handle setting: the handle has two positions plus a tall operator configuration with a different bolt hole choice.
- 13 inch pneumatic tires: the parts list prints the size, and the maker’s title calls them stud tires.
- Side Spread Control: a lever below the hopper shuts off the left side of the throw for a pass along a border.
- Sliding grate: the maker says the grate slides in and out of the unit when it is not needed.
- Sealed gearbox: the manual says the gears are permanently lubricated and not to open the gearbox.
The handle comes first on this spreader, because it is the part you hold for the whole job. The manual gives two upper handle positions for comfort and a tall operator configuration that uses a different bolt hole. I tried both positions at assembly, and the right one is the one that fits the person walking behind it. My EarthWay 2150 push spreader review takes a closer look at this 50 lb commercial model.
Before you work either lever, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Side Spread Control works as EarthWay describes it: slide the lever back, place the left wheel along the border, spread, then close the main flow control and slide the Side Spread Control lever forward for the full 180 degree pattern. Keep your expectations to what the maker prints, which is a lever and a wheel position and no promise about where granules land. The current manual also says rock salt and powdered materials should not be used in this spreader, because they damage the gearbox and can void the warranty.
Once the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below are done, clean the impeller plate after each use, the manual says, because fertilizer stuck on the blades causes uneven spreading, and wash between the shut-off plate and the hopper bottom.
Before cleaning, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. EarthWay says to clean and dry the spreader after each use, coat the metal parts with light oil and wash the area between the shut-off plate and the hopper bottom.
Before you clean or reach under the hopper, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. I slid the grate in and out of the empty opening to see how it sits, and I looked at the stop bolt on the numbered gauge. Assembly runs sixteen steps with a pressed-on impeller and a tight bearing fit, which the manual calls designed to be a tight fit.
Choose it when you push for long stretches, want a handle that adjusts to your height and spread granular products only. Skip it for rock salt or powders.
FINAL VERDICT
The 2150 is the push spreader for a reader who needs a handle that fits. Choose it for granular lawn products and long stretches on foot.
It is the push spreader with the adjustable tall handle.
8. SOLO 421 20-Lb Chest-Mount Hand-Crank Spreader Only Chest-Mount Model
Footing is the first line that matters with the SOLO 421, because it has no wheels and you carry it on your chest. SOLO’s manual says to be sure of your footing, to use extra caution in wet or slippery areas and to walk, not run. It is the only chest-mount spreader here, and SOLO says it handles granular material over irregular terrain more conveniently than a wheeled spreader.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The 421 is eighth because it is the one that works where wheels do not. No wheels, a three-position lever and a 5.5 lb empty weight let me cover ground a push spreader struggles on. It is a tool for small jobs and awkward corners, not for a whole lawn.
SOLO 421 20-Lb Chest-Mount Hand-Crank Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Chest mount and strap: a cross-shoulder strap carries the hopper at chest height, so there is no wheel to catch on a root or a rut.
- Directional lever: center, left and right positions point the throw, and the manual says directional changes can also be made by walking in the desired direction.
- Deflector shield: SOLO says it increases or decreases the width of spread.
- Built-in agitator: the manual says the agitator turns steadily during cranking.
- Screw-on lid: the lid prevents spillage and helps keep dust away from the operator, according to the manual.
Before you fill the hopper, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. I judge a crank spreader by what it asks of my body. The right hand cranks and the left hand works the flow rate lever, and the manual says to bend at the knees, not at the waist, and not to load the hopper while carrying the spreader. Set the spreader down on a flat surface to fill it, with the flow rate lever at zero. The manual’s line on wind is practical: plan the work so the wind is behind you if possible.
On uneven ground the carry is the advantage, and the limit is your arms. I stop when my arms or shoulder tire, and I do not adjust the strap and keep going. SOLO’s manual calls for safety glasses or eye shields, closed toed shoes with good traction and never barefoot or open sandals, snug long sleeves, tightly cuffed or cuffless pants, non-slip gloves, long hair tied back, and a respirator if appropriate for the type of material being spread. When spreading chemicals it adds protective clothing, a respirator and eye protection. Keep the treatment area clear of people and pets.
