• Best overall – Buyers Products Walk Behind
• Runner up – Agri-Fab 45-0462
• Best simple – Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini
• Best cheap – Scotts Elite Spreader
• Best comfort – The Andersons Yard Star Walk-Behind Broadcast Spreader

Preparing your driveway, stairs, and sidewalk for winter is one of the most crucial things you can do. The risks are great and someone might get hurt if you don’t. If nothing else, not salting your driveway will make it difficult to drive or walk on it. Make your home a safer place to be in the winter with the aid of a walk-behind salt spreader and some salt. Which salt spreader, though, is the best? We have done the research and chosen the top salt spreaders for 2022.

Buyers Products Walk Behind

For all of your salt distribution requirements, this metal walk-behind spreader is an efficient piece of equipment. Despite being made of metal, the item won’t rust or dent when handled. This is made possible by a carbon steel powder coat. This walk-behind salt spreader doesn’t need to be handled with the same care as sensitive machinery. The gears can withstand cold and snow because they are made of grade alloy. More importantly, grease-fitting shields enclose and surround the metal gears.

The walk-behind salt spreader can contain up to 100 pounds of ice melt or salt, saving you from having to make several journeys to the store for fresh bags of salt. This tool spreads salt up to 24 feet with a strong spinning disc. Using a lever, you may easily regulate the flow of materials. A nylon rain hopper cover and hopper screen are included with the spreader.

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Agri-Fab 45-0462

This walk-behind salt spreader was created for more than simply salt. You can use it to distribute grass seed or fertilizer in the summer. You can utilize your goods all year round with this dual use.

This salt spreader is a tough product that was made with a rust-proof covering. It can survive the chilly and damp winter weather. This walk-behind salt spreader won’t be damaged by the weather thanks to an enclosed taper and bevel gearbox.

The product is simple to operate because of its ergonomic handle and pneumatic tires. To stop the salt from spreading further, utilize the rod gate control. You can purchase a shield for the salt spreader for an extra fee. No matter what attachments you use, the spreader can support up to 130 pounds. Concerning how quickly you spread, it may cover up to 25,000 square feet per load.

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Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini

The Scotts Turf Builder is a multi-purpose broadcast spreader that can apply fertilizer or seed across 5,000 square feet. That is equivalent to a substantial driveway and sidewalk’s worth of rock salt or ice melt. It features EdgeGuard technology to make sure that salt doesn’t get on your lawn or landscaping. The same technology prevents grass seed and fertilizer from getting on your driveway during the summer.

This item is fully constructed and pre-calibrated when it is delivered. When it does, you can start sprinkling your driveway with rock salt. When you’re through, use the fold-down handle to make it smaller. Your spreader won’t fill up the entire shed or garage when you store it. Pulling up the handle is all that is required to prepare it for usage.

The spreader incorporates a control panel for more accuracy. You can control where the rock salt goes by directing it. This product can accomplish the job in terms of accuracy.

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Scotts Elite Spreader

Its larger counterpart, the Elite Spreader, is the same instrument. To cover a larger area per second, it has two spreader rotors and reinforced plastic large wheels. You can cover up to 20,000 square feet with the container size.

To prevent hand fatigue for a longer period, the handle is ergonomic. Additionally, there is a stylish smartphone holder so you may have some fun YouTube or other entertainment while working.

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The Andersons Yard Star Walk-Behind Broadcast Spreader

This device, a broadcast spreader, has a 50-pound hopper capacity and can support up to 175 pounds of weight. It keeps rock salt, seeds, or fertilizer. The ice master spreader distributes salt evenly across your surfaces using a three-hole technique. To increase control and accuracy, the drop rate can be adjusted.

This spreader includes an ergonomic grip for your comfort. Anyone living in your home can use it because you can adjust it to the right height. You have more control and stability thanks to the wide frame, which allows the weight to be spread evenly. It can handle any kind of road or pathway because the 13-inch tires can traverse difficult terrain.

Although this product has to be put together, everything is provided when you buy it. The spreader is simple to use once it has been put together and is ready for use. This device is a great choice if you’re searching for a spreader that won’t wreck your back.

