[PicturePerfectLawns]

I always use a scale. Easy as pie, know exactly the rate going down. A 25 lb bag of x-x-x might put 1 lb. of nitrogen down per 1,000 square feet over 5k the whole bag is spread over 5k. I may be feeding .50 lbs. or .75 lbs of nitrogen. The scale makes that easy to know exactly what I'm putting down and a kitchen scale cost less then $15.00 at Walmart. $15.00 is much cheaper then a burned up lawn, cheaper then wasted fertilizer, and also gives me peace at mind every time.

 

[PicturePerfectLawns]

I use a scale for calibration, but I don't think it's necessary or practical to use for spreader filling for each property. Once you've done your calibration and have your equipment set, all you have to do is maintain a consistent application (consistent speed and overlap) and you'll deliver something very close to the right amount.

PicturePerfect, if you weigh out the fert before each lawn, how do you account for the decreased swath width as you get to the bottom of the spreader? Do you add more fert in the hopper to account for the amount in the bottom that doesn't line up with the holes and can't fall through easily?

Skipster, I do the scale thing on my personal Zoysia lawn. And I do exactly as you mentioned pretty much, keep the hopper above half way mark where I stopped when I fill it back up. You're probably right, once about the equipment and calibration, but I've gotten so use doing it this way it's natural. :laugh: