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| Figure 1. It is easier to pull a spreader backward in soft or tilled soil. |
Walk-behind lawn spreaders are designed to be pushed, not pulled. The delivery rate from drop spreaders and the pattern from rotary spreaders are distorted if a spreader is pulled backward.
Why Pull Backward?
The first question you might ask is, "Why would anyone want to pull a spreader backward?" The answer is that it can take considerably less force to pull a spreader backward than to push it forward. This is especially true in soft soil or deep thatch (Figure 1). When you push a spreader, some of your effort goes into pushing the spreader down, thus increasing the rolling resistance and requiring more effort. When you pull a spreader, part of your effort on the handle tends to lift the spreader and thus reduce rolling resistance and effort.
It can be tempting to pull a spreader backward when using the spreader to seed a new lawn or to fertilize a garden because it is much easier to pull it backward under those conditions.
Effect on Drop Spreaders
With some drop spreaders, the rate increases when the spreader is pulled backward; with others, the rate decreases. Some common plastic drop spreaders will apply three to four times as much material when pulled backward. Even a fairly high-quality plastic drop spreader can apply two to two and one-half times as much material when pulled backward.
Effect on Rotary Spreaders
Pulling a rotary spreader will not affect delivery rate as much as pattern. A few rotary spreaders have a symmetrical design, and thus backward operation will have minimal effect; but many rotary spreaders are not symmetrical and the pattern can be seriously distorted if pulled backward. Pulling a rotary spreader backward can result in all the material being thrown to one side.
When Is It OK to Pull Backward?
Because it is easier to pull a spreader backward, some manufacturers may develop specific spreader settings for backward operation for certain products such as grass seed, "starter" fertilizer or garden fertilizer. If the manufacturer provides a special setting for backward operation with a specific spreader, you can pull that model of spreader backward with that product and save some effort; if not, don’t do it.
Yes, it can be tempting to pull a spreader backward - especially on loose, bare soil - but doing so can distort your delivery rate or your pattern. Pull a spreader backward only if it is designed for this or if a special setting is provided for backward operation.