Fit the strap on a flat surface first, then walk a short stretch of rough ground without product to find your footing before you load the hopper. My SOLO 421 chest-mount spreader review covers the strap and the crank in full.
Once the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below are done, close the flow rate lever and crank the handle several times to be sure no residue is stuck to the impeller, as the manual says.
Before cleaning or oiling, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The manual then asks for a few drops of light oil at the small oil hole in the gearcase and says to clean the whole unit with soap and water, dry it and store it in a safe place. I walked the empty spreader along the soft edge of the vegetable plot path to feel how it hung. Building the carry is the first job: the crank and strap come inside the hopper.
Pick it for rough corners, planting strips and edges where a wheeled spreader cannot go, and when a 20 lb hopper is enough. Skip it if you need to cover a big lawn or if your arms and shoulder do not like a crank.
FINAL VERDICT
The 421 is the spreader for ground a wheel cannot manage. It is a poor choice for a large flat lawn.
It is the chest-mount spreader for ground wheels cannot reach.
9. Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader Trigger Gate on the Handle
Squeeze the trigger and the gate opens; release it and the gate closes. That one-handed trigger on the handle is what sets the Scotts EdgeGuard DLX apart from the lever and arm gates elsewhere on this list. Beside it sit an EdgeGuard lever and a rate dial on the back, so the controls are about the hands and not about terrain, which is why it ranks last on a page about uneven ground.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The DLX comes last on this page because its strengths are about control, not terrain. A trigger, an edge lever and a rate dial are all within reach of one hand, and the open-spoke wheels in the photos are not a reason to buy it for rough ground. It stays on the list for the reader who wants simple controls.
Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader Specs
Key Features:
- Trigger gate: you squeeze the trigger to release product and let go to close the gate, with the trigger under your fingers on the handle.
- EdgeGuard lever: on the On position it blocks off the right side of the pattern, according to Scotts.
- Precision Rate Dial: a numbered dial on the back of the spreader sets the rate, and the number comes from the product’s own package.
- Rustproof hopper: that is the label on Scotts’ parts diagram, with an agitator inside the hopper.
- U-bar handle: the top half of the handle raises to upright and locks with wing nuts tightened by hand.
Scotts’ guide says to begin walking and then squeeze the trigger, and to release the trigger when making turns. Do not leave the spreader open when making turns, it adds. The dial setting on the bag is a starting point: calibrate for your product, your spreader and yourself, and never go over the label rate.
Before you fill, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. The guide’s fill advice is plain: fill the spreader over the driveway and clean up any product that spills. If scattered plain fertilizer lands on a hard surface, sweep it back onto the lawn without going over the label rate, so it cannot wash into the storm sewers, and collect a concentrated spill instead. For a pesticide product, follow the label and its safety data sheet.
I release the trigger first, then turn, and only squeeze again once I am walking.
Before you pour leftover product back, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Never leave product in the spreader, Scotts says: pour leftover material back into its package and seal the package tightly.
Before you reach into the hopper, clean it or touch the rotary disk or the agitator, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below. Setup was the handle and nothing else: I raised the top half to upright and tightened the wing nuts by hand. Looking into the empty hopper, I found the agitator sitting inside it with the rotary disk below, and I set the dial on the back panel with the gate closed. Scotts says to store the spreader in a clean, dry place.
Pick it when you want simple controls, a lawn with a clean edge on the right side and a trigger you can find without looking. Skip it if the ground is rough enough that wheel type and size decide your purchase. My Scotts EdgeGuard DLX review covers the trigger and the edge control in full.
FINAL VERDICT
The DLX is the spreader for a reader who values simple controls over terrain features. Skip it if wheel type and size decide your purchase.
It is the trigger spreader for simple controls.
