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

Discover which spreader type is the best for your yard.

A great lawn is easier to achieve than you think. Whether you're spreading grass seed, giving it a boost with lawn food, or putting down products to control weeds, bugs, or disease, keeping your lawn in good shape is as simple as taking a walk with your spreader. A spreader is a handy tool that helps you apply what you need, right where you need it. And in the winter, you can even use it to spread ice melt. But which spreader is right for you? It just depends on the size and shape 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 on your product.

Broadcast Spreader

Works best for: Medium to large lawns, 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 sq. ft. 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 sq. ft. 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 sq. ft. or less): With superb accuracy, a 6-foot spread pattern for 20% faster application than other Scotts® spreaders, an ergonomic handle with a spot just for your smartphone, and foam-filled tires that won't ever go flat, the Scotts® Elite Spreader helps you handle spacious lawns with the greatest of ease.

Drop Spreader

Works best for: Lawns containing 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 Turf Builder® lawn foods, and comes fully assembled.

Hand-held Spreader

Works best for: Small lawns (1,500 sq. ft. 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:

Battery powered: 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.
Hand crank: 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.