Top dressing with a PTO spreader

   / Top dressing with a PTO spreader #1  

BrianW

Silver Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Messages
190
Location
Southern MD
Tractor
Kubota B3030
I compost everything I can. I have a large amount of leave compost each year. Would a PTO spreader be strong enough to spread this stuff after composting?
 
   / Top dressing with a PTO spreader #2  
Don't see why not. They make multi spread machine also which are just modified manure spreaders. As long as it is pto you should be good.
 
   / Top dressing with a PTO spreader #3  
It is the type of spreader, rather than the drive that is important.

Typical cone type spreaders will not work. The material will bridge above the outlet and/or just above the agitators. Unless your material is completely dry and carefully screened down to the size of pelletized fertilizer, it won't feed right.

I looked at a spreader designed to spread sand on driveways. I believe the brand was Hood. It had huge agitators and a very large material opening. However, it cost as much as a spreader designed for topdressing. Most topdressers work on the same principle as a manure spreader. That is, the bed of the hopper either is a belt or has a drag line on it to move wet, irregular material toward the back.

I have an old Turfco Mete-R-Matic that I bought off eBay and rebuilt. If I were buying new, I would look at Earth and Turf. They make some reasonably priced ground driven topdressers. My old Mete-R-Matic is a great piece of gear. It spreads the irregular compost that I get from the city easily and will spread sand perfectly five minutes after a rainstorm.
 

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