[gogetter]

There's been some talk lately of topdressing.
Some where asking what to use to spread it. I found this doing a search. But I'm thinking it's too small.

But maybe someone with real small lawns might find it helpful.

http://www.eco-gardening.com/docs/mowlawn_compostspreader.shtml

 

[trying 2b organic]

That roller doesnt work which is why no-one uses it. Big thread int the organics section about the latest topdressing equipment.

 

[gogetter]

Originally posted by trying 2b organic
That roller doesnt work which is why no-one uses it.

Based on............? I'd like to hear more.

Big thread int the organics section about the latest topdressing equipment.

You mean the big thread with 5 posts? ;-) (just messing with ya).
Seriously, I saw it, but there really isn't much info there (yet anyway). It mentions mulch blower trucks, and a w/b push spreader which is even smaller then the one I linked above, and very expensive.

I was looking for something bigger then a 100lb hopper, but smaller then a tow behind Earth & Turf type unit. Something in the middle.
Thanks.

 

[Ryan Lightning]

I have one just like that, and It worked perfect for me. I used it to top dress lawns I seeded last fall, with forest humus it will put it down at about 1/2 yard per thousand. It doesnt take long to cover small 1-4 thousand sqft lawns. Im going to try it with some compost in the next few weeks to top dress a bermuda lawn. Ill let you know how it works, and snap a few pics.

 

[gogetter]

Ryan, that sounds good. Would definately like to see some pics of the process and the results.

Where did you buy yours? Is that a good price on that link I posted ($109)?.

Any info about the whole process is appreciated. Thanks.

BTW trying 2b organic, I went back to that forum and saw a bigger thread on the topic. I saw the link you provided to the spreader, but when I tried to e-mail them for more info, it bounced back to me. Can you tell me anything about the spreader, price, suppliers??? Thanks!

 

[mtdman]

That email for more info doesn't work. Try sending an email to one of the other addresses listed in the contacts section. That's what I did and they responded. The cost is going to be around $900 canadian, and it will be ready later this year. They are willing to ship. Problem is, as someone pointed out to me, it is designed to spread their compost which is drier and finer than regular compost. I'm not sure if it will work for wetter, clumpy compost.

I am interested to know about this drum thingy, and if it works as well.

 

[twwlawn]

gogetter, I have been using those compost roller's since I started the biz 10 years ago. I have a 24" & 48" roller's. When they first came out they were for the homeowner to use and they were made cheap. The one's I got are thicker metal and are doing well as of this day. I cover alot of lawn quickly.

 

[topcat]

Hey twwlawn

Where is a good place to get the heavier compost rollers from like you mentioned. I would like to try doing a few lawns to see the results of doing a compost topdressing.

 

[craigs lawncare]

Great thread...
I wonder how well it works for clumpier compost as well.
A bigger one with a more open mesh/screen would seem like it would be better to me.

Craig

 

[David Haggerty]

Originally posted by mtdman
Problem is, as someone pointed out to me, it is designed to spread their compost which is drier and finer than regular compost. I'm not sure if it will work for wetter, clumpy compost.

I think that's the difference. Different spreaders for different composts.
I've used my Earth & Turf spreader on a small residential lawn. The lawn needed MAJOR improvement.
I spread the cheap clumpy compost at a rate of 1Ton per 1,000 sq. ft.
A renovation type of thing. Core aerated the heck out of it. It looked good last fall. Havn't seen it yet this spring.

I've priced some of the finer ground and better smelling composts and they're not for what I'm trying to accomplish. They're for quality, well established lawns.

If you're trying to rejuvenate a neglected weed patch, you'll need volumes of coarse ground organic matter etc. to amend the top layer of soil.
I havn't seen anything smaller than the Earth & Turf that'll handle that kind of compost.

Dave

 

[gogetter]

Originally posted by twwlawn
gogetter, I have been using those compost roller's since I started the biz 10 years ago. I have a 24" & 48" roller's. When they first came out they were for the homeowner to use and they were made cheap. The one's I got are thicker metal and are doing well as of this day. I cover alot of lawn quickly.

I'd also like to hear more about the bigger 48" one. Are you pushing/pulling that around by hand or towing it with something? Seems it would be real heavy.

Also, what were you putting through it, what type of material?

After a lot of internet searching, it seems to me that there is a piece of equipment missing from the market. The ideal compost spreader for small lawns.
I know they make self propelled walk behind units for golf courses, but they're pretty costly. Something inbetween price and size wise would be nice. Something low profile and with four wheels so it is stable on slopped lawns. Maybe something with dumping capabilities to make it even more versatile so it could be used for other jobs such as moving mulch around a property (replacing a lot of wheel barrow work).

