What Type of Spreader Do I Need for My Lawn? A Complete Guide

 

If you’re aiming for a lush, evenly green lawn or trying to simplify your year-round garden maintenance routine, one question is bound to crop up: what type of spreader do I need for the job? Whether you’re sowing grass seed in spring, feeding your lawn in autumn, or applying grit to slippery paths in winter, the right spreader is your best ally.

From drop spreaders to broadcast and tow-behind models, the options are vast—but so are the benefits. In this guide, we’ll explain the types of spreaders available, how to choose the best one for your garden, and what else to consider before you buy. Along the way, we’ll introduce you to a few of the popular models that we sell, so you can see why they’re trusted by homeowners and professionals alike.

Drop Spreaders: Targeted Precision for Smaller Spaces

Drop spreaders are the precision tools of the spreading world. Unlike their wider-throwing cousins, these machines deposit fertiliser or seed directly beneath the hopper as you push them along. If you’re dealing with tight areas, narrow borders, or lots of garden features like beds and patios, a drop spreader offers pinpoint control.

Ideal for smaller lawns, drop spreaders are best when accuracy is your top priority. There’s minimal chance of waste, and they’re unaffected by wind, making them fine to use on breezy days. Plus, they’re excellent for applying weed and feed products or herbicides, which you don’t want to blow into flower beds or onto driveways.

The trade-off? A smaller coverage area. You’ll need more passes than with a lawn broadcast spreader, so they’re not the fastest option for larger lawns. But if you’re after the best lawn fertilizer spreader for small garden jobs, there’s a chance they might be a winner.

Broadcast Spreaders: Fast, Efficient, and Ideal for Larger Lawns

Broadcast spreaders—also called rotary spreaders—use a spinning impeller to throw seed, feed, or fertiliser in a wide arc, often covering 10–12 feet per pass. This makes them the go-to grass seed fertilizer spreader for larger gardens.

They’re available in walk-behind and handheld versions, with walk-behind models typically offering larger hoppers and more advanced control features. While they’re less precise than drop spreaders, broadcast models get the job done quickly and evenly—perfect when time is of the essence.

If you’re looking to dispense grass seed with spreaders, here are two excellent broadcast models you can find here, at Garden Machinery Direct:

Cobra HS23 Push Spreader

In terms of sheer value for money, the Cobra HS23 is one of the best grass seeders on the market for multi-season use. Its 22kg hopper gives ample capacity for fertiliser, seed, or salt, and it includes adjustable feed control to tailor the application rate to your needs.

Built for British gardens, it’s rugged enough for uneven terrain, with 12-inch pneumatic tyres that provide excellent grip and manoeuvrability. The steel frame is powder-coated for rust resistance, while the hopper’s durable plastic build handles both fertiliser and ice-melt salt with ease.

Offering year-round flexibility, you can use it as a grass feed spreader in spring, a driveway spreader in winter, and more. Its precision spread and adjustable settings make it a really smart choice if you’re looking for a dependable seed spreader lawncare solution.

The Handy THS70HDUTY Push Broadcast Spreader

Designed with a high capacity and operator comfort in mind, the THS70HDUTY from Handy is a heavy-duty grass seed broadcaster with a 32kg hopper and 12-foot maximum spread width. It’s a great lawn seed fertilizer spreader for large-scale domestic applications.

Wide-profile pneumatic tyres help it glide over turf, gravel, or uneven ground with complete stability, while its adjustable feed system lets you control exactly how much material is dispersed. A covered hopper keeps contents dry, and a built-in screen prevents clogging—perfect for damp UK conditions.

Versatile enough to act as a lawn feed applicator, seed grass spreader, or ice-melt salt dispenser, the Handy THS70HDUTY is ideal if you want a tough yet easy-to-handle lawn spreader that works across all four seasons.

