How To Calibrate A Broadcast Spreader

[@kenbred46]

What a bunch of BS. I'd have to spend $200 to get all the equipment required to calibrate a $40 spreader.

[@alan30189]

I don’t know how much fertilizer spreaders change during the lifetime of the spreader, but it would be nice if there was a databank or chart, where you can look up your particular spreader and the type of fertilizer or pre-emergent you’re putting down and just find out what the setting is. Is there such a thing? That would solve everybody’s problem. For example, if you’re putting down Milorganite, go to the Milorganite website, and you will most likely find your spreader and the recommended spreader setting that you need to put down the correct amount. Easy Peezy! I found my spreader listed and was good to go for Milorganite, which I no longer use. I don’t have an area where I can do this calibration test. I’m just going to set my EZ Republic rotary spreader at “5” and see if the three pounds that I need for 1500 ft.², will cover it. If I have some left, I’ll just turn down the spreader to about a “3,” and go over it again until it’s empty. Then, the next time I put down this Scott’s pre-emergent, I’ll set the spreader to a higher setting. Scott’s doesn’t provide other fertilizer spreader settings on their website. ☹️

[@cranstjs]

No doubt. I've been struggling with this for years and it should be a really simple thing where the test in the video was already run and therefore you would know, set it on 2 and this is how much particulate will get broadcast or dropped. Duh. And if it gets out of calibration because say a spring broke, you should be able to readjust it, at say a setting of 2, to a certain width of opening. I think they want you to just buy another one. I actually went to the store and set up a similar model and brought a scale to measure the gap on a certain setting.

[@howardb4]

many products do have suggested spreader settings based on brand and model of the spreader. The big issue is the walking pace variable. the amount of product and the width of the spread is very dependent on your walking pace as well as the setting on the spreader. my issue is....who wants to waste expensive product calibrating? I guess if you have an area that you can sweep up product and re-use. And what? recalibrate for every different product you buy?? pre emergent in the spring and fertilizer in the summer..etc. I like the comment below that just sets his spreader on middle setting and goes back if he has left over. It may not be as precise, but easy and lest wasteful. It's not like the exact science of making bread. :