Anybody have experience with spreading this stuff?

 

C'mon man.......anyone on here that works with penn mulch or similar product? Has to be someone.....

 

Guess Im S.O.L. Posted earlier today and not one response here. Just find it hard to believe no lawn care guys on here used Seed Aide or Pennmulch on renovation or new lawn projects.

Came across this article while hoping Simone here could help me out. These pellets in this article look a little bigger than the actual Seed Aide product. Guess maybe I'll butthd Earthway 2130 for $300 Amazon Prime and use it on the job next week.

Here is the article with s guy spreading large pellets. Hope it works for me.

http://aroundtheyard.com/equipment/earthway-2130-high-output-spreader-t4955.html

 

I have never spread a seeding mulch but have top dressed a lawn with leaf compost using a wheel barrow and scoop shovel. We usually slice seed lawns and use no starter mulch.

 

I've tried to run it through a Lesco spreader... Tried being the key word.

 

Never had luck thru a spreader. But, haven't tried them all either. When we use it we empty bags into a wheelbarrow, fill five gallon buckets out of the wheelbarrow and fling/spread by hand. Like anything you do it for a few minutes and you learn little tricks to make it go faster. When you learn to fling it out of the bucket then it starts going fast. Biggest we have done was probably about 10,000 square. Had a few guys so didn't take too long. A little more time than straw but that depends on the straw. I don't think I'd buy a $300 spreader for one job...best I got...

Also, it's not my favorite as far as starting a lawn.

 

Also, that was going to be my original form of spreading stuff just like you said, put in a wheelbarrow and throw just wasn't sure if I would be wasting product or putting enough down doing it like that.

 

Wow REPLIES!!!!! Appreciate it guys have been sweating since I posted yesterday just trying to get some insight.

I found one video on YouTube of a guy doing an athletic field three Lesco drop spreader. The stuff went right through the spreader because it's made for that product. However the freaking spreader is almost $700!!!

That blue Earthway spreader says it is for rock salt sand and seed mulch I guess that means pellets…?

I wasn't going to buy the spreader just for this one job I was thinking it might be good to have if I really like this seed cover product I'll start using it and now I have the spreader for other jobs. Granted it will just sit until next fall probably…

I've never been a user of straw for several reasons. I always use Pete Moss. However in this yard it's sloped and I think the slightest bit of rain will wash it away. That's why I was looking for something a little better and I think this seed Aide falls right in the middle.

 

Blue salt spreader is nice. Suited to big particles.
Water, and plenty of it, is really what you need. Are you in Florida? What kind of seed? Is there any way to get water to the site? I suggest set up temporary irrigation with a battery-powered water timer and a hose or two. 30 minutes every day--maybe twice per day. A rotary sprinkler might cover an 80 foot circle--with luck--and good pressure. Charge the customer for the clock and 4 aa batteries, (which he keeps).

 

Blue salt spreader is nice. Suited to big particles.
Water, and plenty of it, is really what you need. Are you in Florida? What kind of seed? Is there any way to get water to the site? I suggest set up temporary irrigation with a battery-powered water timer and a hose or two. 30 minutes every day--maybe twice per day. A rotary sprinkler might cover an 80 foot circle--with luck--and good pressure. Charge the customer for the clock and 4 aa batteries, (which he keeps).

Ok glad to hear it's a nice spreader. Kind of nervous about it. I figure if rock salt can pass why not seed Aide? Looked at the stuff and it doesn't look much different in size.

Anyways...in VA zone 7. This client has 12 zones of irrigation so no problems there. Got a couple 150' excelsior wood fiber mats for the sloped area that is bare dirt. Gonna apply seed around 10-12# per 1000 since it's bare. Using a 3 way fescue blend called southern lawn.

 

Penn mulch is expensive and really doesn't go very far. I feel it works well for the most part but is best for maybe some patches or touch ups. Slow to spread as well.

What is your issue with straw? Ever use a straw blower/chopper? They put down a really nice finish on larger areas.

 

Well I finished this job up about two weeks ago. I used to 12 bags of seed Aide. I got that blue Earthway spreader it's made for rocksalt and it spread that stuff with absolutely no issue at all and very fast. Not sure what other people were talking about saying it doesn't go through that spreader it goes through almost too fast. Anyways, a drop spreader in my opinion is out a lot better for spreading this type of product. It needs to be a specific thickness and a broadcast spreader just throws it out too far. You end up having to go over the area like four different directions just get the right consistency. I ended up just throwing it by hand out of the spreader to get better coverage. Wasn't a huge area it was a smaller size back area and some areas along a curb and driveway.

My issue with straw is it always seems to germinate some type of weed grass regardless of where you buy it. That's number one. Number two you don't really have to clean it up but to be honest the lawn looks better faster if you use Pete Moss or now,hopefully seed aid/penn mulch. This is my first time using it but I don't think you have to worry about that kind of "dirty look" straw leaves after the grass comes up.

If it was a real large area maybe straw? But properties I work on with new lawn installation are generally 5000 to 7000 ft.²