Best Compost Spreaders
Adding compost to your lawn or garden is one of the smartest ways to boost soil health naturally. But if you've ever tried spreading compost by hand, you know it’s time-consuming and often uneven.
Using a compost spreader makes the process much faster, easier, and cleaner — ensuring your garden gets an even layer of nutrients without the back-breaking work.
In this guide, I'll share what compost spreaders are, how they work, when to use them, and how to choose the best model for your needs, based on real gardening experience..
What Is a Compost Spreader?
A compost spreader is a tool designed to evenly distribute compost, manure, or other organic materials over your lawn or garden beds.
Instead of dumping piles by hand and raking them out, a spreader ensures an even, fine layer that covers the soil consistently.
There are different types of compost spreaders, from simple rolling drums to more advanced push or tow-behind models.
Each type helps save time, reduce physical labor, and deliver nutrients more precisely — promoting healthier, stronger plant growth.
Using a compost spreader isn't just about convenience — it’s about giving your plants the best start by improving soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient availability.
When Should You Use a Compost Spreader?
Using a compost spreader is ideal when you need to apply compost evenly over a large area — like a lawn, vegetable garden, or flower beds.
It ensures that every part of the soil receives a balanced amount of organic matter, helping plants grow healthier and stronger.
Here are the best times to use a compost spreader:
Early spring: After the last frost, to prepare your garden for planting.
Fall: To enrich the soil and protect it over winter (known as “topdressing”).
After aerating your lawn: To fill in holes with compost and boost root development.
Before seeding new lawns: To create a nutrient-rich base layer for grass seeds.
Spreading compost during these times improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and naturally increases soil fertility — leading to better plant growth season after season.
Source: EPA - Composting at Home Guide
Here is the best Compost Spreader review:
This works a million times better than my old bucket and margarine container process which tended to result in thick streaks of salt and large missed gaps. /Brett/
See closer- here
The best-selling compost spreader in the market today is Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader. Scotts is the manufacturer of this walk-behind spreader. It is great for even spreading of fertilizer or seed on large gardens. This compost spreader has a big hopper with a capacity of up to 15,000 Sq.ft of Scotts lawn products. Therefore, you do not need to keep on refilling the hopper.
Furthermore, this Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader comes when it is ready to use, as it is calibrated and fully assembled. You can start using it after unboxing. This spreader is ideal for spreading any granular substance like fertilizer and grass seed. Besides that, you can it with salt to melt snow and ice on your driveways.
One of the major benefit of using this spreader is the ability to set the rate of releasing your product. This unit features a control panel that has precision rate settings that enables you set your preferred rate of product release. On top of that, this unit has Scott’s unique EdgeGuard technology that ensures your product spread precisely. When in use, this exclusive functionality works by blocking off the right side of the spreader. As a result, it ensures your product does not spread onto non-lawn areas.
The other benefit of using the Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard DLX Broadcast Spreader is its lightweight. It weighs 10.8 pounds, which makes it easier to push. Further, it feature pneumatic tires, which are easier to push in rough terrain. Nonetheless, most users feel these hollow wheels are a disaster. In fact, most users say the fill with the product when in use, hence crumbling out in lumps that cause issues on the lawn. While some users say the compost spreader has a poor built, others feel it works effectively.
Pros
Does not need assemblage as it comes fully assembled and calibrated.
It has a large hopper that reduces your refills.
Easy to push dues to its lightweight.
Different spreading settings offer convenience.
Cons
Wheels require regular cleaning from products.
Not very durable
Customer Reviews
Most customers have said they are happy with the spreader as it works perfectly. The small size and lightweight of the spreader is a plus to them, as it is easy to use and push. Apart from its design and being easy to use, others feel it is easy to adjust to offer comfort and convenience.
On the other hand, we have some negative reviews from some users. Some of them feel this spreader has a poor design and it is a cheap built. Most negative reviews are about the wheels making stripes on the lawn. They say the wheels collect some of the product and then drops little piles after building up. In addition, some customers had the wheels break off, or fail to rotate. But it is easy to fix this issue, even 76 years old lady did it!