Towable Spreaders: Cover Serious Ground Easily

For anyone maintaining expansive lawns, fields, or estates, towable spreaders are the ultimate time-saving tool. Designed to attach to garden tractors or ride-on mowers, these workhorses can distribute a high volume of material across large spaces in less time and with less effort.

Tow-behind models are available in both drop and broadcast styles, depending on whether precision or coverage is your priority. These machines are particularly useful for the application of fertiliser, pesticide and grass seed across areas of more than half an acre.

Two popular tow-behind spreaders at Garden Machinery Direct include:

Cobra TS45 Towed Spreader

If you’re managing a large garden or need a highly effective yard spreader, the Cobra TS45 ticks the right boxes. Its corrosion-resistant poly hopper has a 45-litre capacity and spreads dry materials like lawn seed, fertiliser, or ice-melt in a generous 8–10 foot width.

Thanks to large pneumatic tyres, the TS45 remains stable over rough terrain. It’s an excellent fertiliser seed spreader for anyone who already owns a garden tractor or ride-on mower and wants to expand its capabilities with a high-capacity spreader for grass.

Agri-Fab 45-0288 Tow Behind Drop Spreader

If high precision across a large area is your goal, the Agri-Fab 45-0288 is hard to beat. With its hefty 175 lb (79 kg) capacity and 42-inch spread width, this heavy-duty drop spreader is suitable for properties of up to an acre.

It features a rust-resistant poly hopper, galvanised steel agitator, and large pneumatic tyres for smooth and stable performance. If you’re searching for the best grass seeder for large gardens or a lawn feed spreader that can deliver bulk material evenly, the 45-0288 should definitely be on your shortlist.

What Else to Consider Before Choosing a Lawn Spreader

Still unsure which lawn grass seed spreader is right for you? Here are some other key factors to think about:

1) Lawn Size and Shape

Use your lawn’s square footage to help guide your choice. A small rectangular space may be best served with a drop spreader, while a large or irregularly shaped lawn will benefit from the fan-like reach of a broadcast spreader. If your garden measures in acres, a tow-behind model will save you considerable time and effort.

2) Precision vs Speed

Do you want precise lines, or is speed your main concern? Drop spreaders are best for targeted applications and tight spaces. Broadcast models work best for broad, even coverage. Towable options strike a nice balance between scale and effort.

3) Terrain

If your lawn has bumps, slopes, or rough patches, consider models with large pneumatic tyres that provide better grip and stability. Both the Cobra HS23 and the Handy THS70HDUTY offer great manoeuvrability across uneven surfaces.

4) Hopper Capacity

Be sure to consider hopper size. A bigger hopper reduces refilling, which is vital when you’re working on a large lawn. But if you have limited storage or strength, a compact grass fertilizer spreader may be more suitable.

5) Versatility and Seasonal Use

The best lawn seed spreaders aren’t limited to spring and summer use. Look for models that double up as salt spreaders in winter or yard seed spreaders in autumn. Adjustable feed control, durable construction, and corrosion-resistant hoppers all help ensure long-term performance across the changing seasons.

Find the Best Lawn Spreaders at Garden Machinery Direct

From small domestic jobs to full-scale farming, the right spreader makes all the difference. Whether you’re laying grass seed with a spreader in spring, applying lawn feed with spreader control in autumn, or prepping your paths with grit in winter, there’s a spreader designed to make the job a whole lot easier.

At Garden Machinery Direct, we offer an impressive range of broadcast and towable spreaders for sale—including models from trusted names like Cobra, Handy, and Agri-Fab. From walk-behind seed spreaders to heavy-duty towable lawn feed applicators, each product is built for reliable performance in UK gardens.

Need help choosing the best broadcast spreader fertilizer tool for your needs? Our Garden Machinery Experts are on hand to guide you. With friendly, practical advice and deep product knowledge, they’ll help you find the perfect spreader grass solution to match your lawn size, material use, and budget.

Browse our full collection of spreaders online today and take the next step towards a healthier, greener lawn—whatever the season.