Picking The Right Compost Spreader

By Mark Carter


Using natural fertilizer is a great way to enrich the soil of produce fields and lawns alike. In order to save money and do the job right, you need to choose the best compost spreader for the job. Part of this is knowing what size you need and the types of material you will be using on the soil.

There are several sizes. If you have a large field where tractors are typically in use, you can choose an industrial spreader that is designed for this purpose. The smaller versions are for pulling behind riding lawn mowers or spreading manually. The device size does make a difference in doing an effective job, so choose wisely.

Side composters are designed to pull behind a tractor. These are great for throwing a large amount of material in a wide spray as you drive along the field. These also work well with wet manure by breaking it up into smaller pieces. For foliage that is more delicate, these will be an excellent source. They're also better for material that is too wet for dry applicators and will clog tanks.

Spreaders with the vertical bar maximize the amount of spray. Instead of throwing a large amount, the material is broken up and sprayed in a thinner layer that is more uniform than the side sprayers. These are great for providing a nice nutrient value to the soil.

If controlling the area is desired, the horizontal beaters are the best way to go. This equipment is hooked up to the back of the tractor and provides the same control over the layer thickness that the vertical bars do. In addition, this one allows you to control the width of the application. Using this to provide an accurate layer the width of the tractor tires means you can work with long rows.

Spinner beaters allow you to control how much is applied much more accurately. When you want to use different types of compost together and have an even spread, the spinner beaters mix the material together to make this possible. The different density in materials is less important because of these beaters. Having more control allows you to spread the different materials at the same time instead of making multiple trips which may compact the soil.

For lawns and jobs that are less than an acre, there is equipment designed for the job. Some are very similar to industrial equipment but scaled down to fit the smaller jobs. A mesh roller is great for home lawn manual jobs. The material is loaded into the roller and as you push it across your lawn the material is broken up and laid down between the mesh.

Choosing the right equipment minimizes cost and time to get the job done. For great lawn or produce growth, a compact soil can be a problem. Making one pass instead of many will prevent soil compaction and allow for the natural fertilizer to do its job. This is better for growing and for the environment.




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