Maybe some e-mails to manufacturers expressing an interest in such a machine might get the ball rolling.

Just thinking out loud.

 

[dkeisala]

Originally posted by gogetter
I'd also like to hear more about the bigger 48" one. Are you pushing/pulling that around by hand or towing it with something? Seems it would be real heavy.

Also, what were you putting through it, what type of material?

After a lot of internet searching, it seems to me that there is a piece of equipment missing from the market. The ideal compost spreader for small lawns.
I know they make self propelled walk behind units for golf courses, but they're pretty costly. Something inbetween price and size wise would be nice. Something low profile and with four wheels so it is stable on slopped lawns. Maybe something with dumping capabilities to make it even more versatile so it could be used for other jobs such as moving mulch around a property (replacing a lot of wheel barrow work).

Maybe some e-mails to manufacturers expressing an interest in such a machine might get the ball rolling.

Just thinking out loud.

AMEN!!! Back on the farm as a boy we used tractor-pulled manure speaders. Had a link driven conveyor system with spinning spikes at the rear that threw the material from behind. Something like this on a smaller scale and configured as a walk behind would be great! And keep the cost affordable as we don't need golf course topdressers which seem to be mainly used for sand anyway.

 

[mtdman]

I'm with all of you. We need a midsized compost spreader for the lawn care guy. How hard can it be to make one? And make it affordable?

 

[gogetter]

This is one of the smallest/most compact topdressers I've seen

http://www.earthandturf.com/multispread.htm

I don't know the price (maybe someone else does?). But since I don't have anything to tow it around with, and it's still a bit big for some small front yards I have. Plus it won't fit through many gates to the backyard, I still feel there's a need for something to fill that niche.

If you contact them using their online form, there is even a space where they ask if there are any products that you would like to see on the market (that's great!). Although I'm not sure if it went through or not, mine said error after I sent it. Guess I'll wait to see if they respond.

 

[NCL]

What else would you guys want in a spreader?

 

[dkeisala]

Originally posted by gogetter
This is one of the smallest/most compact topdressers I've seen

http://www.earthandturf.com/multispread.htm

I don't know the price (maybe someone else does?). But since I don't have anything to tow it around with, and it's still a bit big for some small front yards I have. Plus it won't fit through many gates to the backyard, I still feel there's a need for something to fill that niche.

If you contact them using their online form, there is even a space where they ask if there are any products that you would like to see on the market (that's great!). Although I'm not sure if it went through or not, mine said error after I sent it. Guess I'll wait to see if they respond.

Used their "contact information" icon to request additional information. Received an error message as well.

 

[mtdman]

Here's some links and stuff from my collection about this subject:

http://turfco.com/html/selfpropelledtd.htm

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=572911#post572911

http://lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=53928&highlight=topdressing

 

[craigs lawncare]

Originally posted by gogetter
This is one of the smallest/most compact topdressers I've seen

http://www.earthandturf.com/multispread.htm

I don't know the price (maybe someone else does?). But since I don't have anything to tow it around with, and it's still a bit big for some small front yards I have. Plus it won't fit through many gates to the backyard, I still feel there's a need for something to fill that niche.

If you contact them using their online form, there is even a space where they ask if there are any products that you would like to see on the market (that's great!). Although I'm not sure if it went through or not, mine said error after I sent it. Guess I'll wait to see if they respond.

The compost spreader in the above link was being sold for around $4.000+ at the Louisville expo last fall.
We need something smaller yet.
The drum idea looks like it would really work well but they need a bigger one.

Craig

 

[craigs lawncare]

What do you guys think of this for a compost spreader?
It looks like you would have to screen your compost if it had a bunch of debris in it but I bet this thing would really work well.
If only it was a little bigger.
I guess we are never happy are we.

http://www.newerspreader.com/details.htm#how

Craig

 

[twwlawn]

The 48" roller is homemade. The diameter is 28". Got the materials from a ranch store and did the welding, cost back then for materials was 45.00. I can pull by hand providing the compost is dry, I attach a hitch to it and pull with my small tractor when the compost or materials has alot of moisture. If there is to much moisture in the compost or material, balling up happens sometimes. Just empty the roller and refill. The 24" roller is simlar to the one at www.eco-garden.com. I got that from a store called Home Base, which they went out business years ago. On the 24" one I did more welding to it for to be more durable. Hope this helps.