Every fertilize, pre-emergent, and overseed page on this site says “apply with a broadcast spreader” — this article is the product answer. Whether you’re laying down Scotts Step 1 in March, putting Dimension on the warm-season lawn in April, or overseeding tall fescue in September, the spreader is the single tool that separates a professional-looking application from a striped, burned, or wasted one. Pick one good spreader and keep it for a decade.
The spreader setting on the bag matters just as much as the spreader itself. A wrong setting under-applies (and your weed control fails, or your pre-emergent gaps let crabgrass through) or over-applies (and you burn the lawn or waste $40 of product). The calibration table further down is the thing most homeowners are missing — once you know the setting for your product on your spreader, the application becomes routine.
Broadcast vs Drop — When to Use Each
A broadcast spreader throws product in a fan pattern 6–12 feet wide, depending on the unit and the granule size. It covers ground fast and is the right choice for any open lawn area — you just need a slight overlap (about one foot) on each pass to eliminate stripes. Most homeowners need a broadcast spreader and nothing else; the fan pattern is forgiving and the throughput means a 10,000 sq ft lawn takes 15 minutes rather than an hour.
A drop spreader delivers product straight down through the hopper in a band exactly as wide as the unit (usually 18–24 inches). There’s no fan and no overspray — ideal for edges, around flower beds, and anywhere product hitting the wrong surface is a problem. Drop spreaders are slower and less forgiving of skipped passes (a stripe with zero coverage, not just thin coverage). Use a drop for precision work and around beds; use a broadcast for everything else.
Top 5 Picks
1. Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX
Best Overall – Pre-Calibrated, EdgeGuard Technology | Price: ~$55–75
The EdgeGuard DLX comes pre-calibrated for every Scotts product you can buy — Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4, Halts, EdgeGuard-marked fertilizers, and Scotts grass seed all list their DLX setting directly on the bag. You dial the number and go. No calibration, no math, no driveway test run. For the homeowner who buys Scotts products and just wants things to work, this is the end of the decision.
The EdgeGuard feature is a physical blocker that stops product from firing out the right-hand side of the spreader. When you walk along a driveway, sidewalk, or flower bed with the EdgeGuard engaged, product only goes left — into the lawn, not onto the concrete or the mulch. Combined with the curved hopper and dual-agitator design that keeps flow consistent even when the hopper is nearly empty, this is the spreader that makes the biggest difference for a typical suburban yard with mixed features.
The weak point is non-Scotts products. The DLX settings are Scotts-optimized, and if you buy Lesco, Anderson’s, or a generic fertilizer from the co-op, you’ll need to calibrate it yourself (see the calibration section below). That’s not unique to Scotts — every brand-specific spreader has the same limitation — but it’s worth knowing before you buy.
Buy Scotts EdgeGuard DLX on Amazon — ~$652. Earthway 2150 Commercial 50lb Walk-Behind
Best for Large Lawns – Professional Grade | Price: ~$120–160
The Earthway 2150 is the spreader you’ll see behind professional lawn care technicians at TruGreen, Lawn Doctor, and independent LCOs. It has a 50 lb hopper, a 3-hole drop system with feathered edging that eliminates stripes without needing perfect overlap, and a fully enclosed gearbox that shrugs off wet conditions — no rust, no jammed gears after it sits damp in a shed.
Calibration is dial-based (0–30) rather than product-specific, which is an advantage once you understand your products: one setting works for any brand of fertilizer, pre-emergent, or seed at the equivalent per-acre rate. The calibration table in the next section has starting points for common products. The 13-inch pneumatic tires are the other thing you feel immediately — they handle slopes, gravel, and rough terrain that would stop a small-wheeled homeowner spreader.
With basic maintenance (rinse after each use, a drop of oil on the axle once a year) the 2150 will last 10 to 15 years. The upfront cost is higher than a Scotts DLX, but the 2150 is the last spreader you’ll buy. For lawns over 10,000 sq ft or anyone treating multiple properties, it’s the correct choice.
Buy Earthway 2150 on Amazon — ~$1403. Agri-Fab 45-0463 130lb Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader
Best for 1+ Acre – Tow-Behind | Price: ~$200–260
At one acre and above, a walk-behind becomes a chore. The Agri-Fab 45-0463 attaches to any lawn tractor or riding mower with a universal hitch — Craftsman, Husqvarna, John Deere, Cub Cadet all work — and the 130 lb hopper covers roughly half an acre per fill. Spread width is 10–12 feet, so a 2-acre property takes two tank refills and about 45 minutes of riding rather than three hours of pushing.
The flow control arm runs up to the driver’s seat so you can open and close the gate from the tractor without dismounting. Agri-Fab includes a 3-year warranty, which is long for this category, and the standard replacement parts (gate cable, impeller, hopper screen) are all available through their website for DIY repair. For rural properties, horse farms, and large-lot suburban homes, this is the efficiency upgrade.
