Disadvantages To Seeding Grass With A Hand-Crank Or Bag Spreader

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Selecting the right type of spreader to apply seed to your lawn is an important first step in making sure that you maintain healthy grass. This is a natural way to keep your lawn green, too. Hand-crank and bag spreaders are two of the popular types of spreaders homeowners use. However, there are a few disadvantages you should be aware of before selecting either of these options. Hand-crank spreaders (which are also referred to as handheld spreaders) should not be used to apply seed within large spaces. They also make it difficult to apply grass in a controlled manner. As for bag spreaders, it can be difficult to fill the bags with seed without spilling it. Additionally, you may find it challenging to operate the spreader's crank when the bag is full.

These challenges don't mean you have to avoid using a hand-crank or bag spreader to spread grass seed altogether. You just need to keep the disadvantages in mind so that you know what to expect when using them. If you plan to use a hand-crank or bag spreader yourself, it's also helpful to understand exactly how these machines work. A hand-crank spreader is a small machine that you operate by cranking a handle on the side in circles. Grass seed is then dispersed from a compartment at the bottom. A bag spreader operates similarly. However, instead of holding it in your hand, you put the strap attached to the bag over your shoulder to hold it while you crank the handle on the side to disperse grass seed.

You might gravitate toward hand-crank seed spreaders since they are generally not as pricey as other types of seed spreaders. However, they can only cover so much ground. Since you must operate and hold a hand-crank seed spreader with your hands, you might find it physically difficult to disperse seed throughout a large yard with this machine. As a result, the hand-crank seed spreader is better for use in small areas such as landscape beds or tight spaces a larger rolling seed spreader might not fit. If you need to cover a large yard with grass seed, consider using a product like the Scotts Turf Builder Broadcast Spreader instead. Another problem with a hand-crank seed spreader is that you have less control when using it since you must operate the machine with your hands while standing upright and walking. It's easy for seed to blow away in the wind before it even hits the ground.

A bag seed spreader also possesses this problem along with a few more. The soft fabric bag you must load up with grass seed can be difficult to fill, wasting seeds to spillage. Exercise caution when filling the bag to combat this problem. You might find it easier to use a scooper to add seed to the bag rather than pouring it. When this bag is full, it gets heavy. As a result, it can be difficult to hold it on your shoulder while operating the crank. Keep these disadvantages in mind before deciding whether either of these ways to spread grass seed are right for you.