Scotts Spreader Settings for Grass Seed

Founded in 1868, Scotts Miracle-Gro is a leading manufacturer and distributor of lawn-care products, fertilizers and grass seed. The company also markets a line of spreaders for applying fertilizer or sowing seed. The models include push-type and hand-operated broadcast spreaders, drop spreaders and the Easygreen shaker. Scott also grows and packages grass seed blends, such as Turf Builder Sun & Shade, Fenway Park and Turf Builder Dense Shade Mix. Every Scotts blend lists settings for each model of its spreaders.

As the name implies, Turf Builder Sun & Shade is a general-purpose turf blend suitable for a variety of growing conditions. For application using a pushed broadcast spreader, Scotts recommends a setting of 5 1/2 when overseeding and a bare-lawn setting of 8 1/4. With a handheld broadcast spreader, Scotts recommends a setting of 4 when overseeding or seeding a new lawn but suggests that the sower make two perpendicular passes for new areas. For drop spreaders, use a setting of 8 1/2 for overseeding and a bare-lawn setting of 12 1/2. For the Easygreen shaker, settings of 30 when overseeding and 32 for establishing a new lawn are best.

Scotts Major League Baseball seed blends match the grass varieties in some of America's most famous baseball stadiums, such as Fenway Park in Boston. For a pushed broadcast spreader, Scotts recommends a setting of 2 1/4 when overseeding and a bare-lawn setting of 4. For application with a handheld broadcast spreader, use a setting of 3 when overseeding and 4 when planting a bare lawn. For drop spreaders, go with a setting of 5 for overseeding and a bare-lawn setting of 6 3/4. For the Easygreen shaker, Scotts recommends a setting of 26 when overseeding and 27 for establishing a new lawn.

For extremely shady areas such as under trees, Scotts recommends its Turf Builder Dense Shade Mix. When sowing with a push-type broadcast spreader, use a setting of 7 1/2 when overseeding and a bare lawn setting of 10. When using a handheld broadcast spreader, choose a setting of 4 when overseeding or planting a bare lawn, although two perpendicular passes will produce the best results for new lawns. For drop spreaders, use a setting of 9 3/4 for overseeding and a bare lawn setting of 14. For the Easygreen shaker, Scotts recommends a setting of 27 when overseeding and one of 32 with two perpendicular passes when seeding a bare area.