Buy Agri-Fab 45-0463 on Amazon4. Scotts Whirl Hand-Powered Spreader
Best for Small Yards and Spot Treatment | Price: ~$25
The Whirl is a handheld crank spreader weighing 1.15 lbs. You fill the small hopper, turn the crank with one hand, and walk a bare spot or a 500 sq ft front strip in two minutes. For small yards, rental properties, patio-sized lawns, or any spot treatment where dragging out the full push spreader is overkill, this is the right tool.
Coverage is up to 1,500 sq ft per fill, and the adjustable arm support keeps your wrist from cramping on longer applications. It’s also the right tool for targeted work on an otherwise-healthy lawn: a 10x10 ft winter kill patch, a bare strip along a fence line, or the narrow parkway between sidewalk and street. Not a substitute for a real spreader on a full lawn, but at $25 it earns its spot in the garage.
Buy Scotts Whirl on Amazon — ~$255. Earthway 2050P 80lb Commercial Walk-Behind
Best Mid-Size – Between Homeowner and Professional | Price: ~$110
The 2050P slots between the Scotts DLX and the full commercial 2150. It has the 3-hole drop system and the same feathered edging from the 2150 in a smaller, lighter 80 lb hopper with 10-inch pneumatic tires. Pre-assembled, ready to use out of the box, no tools needed.
For 5,000–10,000 sq ft lawns where the Scotts DLX feels undersized but you don’t need the full commercial 2150, this is the correct middle ground — and at roughly $110 it’s $30 cheaper than the 2150 without giving up the spread pattern quality.
Buy Earthway 2050P on Amazon — ~$110* As an Amazon Associate, LawnBySeason earns from qualifying purchases.
Spreader Settings for Common Products (Calibration Table)
The two most common spreaders in the US are the Scotts EdgeGuard DLX and the Earthway 2150. Below are starting-point settings for the products most commonly applied to home lawns. The DLX uses a 1–15 scale with half/quarter increments; the Earthway 2150 uses a 0–30 dial.
| Product | Scotts DLX Setting | Earthway 2150 Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Scotts Step 1 (Pre-Emergent + Fertilizer) | 3¼ | 14 |
| Scotts Step 2 (Weed Control + Fertilizer) | 3 | 13 |
| Dimension 0.10% granular (pre-emergent) | 4 | 15 |
| Prodiamine 0.5% granular | 3½ | 14 |
| Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer | 3¼ | 14 |
| Kentucky Bluegrass seed (new lawn) | 3 | 12 |
| Kentucky Bluegrass seed (overseed) | 2 | 10 |
| Tall Fescue seed (overseed) | 3½ | 14 |
Always verify setting on product bag — settings can vary by lot. These are starting-point estimates; calibrate on a hard surface first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What spreader setting should I use for Scotts fertilizer?
Scotts products list the spreader setting on the bag. For the Scotts DLX, settings range from 2 (light overseed) to 5 (heavy fertilizer). The most common products like Step 1 use 3 1/4; Step 2 uses 3. Always check the bag - settings change by formulation year.
Can I use my Scotts spreader for non-Scotts products?
Yes, but you'll need to calibrate. Most non-Scotts products list Earthway, Spyker, or generic settings on the bag, not Scotts. Use the calibration table above as a starting point, apply to a small test area, then adjust. The Scotts EdgeGuard DLX has a finer adjustment range than dial spreaders, which makes calibration easier.
How do I calibrate a spreader for an unlisted product?
Weigh out enough product for 100 sq ft at the label's per-1,000 sq ft rate. Mark a 10x10 ft test area on a hard surface (driveway). Apply at your best-guess setting. If you have product left over, the setting was too low; if you ran out, too high. Adjust and repeat. Sweep up the test product and reuse on lawn.
Should I use a broadcast or drop spreader around flower beds?
Drop spreaders for the borders, broadcast for the open lawn. Drop spreaders deliver product directly under the hopper with no fan pattern, eliminating overspray into beds. The Scotts DLX EdgeGuard partly addresses this for broadcast users by blocking right-side spread.
How do I clean my spreader after applying pre-emergent?
Empty the hopper completely, brush out residual granules, then rinse with water. Pre-emergent residue can damage flower beds or new seed if it leaks from a stored spreader. Dry thoroughly before storing to prevent rust on metal parts. The Earthway 2150's enclosed gearbox is more forgiving of wet storage than open-gear spreaders.
About the Author
Lawn Care Expert & Writer · Denver, Colorado · Florida State University
Jason Allen is a lawn care expert and freelance writer based in Denver, Colorado. He studied turfgrass science and horticulture at Florida State University before founding his own lawn care operation serving the Denver metro area. With over a decade of hands-on experience managing cool-season lawns in Colorado's challenging high-altitude climate, Jason specializes in aeration, fertilization timing, drought management, and water-restriction compliance. His practical, science-backed approach to lawn care has helped thousands of homeowners achieve healthy turf despite Colorado's short growing seasons, clay soils, and frequent drought conditions.