The Best Spreader For Your Lawn: Which Is Right For You?

Discover which spreader type is the best for your yard.

Great-looking lawns start with three simple steps: Weeding, feeding, and seeding. All 3 of these activities call for a spreader, which, handily enough, you can also use to spread ice melt once winter rolls around. So, just what kind of spreader should you use? It all depends on the size and layout of your lawn. (Don’t know how big your lawn is? Download the My Lawn app to help you calculate.) Use this guide to find your perfect match, and know that no matter which type of spreader you choose, it’s important to always follow the label directions.

Small Lawns (1,500 ft2 or less)

Medium Lawns (5,000 ft2 or less)

Large Lawns (15,000 ft2 or less)

Extra Large Lawns (20,000 ft2 or less)

Lawns with lots of landscaping and narrow spaces

Broadcast Spreader

Works best for lawns that: Are medium to large in size, without a lot of tight turns.

How it works: As you push a broadcast spreader, it dispenses the product in a broad, overlapping pattern, allowing you to cover a lot of ground in a relatively short time period.

The right Scotts® broadcast spreader for you:

For medium lawns (5,000 ft2 or less): Our smallest broadcast spreader, Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader has precision rate settings for accurate coverage, meaning less waste and clean-up. This spreader comes with Edgeguard® Technology* to help keep product away from non-lawn areas.
For large lawns (15,000 ft2 or less): The Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® DLX Broadcast Spreader has a large capacity hopper (or bucket) and control panel for more accurate coverage, along with Edgeguard® Technology*.
For extra large lawns (20,000 ft2 or less): With superb accuracy, a 6-foot spread pattern (for 20 percent faster application than other Scotts® spreaders), an ergonomic handle (with smartphone holder), and foam-filled tires that won’t ever go flat, the Scotts® Elite Spreader helps you handle spacious lawns with the greatest of ease. Bonus: You can also use it to spread ice melt.

Drop Spreader

Works best for lawns that: Contain lots of landscaping, planting beds, narrow green strips, and/or tight turns.

How it works: Unlike a broadcast spreader, which casts materials outward, a drop spreader drops the product directly underneath as you push it, so you can be much more precise about the target area.

The right Scotts® drop spreader for you:

The heavy-duty, extremely accurate Scotts® Turf Builder® Classic Drop Spreader holds up to 10,000 square feet of Scotts® lawn products, such as Scotts® Turf Builder® lawn foods, and comes fully assembled.

Hand-held Spreader

Works best for lawns that: Are small in size (1,500 ft2 or less).

How it works: Powered either by battery or crank, a hand-held spreader dispenses product in front of the spreader as you walk.

The right Scotts® hand-held spreader for you:

With 23 different spreader settings and 1-touch locking on-off control, the battery-powered Scotts® Wizz™ Spreader is simple to use. Plus, it has Edgeguard® Technology* for more precise coverage, and can also be used to spread ice melt.

Just looking for a basic hand-crank spreader? The Scotts® Whirl™ Hand-Powered Spreader has an adjustable arm and is engineered to deliver smooth and even product coverage. Use it to apply fertilizer, grass seed, and even ice melt.

* Edgeguard® Technology blocks off the right side of the spreader pattern so the product is applied just to the lawn, and not to areas like driveways, sidewalks, or landscaping.