Quicker Than Using Your Hands: The Easy-To-Use Tool On Amazon For Spreading Seeds & Fertilizer

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When you need to overseed your entire property, doing the work by hand might seem like the best way to ensure the seed goes where you want. However, you probably should skip this popular grass seeding technique because of how long it takes. Depending on the conditions, using a walk-behind spreader with wheels may not be the right option, either. The spreader drops seed each time the wheels turn, but hard plastic wheels may bounce over uneven ground instead of turning, causing poor seed distribution.

Instead, you may want a wearable spreader with a large hopper that distributes the seed without having to do it by hand. The Solo 421S Chest-Mount Spreader is an option that has strong customer reviews on Amazon and retails for around $75. It uses a hand crank and gear drive to distribute the material. When a spreader with an open hopper travels over bumpy ground, seed may bounce out. The Solo spreader has a capped hopper to help contain the material, while a separate directional control lets you adjust where the seed is broadcast as you walk.

A spreader is considered an essential lawn tool for healthy grass. You can use it for overseeding, fertilizer application, and deploying weed-killing granules. The Solo wearable spreader can manage all of these items, as well as distribute ice melt over a driveway or sidewalk.

The cost of the Solo wearable spreader is similar to what you'd pay for a Scotts-branded walk-behind spreader and a little more than a DeWalt-branded small handheld spreader. Saving money with the handheld spreader might not be an option when you must work over a large space, though. One of the disadvantages of seeding grass with a hand-crank spreader is that it can usually only hold 1 to 5 pounds of material. The Solo unit offers 20 pounds of capacity, so you don't have to refill it as often when working on a large property.

Along with its larger capacity, the Solo spreader receives high marks for durability from Amazon customer reviewers. "This spreader is certainly more durable than any bag spreader I have ever used before," one Amazon reviewer said. Another customer said the Solo machine was perfect for spreading seed over a 4-acre plot. The unit carries a one-year manufacturer's warranty.

In addition to its durability, it uses an adjustable shoulder strap to help the wearer support the machine's weight, leaving your hands free to control the spreader's application rate and direction. Many reviewers said it was comfortable to wear across the chest, even when the hopper was full. "I've used a considerable list of spreaders that weren't worth buying. This one is a lasting value," one reviewer said.

When you have unusual ground conditions or odd materials to spread, Amazon customer reviewers said the Solo wearable spreader was a good option. In addition to using it for common materials (like fertilizer or ice melt granules), one Amazon reviewer said the Solo machine worked well for delivering diatomaceous earth to an organic garden without clogging. "We spread diatomaceous earth on our organic vegetable plants to keep ... beetles off our plants," the reviewer noted.

Amazon reviewers use this spreader in areas where other types of spreaders don't work well, such as ruts, tree roots, or steep hills. Several customers used this Solo device to provide seed to a remote pasture area. The large hopper ensures that you don't have to refill it as often when working over a large plot. Another customer reviewer had tilled the ground before adding seed. However, the walk-behind spreader did not work on the soft ground, making the Solo unit a better option. One customer reviewer who is a hunter used it to seed food plots in remote areas. It delivered seeds of various sizes and textures, including oats, winter peas, and brassicas. "Using this spreader also allows you to get into tighter areas, control overseed rate better, and [with] way less hassle," the reviewer said.