Fertilizer spreader settings not right, validate my thinking...

NYSpeed Automotive NYSpeed Off Topic
1

My front yard is approximately 14,000 sq ft. I bought a 42 pound bag of fertilizer which says to put it down at 3 pounds per 1,000 sq ft, with an average covering of 14,000 sq ft. Easy, one bag should be exact for my front lawn. I pick it up, put it in my spreader and change the setting to what they say, setting 3 1/4. It’s a Scott’s spreader and Scott’s fertilizer, so it should be pretty accurate,right? Wrong…

I get get done with my whole front lawn, and I only used up about 1/5 or less of the bag. So now I am in a little bit of a pickle. I don’t want to over fertilize my yard, but it seems that I should trust the pounds per 1,000 sq ft more than the dial setting, right? I am thinking of going back over the front yard until the bag is empty, even though that’s WAY more than came out on the setting they said to use, of 3 1/4.

Any thoughts? I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that the spreader calibration is so far off.

2

How old is your spreader? If it is not the current model being sold in stores go verify the chute size opening and compare to yours. I had the same issue with mine a few years ago.

I would wait until after the next moderate rainfall to apply again.

3

That’s a good point, testing the actual spreader opening to a store model. It’s probably 3 years old, and still one they sell. It’s the Scott’s EdgeGuard Mini.

4

You could test the soil and see what the pH is.

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