Advantages of Compost Spreaders
Saves Time
Irrespective of the type of spreader you are using, the time you spend spreading any product on your garden reduces significantly. After, spreaders are machines for making work easier and faster, while giving you the best results.
Improves Accuracy
Efficiency is the other major benefit that spreaders offer. Manual application of fertilizer or spreading of seed on your lawn results to uneven spreading. This can either lead to burning of your lawn in case of fertilizer spreading, or a patchy lawn in case of seed spreading. However, the use of a spreader makes the application of the lawn products even. This means your lawn or garden will be healthy and flourishing.
Types of Compost Spreader
Depending on the way of use, the compost spreaders have three primary groups. These includes tow-behind, push-along, and handheld spreaders.
Tow-Behind Spreaders
Materials are very good - well constructed. All in all it went together very well. /Agri/
See closer- here
Easy to use and maintain compost spreaders. They are good for people with big lands where handheld and push-along spreaders cannot work. Most tow-behind spreaders have a sturdy built, and a large capacity. An example of the best tow-behind spreader is Agri-Fab 45-0463 Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader.
Push-Along/Walk Behind Spreaders
Best compost spreaders for gardeners who own moderate to large pieces of land. These machines require minimal effort to spread compost within a short duration. In addition, they come with different sized hoppers to enable the use of different products. However, most push-along products have poor quality. The best compost spreader in this category is Scotts Turf Builder Edgeguard DLX broadcast spreader.
Handheld Spreaders
It is so much easier than the typical handheld. /Jvsava/
See closer- here
The handheld compost spreaders are ideal for gardeners with small yards. In such a case, buying a large piece of spreader is unnecessary. Furthermore, if you have a smaller budget or lack enough storage space, handheld spreaders are your best bet. The best handheld spreader is Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader.
Factors to Look For In a Compost Spreader
Choosing the right compost spreader isn't just about price — it's about finding the right features for your garden's needs.
Here’s what you should consider before making a purchase:
1. Size and Capacity
Think about the size of your lawn or garden.
Small areas (under 1,000 sq ft) can use lightweight handheld or drum spreaders.
Large lawns will benefit from bigger, tow-behind models or wide push spreaders.
A larger hopper means fewer trips back to refill.
2. Spreader Type
Different types fit different tasks:
Drop Spreaders: Precise, great for small gardens and flower beds.
Broadcast Spreaders: Cover wide areas fast, ideal for large lawns.
Rolling Drum Spreaders: Best for fine compost and peat moss.
Choosing the right style makes the job faster and cleaner.
3. Material Quality
Look for strong, weather-resistant materials:
Steel or coated metal drums for durability.
Heavy-duty plastic hoppers for lighter tasks.
High-quality materials resist rust, handle moisture, and last longer.
4. Ease of Use
Consider features like:
Comfortable grips
Easy push or pull design
Adjustable flow settings
Simple assembly
The easier your spreader is to use, the more likely you’ll actually enjoy composting regularly!
🌟 Karlis' Tip:
I quickly realized that a comfortable handle and smooth-rolling wheels made a huge difference when spreading compost — especially after 15 minutes of work! It's not just about the spreader; it's about how it feels when you use it.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Compost Spreader
Adding compost to your garden or lawn is one of the best investments you can make for healthier soil, stronger plants, and a more vibrant outdoorspace. And using the right compost spreader makes the process much faster, cleaner, and more effective.
When choosing your spreader, always consider:
The size of your garden
The type of material you’ll be spreading
How much time and effort you want to spend
If you’re working with smaller areas or light compost, a simple drum spreader will work perfectly.
For larger properties or more frequent composting, it’s worth investing in a sturdy broadcast or tow-behind spreader.
✅ The right tool saves you time — and helps your garden thrive naturally.
🌱 Ready to boost your garden’s health?
Pick the compost spreader that fits your space and get started — your soil (and your back) will thank you!
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