Spreader setting
-
- Posts: 52
- Joined: March 14th, 2020, 7:39 pm
- Location: Long Island , New York
- Grass Type: Northern Mix
- Lawn Size: 1000-3000
- Level: Novice
Spreader setting
Hi everyone,
I was attempting to put down 2lbs per K or Sulfate of Potash and was having a little trouble because of the large granules. I have a Scott’s edge guard mini and was using 3.0 setting. It seemed like the gate was getting stuck open and not much was coming out . I didn’t want to put down too much so I just did more passes with the lower setting. Any suggestion? Anyone with the same spreader that uses large granule fertilizer that can suggest a different spreader setting?
I was attempting to put down 2lbs per K or Sulfate of Potash and was having a little trouble because of the large granules. I have a Scott’s edge guard mini and was using 3.0 setting. It seemed like the gate was getting stuck open and not much was coming out . I didn’t want to put down too much so I just did more passes with the lower setting. Any suggestion? Anyone with the same spreader that uses large granule fertilizer that can suggest a different spreader setting?
- MorpheusPA
- Posts: 18136
- Joined: March 5th, 2009, 7:32 pm
- Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
- Grass Type: Elite KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Advanced
Re: Spreader setting
Those are really going to vary. 3.0 to 3.5 is about average, and if you have to make a few passes to get 2 pounds per K down, that's better than going too far over the top, actually.
There's enough randomness between spreaders that 0.5 between yours and mine is to be expected; my mother's and mine differ by more than that.
For amounts that small, hand spreaders (available at most big box stores) work very well, too. You hold those in your hand and turn a crank to put down smaller amounts of material.
There's enough randomness between spreaders that 0.5 between yours and mine is to be expected; my mother's and mine differ by more than that.
For amounts that small, hand spreaders (available at most big box stores) work very well, too. You hold those in your hand and turn a crank to put down smaller amounts of material.
- ken-n-nancy
- Posts: 2571
- Joined: July 17th, 2014, 3:58 pm
- Location: Bedford, NH
- Grass Type: Front: KBG (Bewitched+Prosperity); Side: Bewitched KBG; Back: Fine Fescue Blend + Prosperity
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Spreader setting
I have had that exact problem, too! Putting down the small amount of sulfate of potash that is needed, particularly if using a type of SOP that has large granules, can be problematic. Setting the spreader wide enough to get reasonable flow can end up being too high of a rate.
What I do now to work around the problem is apply the sulfate of potash (0-0-50) with something else that is high volume. In specific, I use Bay State Fertilizer (Boston’s version of Milorganite.). I do that by dumping first one bag of the Bay State Fertilizer (or Milorganite) in the spreader, which will cover 2500sqft at my desired rate of application. I then use a little kitchen scale to weigh out the appropriate amount of SOP, dump that in to the spreader, and mix it all together with a trowel before spreading in the lawn. Works great!
I can’t claim to have come up with the idea on my own - somebody else here suggested it years ago when I posed a similar question, and I’ve used the “mix with Milorganite” approach ever since.
What I do now to work around the problem is apply the sulfate of potash (0-0-50) with something else that is high volume. In specific, I use Bay State Fertilizer (Boston’s version of Milorganite.). I do that by dumping first one bag of the Bay State Fertilizer (or Milorganite) in the spreader, which will cover 2500sqft at my desired rate of application. I then use a little kitchen scale to weigh out the appropriate amount of SOP, dump that in to the spreader, and mix it all together with a trowel before spreading in the lawn. Works great!
I can’t claim to have come up with the idea on my own - somebody else here suggested it years ago when I posed a similar question, and I’ve used the “mix with Milorganite” approach ever since.
- Dchall_San_Antonio
- Posts: 3343
- Joined: December 17th, 2008, 1:53 am
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Grass Type: St Augustine
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Advanced
Re: Spreader setting
When I first started with organic fertilizer I found I had to make multiple passes. Sometimes that's the way it works.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests