Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Choosing The Right Compost Spreader

By Mark Carter


Whether you own a farm or a yard, you are familiar with spreading fertilizer to enrich the soil. When doing so, it is important to pick the best compost spreader for the job. Compost is a natural fertilizer and is eco-friendly. The size and style of the machinery will make a difference in cost and how well the job gets done.

There are several sizes. If you have a large field where tractors are typically in use, you can choose an industrial spreader that is designed for this purpose. The smaller versions are for pulling behind riding lawn mowers or spreading manually. The device size does make a difference in doing an effective job, so choose wisely.

Side composters are designed to pull behind a tractor. These are great for throwing a large amount of material in a wide spray as you drive along the field. These also work well with wet manure by breaking it up into smaller pieces. For foliage that is more delicate, these will be an excellent source. They're also better for material that is too wet for dry applicators and will clog tanks.

Box spreaders with a vertical bar are great for maximizing the amount of spray. The box is pulled behind a tractor and the fertilizer is broken up and sprayed in a way that lays a nice layer on top of the soil. This thicker layer provides more nutrient value to the soil as it is mixed in.

When you want to have more control over the spread, choose a box with horizontal bars. These are hooked up behind the tractor in the same way the vertical bar box is. The difference is that this type is used to control the width of the spray. More accuracy in the width allows you to spray an even layer along a long track of the field when you have to work with long rows.

The spinner beaters allow you to work with multiple materials at once. Since compost comes from different sources, the density can be a problem. With each application, you have to adjust the equipment for the density. These allow you to mix multiple sources together and the beaters mix it for you so you can do one trip and not compact the soil with extra applications.

Lawns require smaller equipment and in some cases manual processing. There are several devices that are similar to the industrial equipment but sized to be pulled behind a riding lawnmower. Another option exists in doing a manual application by using a roller. The roller has all-metal construction with front loading and a mesh barrel. This mesh barrel breaks up the material as you push the roller and it lays the fertilizer directly onto the soil.

Choosing the right equipment minimizes cost and time to get the job done. For great lawn or produce growth, a compact soil can be a problem. Making one pass instead of many will prevent soil compaction and allow for the natural fertilizer to do its job. This is better for growing and for the environment.




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