For many kinds of work that has to do with the land, spreaders are important. Whether it's a large farm-style manure spreader or similar fertilizer spreading equipment, or chemical spreaders and lawn spreaders for landscaping, which are generally small "hopper" machines, spreaders accomplish much of the dispersement of pesticides, fertilizers, seeds and lawn treatments for both large and small shops, where workers generally get a lot of use out of these machines to apply any kind of product to a wide expanse of earth.

For any of these tasks, for a landscaping firm or a farm, training on these machines is important. Where formal training may not be an option, workers can get a lot of knowledge about learning potential and tips for use through the Internet, including:

1. Manuals, guides and instructional pages for small landscaping fertilizer spreaders.

2. Links on where to go for instructions on operating farm fertilizer spreaders vehicles and other similar equipment.

3. More info from online forums about using different kinds of fertilizer spreaders.

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Find training for smaller landscaping fertilizer spreaders

Business owners or managers of landscaping firms can find training for pesticides spreader types or broadcast spreader machines for jobs like fertilizing, grub control, pesticide application, or seeding. Look for great online resources for instruction on these common sense landscaping tools.

I recommend: Get a variety of training for smaller landscaping type spreaders and more at sites like the Landscaper's Classroom. Or find neat tutorial pages that function as manuals for a specific spreader type and read on to find out about how these tools are generally used.

Locate training options for manure spreaders and farm equipment

For those who are using vehicle type spreaders in an agricultural capacity, the web has links to places where the farming industry can get help in safety training, methodology and more.

I recommend: One way to find training on farm-type fertilizer or seed spreaders is through schools like Cornell, where the university has a relationship with local farmers, including a training venue for operating spreaders and other machinery. Get online training for spreaders and farm equipment at Safety Videos Now.

Use public web forums to get more information on different kinds of spreaders

Those who want some tips or specs on different kinds of fertilizer spreaders and similar equipment can find info on web forums where industry users chat about makes, models and methods.

I recommend: Learn about Lesco fertilizer and chemical spreaders at LawnCafe. Find seed spreading discussions and more on fertilizer spreaders and other models at Tractor By Net.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  See that your spreaders education and training addresses all aspects of OSHA for either landscaping or farm operations as applicable. This will protect your business from the kind of liability that can bankrupt an enterprise.

Spreaders are a convenient tool for when you need to disperse small granules or liquid materials. The most common kind of spreaders are fertilizer spreaders, but you can find special-purpose spreaders as well. These include seed spreaders, chemical spreaders, compost spreaders, lawn spreaders and manure spreaders. Some fertilizer spreaders can also work as a pesticides spreader.

There are two basic kinds of spreaders. A drop spreader does just what its name implies: it pulls the fertilizer out of the cart that holds the bulk material and drops the fertilizer in place. Some drop spreaders have boom arms that extend the reach of the spreader. A broadcast spreader spreads the fertilizer using a fan-like device. You can find fertilizer spreader manufacturers who offer precision fertilizer equipment of both types.

As you look at any kind of fertilizer spreading equipment, look for the following:

1. Solid construction throughout the spreader's body and parts

2. Spreaders that are not likely to rust from the corrosive materials used in them

3. Spreaders that are easy to calibrate and use

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Find lawn spreaders that make your grass greener

Lawn spreaders come in a large variety of shapes and sizes. You can find hand-held lawn spreaders and lawn spreaders designed to take care of the grasses of a golf course. Some lawn spreaders require you to walk as you broadcast the fertilizer, while others are made to be pulled by a small tractor.

I recommend: All About Lawns specializes in lawn care equipment, especially lawn fertilizers. Outsidepride.com also has a big selection of lawn fertilizers.

Locate farm fertilizer spreading equipment

The most common type of fertilizer equipment on a farm is the manure spreader. These come in all sizes. Some models have tops on them, while others have an open box. Be sure to pick a model that has a long warranty on the fertilizer box, as manure can cause a lot of corrosion in a short period of time.

I recommend: Deere & Company produce a large line of their John Deere manure spreading equipment. H&S Manufacturing Company, Inc. also offers a line of manure spreaders for sale.

Buy the right commercial spreaders for your industry

Whether you rent out spreaders to your farm customers or run a snowplow business, you can find the right spreader for your application.

I recommend: C.U. Stoltzfus Mfg., Inc. offers a line of ground-drive fertilizer spreaders. The Triad Fertilizer Spreader offered by Barron & Brothers International can spread three types of fertilizer or pesticide at once. Swenson Spreader Company offers a line of salt and sand spreaders for use in areas that get a lot of snow and ice in the wintertime.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Spreaders only work if they're calibrated correctly. Make sure you read and follow all the directions that come with your spreader to avoid wasting money on fertilizer.

Fertilizer spreaders handle a lot of bulk material, yet need to spread the fertilizer with precision. The moving parts of a fertilizer spreader have to work in unison. When that doesn’t happen you may have to off-load the fertilizer to fix the problem.

Because of the caustic nature of fertilizers, you don’t want to handle them any more than necessary, so it’s best to know what you’re doing and take good care of the machinery parts of your spreader so you don’t experience that problem. To help you identify the key parts of a spreader, here’s a brief listing of key terms associated with fertilizer or manure spreaders.

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Spreader boxes, or tanks

The tank or open container in which you put the fertilizer is called the box. Boxes made of stainless steel or other non-corrosive materials are the best. You can find boxes that pull behind a vehicle or tractor, as well as truck-mounted styles.

I recommend: Baron & Brothers International has a number of styles of boxes used to spread dry fertilizer.

Hydraulic system

Some models of spreaders use a hydraulic system or hydraulic push to generate the energy needed to push the fertilizer from the box. The hydraulic system also opens the gate that holds the manure or fertilizer in place until the driver reaches his destination.

I recommend: Examine the photos from H & S Manufacturing to see how hydraulic techniques help empty manure spreaders of their contents.

Ground drive

Smaller spreaders rely on the rotation of the wheels to operate the system that drags the fertilizer to the back of the box and then spreads it on the ground. Generally referred to as ground-drive spreaders, these are also common in smaller lawn-fertilizer spreaders.

I recommend: Millcreek Manufacturing Co. shows several ground-drive manure spreaders.

Drag chain

The drag chain is what pulls the fertilizer to the back of the box for distribution. The wheels of a ground-drive spreader operate the chain mechanism or the hydraulic system. In some smaller spreaders, a flat belt replaces the drag chain.

I recommend: CountryManufacturing.com shows a drag chain on the floor of a box of an unassembled spreader.

Beaters, or spreaders

The beaters, or spreaders, are the devices that actually spread the fertilizer or manure. They come in both horizontal and vertical configuration, but horizontal is the more common of the two. As the spreader draws the fertilizer to the back of the box, the beaters pick up the fertilizer or manure and spread it.

I recommend: While the spreaders from MMI International are large models, the beaters are basically the same for all models of spreaders regardless of size or brand.

Calibration

It's important to get the right amount of fertilizer on the ground so it's important that you understand how to calibrate your particular spreader. There are a number of methods of doing this. Some models of spreaders do this automatically for you, while others require you to do some math. Depending on the type of spreader, once you determine your calibration you set controls or determine how fast you need to drive your spreader to achieve the desired results.

I recommend: Virginia Cooperative Extension offers specific information on calibrating a spreader.