Hi. I’m looking at some walk behind broadcast spreaders. These walk behind spreaders are wheeled seed, salt, fertilizer or ice melt broadcast spreaders for use in the garden.
Unlike smaller handheld spreaders which operate by hand cranking, and is slung across the user’s shoulder, a walk behind broadcast spreader is pushed forward by the user who walks behind it.
A spinning disk is powered by this forward motion, which is geared to the wheels. This shoots the seed or fertilizer outwards as the user pushes from behind to move the unit forward, seeding or fertilizing (hopefully pretty evenly) across the area that you mean to spread.
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Earthway 2600APlus Walk Behind Broadcast Spreader
One of the walk behind broadcast spreaders I am looking at in this post is the EARTHWAY 2600Aplus Walk-Behind Broadcast Spreader. It is a light weight spreader ideal for residential gardening jobs. Lets list some features.
Features and Specs
- Unit dimensions : 13.5 x 20.8 x 13.5 inches
- Unit weight : 14.2 pounds
- 40lb/18kg bucket capacity
- EV-N-SPRED 3-hole drop shut-off system gives a more even pattern
- Rustproof poly-plastic hopper and epoxy coated chassis
- Solid frame and wide set 9 inch tyres offer both stability and durability
- Enclosed, heavy-duty gearbox
Quick Tip : Try practicing with some suitable sand first to see what the spread is like at different settings and walking speeds. Totally dry sand works best. |
Questions and Answers
Can I use this broadcast spreader to salt my sidewalks in the winter?
Yes and you can also use it all year round as a garden spreader for spreading fertilizer and seeds or where you need to apply any type of granular product. Bear in mind though that you cannot really use this broadcast spreader to apply really fine powder based products, as these may foul the gearbox.
How do you know how much fertilizer to put into the bucket for any given area you want to spread?
There is a chart that comes shipped with the unit that makes it easy to spread any product if you know the weight of the product and its designed coverage. This chart will also help you to estimate how far the product will be spread based on the product particle size.
It should also work to go slower in narrow sections. The faster you walk the wider it will throw. The spreader spinner is coupled to the wheels by way of a gear system, so it is driven by actual wheel speed. The drop rate can be adjusted according to your needs. Set it to the lowest setting and take it slow from there.
Does this broadcast spreader need to be assembled before you can start using it?
Yes, correct. It doesn’t ship already fully assembled, so you will have to do some assembling before you can use the unit. The instructions that come with the unit could be a little bit better written. It should take you around 1 hour to complete the assembly.
The order that the parts need to be assembled in is rather important to note. You’ll need some wrenches, pliers and a large Phillips head screwdriver.
Possible PROS & CONS
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Notes on Quality and Operation
Agri-Fab 45-0462 Walk Behind Broadcast Spreader
The second walk behind broadcast spreader I am looking at is the AGRI-FAB 45-0462 Push Broadcast Spreader. This walk behind broadcast spreader will handle summer seeding and fertilizing garden duties like a champ and in the winter you can spread ice-melt with it. It has easy to use controls and a sturdy frame.
Features and Specs
- Large pneumatic tires and aluminum wheel gear
- Rust resistant spreader plate and poly hopper
- Enclosed gearbox keeps out dirt
- Size (in inches): 13.24 x 10.68 x 18.9
- Weight (in pounds) : 6.81 pounds
- Hand controlled operation
Questions and Answers
Can I use this push behind spreader to spread salt on my driveway?
Yes, it can be used for salt spreading. Lime pellets can also be spread with this spreader.
How much seed or salt can this spreader be loaded with?
I think the max capacity of this spreader is around 130 pounds of whatever you load it with.
Possible PROS & CONS
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See the AGRI-FAB 45-0462 Broadcast Spreader on Amazon.com. |
Notes on Quality and Operation
This spreader is shipped somewhat disassembled, so the user will need to do some assembly before use. It is not overly tricky to put together, so as long as you follow the assembly steps diligently you should be fine.
Walk Behind Broadcast Spreaders – Final Thoughts
Of the two walk behind garden spreaders in this review, the one with the biggest capacity is the AGRI-FAB 45-0462 Push Broadcast Spreader (over 100 pounds). This should allow you to cover more ground with it than with the EARTHWAY 2600Aplus Walk-Behind Broadcast Spreader (about 40 pounds).
Both these spreaders offer decent frames, speed controls and pneumatic tyres. So, I think that the size of the spreader bucket vs the size of your garden will probably be the determining factor here.
Like pushing things around? Check out these compost tumblers with wheels.
Thanks for reading my Best Walk Behind Broadcast Spreader review. I hope you find the best walk behind broadcast spreader for you! |