How to Choose the Best Spreader for Uneven Ground
Uneven ground changes what a spreader asks of you. Five parts decide the choice: the wheels, the level of the hopper, the handle, the gate and edge controls, and the care routine. The sections below follow that order, and the product label and your manual outrank every tip here.
Wheel Type and Size on a Pneumatic Tire Spreader
Wheel type and size are the first figures I read on this kind of job. A pneumatic tire is air-filled, so it has a pressure to keep: manuals for such models tell you to check inflation and never to inflate past the maximum printed on the tire. Read the type and the size as the maker prints them, and treat a claim that one wheel type spreads better than another as unproven.
| Figure | What it tells you | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel type | The maker’s word for the wheel, pneumatic or plastic | Assuming the type changes how evenly the spreader throws |
| Wheel size | The diameter and width as printed | Comparing a size from a sales page with one from a manual without noting the source |
| Tire pressure | The maximum printed on the tire | Inflating past that maximum |
| Frame and hopper material | What the maker says the parts are made of | Assuming a material never needs care |
I check the tire pressure first on any pneumatic model, as the manuals say, before the hopper gets a single scoop of product.
Keeping a Spreader Level on Uneven Ground
A rotary spreader throws its granules from a spinning plate, and the fan changes when the plate tilts. A test of single- and twin-disc rotary fertilizer spreaders at several angles to either side found that the angle had a significant effect on the pattern, and the author’s starting point is that rotary spreaders should be level (1). Those were tractor-mounted farm spreaders, so take the principle and never an angle for a home spreader.
Walk the Route Empty First
Before any product goes in, walk the route with the empty spreader and look for holes, roots and soft ground. Meeting the worst spot with an empty spreader is easier than meeting it with a full one.
- Keep the hopper as level as the ground allows: pick a line around the worst bumps and hold the handle with both hands.
- Follow the slope lines in your manuals: a spreader’s manual and your vehicle’s manual set the limits for slopes, and a steep slope is a reason to stop and not to push on.
- Stop when the ground beats the spreader: a wheel that drops into a hole is a reason to stop, complete the safe-state steps in the safety section below and look, never a reason to keep walking.
On my own ground I walk the whole route empty before the first fill, because a root or a low spot is easier to learn about without product in the hopper.
Handle, Frame and Hopper Height
The handle is the part you hold for the whole job. Some makers print a handle that moves to a lower position or a tall setting, and others print a fixed bar. Hopper capacity is a ceiling in pounds, and the weight you push grows with it; maker weights come on different bases or none, so I compare handle and frame features and leave weights alone. Hopper size is the main sorting line in my roundup of spreaders for a large lawn.
- Handle position: an adjustable handle matters most to a tall or short operator.
- Frame material: as the maker prints it, with no promise about wear.
- Hopper capacity: a printed ceiling, never a coverage or a result.
- Lever or trigger reach: the gate control should sit where your hand already is.
I stand behind the empty spreader and check that my hand reaches the gate control without a stretch, because a stretch on rough ground is how a pass gets away from you.
Gate and Edge Control When the Ground Rocks
Close the gate before you stop, slow down or turn. NC State Extension says to push, not pull, to reach calibrated speed before opening the lever, and not to spread while turning, because one wheel usually drives the impeller (2). Its calibration publication adds that turns are made with the gate closed and that walking starts before the gate opens (3).
No Rates on This Page
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.
| Feature | What the maker describes | What I check |
|---|---|---|
| Left and right gates | Closing one side gives a left, right or narrow centered pattern | That the gate sides open and close fully |
| Side control | A lever that shuts off one side of the throw | Which side it covers, and the wheel position the manual gives |
| Deflector | A shield that blocks one side of the throw | Which side it mounts on and whether the knob locks |
| Edge lever | A lever that blocks one side of the pattern | Which side it covers |
| Trigger gate | A trigger that opens the gate while you squeeze | That it releases the moment you let go |
Each manual describes what its feature does, and none of them promises where granules land. I treat every one as a way to point the throw and judge the result on my own ground.
