What setting do I need to put my fertiliser spreader on?
Fertiliser spreaders come in a range of different sizes and brands, with many also having different settings for application.
In this blog, we look at how to adjust your fertiliser spreader settings to ensure you apply your fertiliser evenly and at the application rate you are trying to achieve.
Why should I fertilise my lawn?
Fertilisers contain a mix of essential nutrients that your lawn needs to stay healthy and thrive. Soils usually don’t contain all these nutrients or enough of what exactly is needed for optimum plant health, so additional inputs like fertiliser are required.
A fertiliser with a well-rounded formulation of nutrients, specifically formulated for lawns, can help improve growth, encourage stronger roots, and improve the overall health of the plant.
When should I fertilise my lawn?
Fertilising your lawn at specific times of the year will help you see the full benefit and nutrient uptake. We recommend fertilising with a slow-release granular fertiliser around 3 times a year, once in Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Fertilisers can have different lengths of time that they last for and pacing of nutrient release so make sure you adhere to the recommendations provided by the product manufacturer.
Fertiliser Spreaders
Granular fertilisers need to be applied at an even rate to ensure the lawn is getting a balanced amount of nutrient. Not applying evenly can lead to uneven growth, colour and health, so it’s an important thing to get this right to ensure you are getting the most out of your fertiliser application. This is where fertiliser spreaders come in handy.
Fertiliser spreaders like this one will have an adjustable opening or valve at the bottom of the hopper where the fertiliser goes through into a chute. The fertiliser is then released through a spinning mechanism that rotates and discharges the fertiliser as you crank the handle on the side of the spreader. The rate at which the product will be dispersed is dependent on how open this valve is.
The valve can be adjusted through a notch that is located on the side of the spreader.
Move the notch between the numbers displayed while holding the spreader trigger in. This will give you an indication of how open the valve is at the different spreader settings available.
How to Use a Fertiliser Spreader
- To apply the fertiliser, put the recommended amount of fertiliser for your area size in your spreader, or if it’s a large area, a portion of what’s needed if you need to break the area up into smaller sections for application.
This ICL Professional Hand-Held Spreader holds around 2 to 2.5kg of product depending on the fertiliser you are using. As an example, if the recommended application rate for your lawn is 2kg per 100sqm and that is the size of the area you have, that is the amount of fertiliser you need to put in your spreader ready for application.
As each fertiliser has different granule sizes and application rates, there is no one answer as to which setting you need to use without first testing out the spreader and making necessary adjustments.
- When using the spreader for the first time, you want to go over the area by walking lines or passes back and forth on the lowest setting that allows constant flow for your granule or prill to be released. Starting on a low setting will help to ensure that you don’t overapply the fertiliser when using it for the first time.
Be sure to avoid overlapping so distribution is even and rotate the handle on the spreader at a consistent pace as you go.
- After you have completed this full pass you can adjust the spreader’s settings to be more open if required and complete another pass in the opposite direction if required. If you used roughly half or 1kg worth of fertiliser, in this situation you are perfectly set to do another full pass for even distribution. Going across the lawn in two different directions will help to ensure even coverage.
If you only used a quarter or third of the fertiliser you need to apply, you can look to open the valve further for your second pass and future applications. Next time you need to fertilise you will now know what setting is ideal specifically for the fertiliser or product you are using.
- After you have applied your fertiliser, water it in really well to ensure you avoid any unnecessary fertiliser burn to the leaf. Not all fertilisers need to be watered in, but if you are unsure, it is always best to check with the product label or manufacturer.
Applying Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser
Our Lawn Solutions Premium Fertiliser has been designed to provide the best results when applied at rates that fulfil the nutrient requirements of different turf varieties. This ranges from 1kg to 2.5kg per 100sqm.
For more information on fertilising your lawn, check out our other fertilising blogs here.
