A beautiful and well-tended lawn stands or falls with the even sowing of the grass seeds. Professional gardeners often have to practice seeding evenly by hand for many years. Many hobby gardeners do not have that long time, which is why they can help themselves with gritters. The trolley not only makes sowing easier, it also helps to distribute the seeds evenly over the area.
How a spreader works
Spreaders can be used in many ways in the garden. They are used to apply fertilizer, seeds or substrates. The wagon usually has a setting that can be used to regulate how much spreading material can be spread. With the setting of the size, spreading material of different sizes can also be spread. The forward movement causes the grit to fall out of the wagon later. Only the forward movement opens the hatches and when driving backwards they remain closed. This prevents the spreading material from being spread twice on one area.
Tip: There are models of the spreader that have color markings, which indicate areas that have already been spread. Such
Although models cost a little more, they are more suitable for large areas or useful if used frequently.Spreaders can not only be used all year round for planting seeds on lawns. The trolleys offer these uses:
- Sowing
- Fertilize
- Sprinkle with salt
- Application of crumbly substances
The trolley is often used on paths and lawns, but it can also be helpful in beds. When preparing the beds, the wagon can be used to spread fertilizer evenly. Other agents such as pesticides in the form of granules can also be distributed evenly with the trolley.
Soil preparation
Before placing the seeds with a trolley, the soil must be prepared. Turf soil is often a highly compacted area that does not provide the best basis for the seeds. The soil should be loose, which is why compacted soil should be loosened first. Commercially available garden tills can be used for this. So that the spreading material is evenly distributed later
can be spread, the soil must be straightened again after loosening. A large spirit level should be used for this. Although the floor can never be made completely horizontal, larger unevenness can be prevented by measuring. So that the soil remains flat, it is compacted a little with a roller.Select seeds
Before the grass seed is spread, a suitable mixture must be selected. From sports turf to English turf, there are different mixtures with grass seeds. The mixtures differ in the composition of the grasses. For example, the grass mix for English lawns is not as hard-wearing as grass for sports fields. The selection of the seeds depends on the later use. Ready-made mixtures are available in stores, for example for recreational lawns. In the specialist trade, however, lawn mixtures can also be put together individually. The grass mixture can be adapted to a special use or the soil or Climatic conditions are adapted.
Tip: A grass mixture for a recreational lawn is usually chosen most often. It's sturdy and easy to maintain.
Prepare the seeds
While there is no further preparation required for manual spreading, the seeds of the grasses are usually too small for spreading wagons. The amount cannot be set so small that too much seed cannot be sown selectively. The lawn seed must therefore be mixed with another substrate. The seeds can be mixed with different substrates. For example:
- sand
- fine crumbly compost
- fertilizer
When mixing with fertilizer, it is especially important for new plants
care must be taken that the soil does not become too rich in nutrients. For example, mineral fertilizers that are mixed with the seeds are suitable. If compost is used, it must be ensured that the soil is dry and very fine crumbly. Failure to do so can cause problems with spreading and the soil clogs the openings of the wagon. A mixture can also consist of several parts. The seeds can be mixed with sand and compost, which creates a more even appearance when sowing.Use spreader
After the seeds have been mixed, the wagon can be filled. This is done as follows:
- Set the spread rate
- Fill the trolley
- Spread seeds evenly
- Mark the sown areas
Tip: Set only half of the spread rate on the wagon. After the first round, cross the area once again across the direction of the seed, which creates a more even image.
After sowing
Depending on the mixture, the seeds germinate within a few days. During this time, the soil should remain constantly moist and not dry out. Drought causes the sensitive seedlings to die off. Although the seed is spread evenly with the spreader, it can happen that there are places where no seeds germinate. In this case, the car is passed over the relevant point again. The topsoil or The addition of compost to the seeds usually provides the seedlings with sufficient nutrients to grow well. After around three weeks, the benefits of a spreader become apparent, as it can now be used to spread fertilizer.