Push, Tow-Behind or Chest-Mount for Rough Ground
The University of Kentucky says rotary spreaders spread a wider swath and suit large areas, though they are less precise than drop spreaders (4). On rough ground the best push spreader is the one whose printed wheels, handle and gate suit you, and no single maker figure settles it. I rank seven walk-behind models on frame and wheels in my roundup of the best push spreaders.
- Push: you steer, so handle and wheels matter, and the product label sets the amount.
- Tow-behind: a vehicle pulls a loaded hopper over the same ground, so the vehicle’s manual and the spreader’s manual set hitching, turning, slopes, speed and load.
- Chest-mount: you carry it, so there is no wheel at all; a study of hand-operated spinner spreaders found that how you carry and walk with the spreader changed the pattern (5).
What the Hopper May Hold
Manuals differ on salt, lime, sand and powders. Some forbid powdered products, some advise against rock salt or lime, and some give no list at all. A pneumatic tire fertilizer spreader still follows its own manual and the product label for what goes in the hopper. My roundup of the best spreader for ice melt covers seven models for driveways, walks and steps.
Read the Material List First
Check your spreader’s manual for forbidden materials before you buy a bag. If the manual and the product label cannot both be followed, do not use that combination and ask the manufacturers for guidance.
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.
Care, Cleaning and Storage After Each Job
NC State Extension says to wash a spreader after each day’s use, dry it completely to prevent rust, store it empty in a cool, dry place and lubricate it as the owner’s manual specifies (2). UC IPM says to fill the spreader over a driveway or other hard area where spilled material can be swept up (6).
- Before any hands-on cleaning, complete the stop and make-safe steps in the safe-state box in the safety section below.
- Clean the spreader only by a method both the product label and the manual permit.
- Dry it completely, then lubricate only as the manual directs.
- Store it empty, clean and dry, with the gate closed.
What the Makers Print About Rough Ground
Some of the nine manuals say something about terrain, and each line belongs to that model only. I quote them as printed and carry none to another spreader.
- Agri-Fab 45-0463 130-Lb Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader: vehicle braking and stability may be affected by an attachment, so be aware of changing conditions on slopes, stay off steep slopes, keep away from a creek or ditch and watch for holes and other hazards.
- Brinly P20-500BHDF-A 50-Lb Push Spreader with Side Deflector: stay alert for holes in the terrain and other hidden hazards, keep the impeller level when spreading and do not use the spreader on windy days.
- SOLO 421 20-Lb Chest-Mount Hand-Crank Spreader: be sure of your footing, use extra caution in wet or slippery areas, and walk, do not run.
- EarthWay 2600A-Plus 40-Lb All-Terrain Pneumatic Push Spreader: with Side Spread Control on, place the left wheel at the distance the manual gives from the sidewalk, flowerbed or driveway.
Safety With Spreaders and Lawn Products
A 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. Only what your exact manual and your product’s label say applies to you, and you follow both. A manual never authorizes a use that the product label prohibits.
Safe-State Box
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, 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.
- Tow-behind spreader: close the gate, stop the vehicle, set the parking brake, switch the engine off and remove the key as the vehicle’s manual says, and wait until the wheels, impeller and agitator have stopped turning, before you reach into the hopper or touch the impeller.
Then Finish Only as Your Manual Says
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.
Label, Protective Equipment and Filling
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.
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 (6). 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.
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.
Spills, Runoff and Hard Surfaces
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.
Purdue Extension says the same about granules on hard surfaces, and advises against fertilizing drought-stressed, dormant or frozen turf (7). 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. Follow the product’s weather and watering directions too.
Gate, Clogs, Children and Pets
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.
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.
Tow-Behind Units
Follow your towing vehicle’s owner’s manual and the spreader’s own manual for hitching, turning, slopes, speed and load limits, and stay within the tow capacity in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Never ride on a spreader or carry a passenger on it. Turn only as the two manuals direct, and keep children and pets well clear of the vehicle and the spreader while you load, hitch and spread. Before you fill, hitch, unhitch, reach into the hopper or touch the impeller, complete the tow-behind steps in the safe-state box.
Ice Melt and Salt
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.
Cleaning, Storage and Exposure
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.
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.
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.
My Overall Verdict
I ranked nine spreaders on what their makers print about wheels, frame, handle and gate. The top three give you a stainless frame with a numbered lever, a covered push model and a push model with a left-edge control and a printed rock salt step. I also compare push, tow-behind and handheld models in my roundup of the best broadcast spreaders.
1. Chapin TurfPro 89400C 100-Lb Stainless Steel Contractor Spreader Best Overall
For lawns with roots and low spots, the stainless push spreader with a numbered gate lever.
2. Chapin 8400C 100-Lb SureSpread Professional Push Spreader Best Premium
For regular spreading, the push spreader with a grate and a rain cover in the kit.
3. EarthWay 2600A-Plus 40-Lb All-Terrain Pneumatic Push Spreader Removable Agitator for Rock Salt
For small to medium lawns, the push spreader with a left-edge control and a printed rock salt step.
Ground that rocks the hopper punishes a loose lever and a soft gate, so I chose the spreader whose controls stay where I set them. Match it to your product label and your manual, then walk the route empty before the first fill, which makes the Chapin 89400C the best spreader for uneven ground in this list.
Why Chapin TurfPro 89400C 100-Lb Stainless Steel Contractor Spreader Might Be the Best Choice
The 89400C comes first because its controls are the ones I can see and set: a lever on a numbered plate that locks, two gate sides, and tires and a frame that are printed facts. On ground that rocks the hopper, I want fewer things to adjust mid-pass.
The trade-off is plain: it comes without a rain cover, and its product list excludes rock salt, sand and lime.
Here is why it earns the top place:
✓ Frame: a stainless steel tube frame and handle.
✓ Tires: 12-inch pneumatic tires, according to Chapin.
✓ Gate: a lever on a numbered plate with a locking knob.
✓ Patterns: left and right gates for four patterns.
✓ Auger: a flat or spiked auger chosen by material.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a push spreader on uneven ground?
You can use a push spreader on uneven ground, though a rotary spreader throws a different pattern when it tilts, so keep it as level as the lawn allows. Walk the route empty first, follow your manual’s terrain and slope lines, keep both hands on the handle, and let the product label set the amount.
Can a tow behind spreader spread fertilizer?
A tow behind spreader can spread fertilizer when its maker’s manual lists fertilizer among its materials and the product label allows that use. Read your towing vehicle’s owner’s manual and the spreader’s own manual for hitching, turning, slopes, speed and load limits before you fill the hopper or hitch up.
Can a tow behind spreader spread grass seed?
A tow behind spreader can spread grass seed when its manual lists seed among its materials, as Agri-Fab’s chart does for fine and coarse seed on its 130 lb model. The seed package, the spreader’s manual and your towing vehicle’s manual decide the rest, and a setting from another spreader never applies.
What does the side spread control on an EarthWay spreader do?
The side spread control on an EarthWay spreader shuts off the left side of the throw, according to EarthWay, so you can run the left wheel along a sidewalk, flowerbed or driveway. You close the main flow control after that pass and slide the side control back for the full pattern.
What is a side deflector on a fertilizer spreader?
A side deflector on a fertilizer spreader is a shield that blocks one side of the throw, and Brinly describes its flip-up deflector as keeping material from moving toward the left side of the hopper. That is the maker’s printed purpose only, not a promise about where granules land on your lawn.
References
- 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.
- Miller G, Kerns JP, Billeisen T. Organic Lawn Care: Composting and Spreaders. AG-562. NC State Extension; 2026.
- 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.
- Munshaw G. Calibrating Fertilizer Spreaders for the Home Lawn. AGR-211. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service; 2014.
- Wolf DD, Smith ES. Uniformity of seed and fertilizer distribution with a hand-operated spinning spreader. Trans ASAE. 1979;22(4):761-762.
- 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.