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How we picked

Even though there were many salt spreaders to choose from, we were only able to reduce our choice to five salt spreaders. We looked at several crucial characteristics to do that. We first gave the convenience of usage some thought. Spreading salt shouldn’t be laborious, especially if your route to the salt is far. Highly requested features included adjustable handle heights and ergonomic handles.

We also sought things that will last. It wasn’t good enough to pass muster if the item was prone to rusting or breaking. We omit tough salt spreaders that could stand up to hard winters and storage in garages.

The Benefits Of A Walk-Behind Salt Spreader

Even though you could spread salt by hand, why bother? Salt spreaders that are walk-behinds are significantly easier to use. Without a spreader, you’d have to lug a bulky bag of salt about to spread it out. You must go back to your garage or storage space and retrieve another bag once your current one is empty. You have to cope with heavy lifting, cold hands, and inconvenience while you sprinkle the salt.

Salt may be easily distributed when using a salt spreader. You may move the spreader around and let the tool handle all of the jobs. You don’t need to worry about handling salt grains, so you can stay warm in the cold while wearing your gloves. You need less time and effort to properly salt your driveway as well.

Distribution

The mechanical spreader evenly distributes your salt, an additional advantage of utilizing it. It is impossible to uniformly distribute salt while doing it by hand. You can forget about some areas or salt some areas excessively. You may scatter the salt uniformly with a walk-behind spreader, increasing its efficiency. You won’t waste salt or overlook some important driveway or sidewalk sections.

Of course, safety is the main advantage of employing a salt spreader. You may relax knowing that you’re doing everything possible to protect your property when you utilize a spreader. Fewer ice results from improved salt dispersion, which makes the front yard safer. Accidents when people slip and fall are less likely to happen, and there is also less likelihood of your automobile slipping as you enter your driveway.

The Limitations Of A Spreader

The term “salt spreader” is somewhat deceptive. The tools can spread salt, but they can also be used on a variety of other materials. Some best salt spreaders also spread sand, fertilizer, and grass seed. If a spreader can handle salt, it probably can handle other deicing substances with a granular texture as well.

It’s important to note that beet juice ice melt doesn’t function well with salt spreaders. It won’t function effectively in a spreader if you use that kind of melt or any other ice melt with a liquid consistency. You require a sprayer if your solution is liquid.

Read up on a spreader’s restrictions before making a purchase. Learn what materials it can spread, and make sure to utilize those only. If you are careless, the substance could clog your walk behind salt spreader. Find a broadcast spreader that can handle both your grass seed and fertilizer to get the most for your money. The spreader will be practical for more than one season every year if it can work with all the difference in materials.

When You Should Use A Walk-Behind Salt Spreader

You should get your walk-behind salt spreader out once winter begins. As soon as the temperature starts to fall, it will be useful. You should prepare your driveway and sidewalk with salt or sand before the first snowfall. You may avoid icy patches by applying salt before the snow and ice removal.

You might wish to add more salt during and after the storm for maximum protection. By doing this, frozen spots are prevented from accumulating and the salt is more useful.

How Much Salt To Apply

The quantity of salt you use is influenced by several things. You should think about the temperature first. Water’s freezing point is lowered by salt, however salt has its limitations. You might need to use a lot of salt while it’s cold outside. Perhaps more than one, very thin layer is required.

The kind of material is important as well. Some ice melt have freezing points that are lower. You might not require much of the ice melt despite the cold. For optimal results, adhere to the instructions on the ice melt or salt box.

FAQs

✅Can you sprinkle salt with a grass seed spreader?

Technically, you could do it with a seed spreader, but they aren't their intended uses. Some seed spreaders just scatter the seeds all over or drop them beneath the spreader. The size of the salt crystals and the calibration of the specific drop spreader or rotary spreader will determine if your attempt is successful. Visit the links to learn how to modify your seeder to get the desired results. Both broadcast and drop spreaders, in my opinion, can be utilized efficiently because they are adaptable and won't be harmed by salt.

✅Can you put salt in a spreader for fertilizer?

The situation with the ice melt spreader for fertilizer is essentially the same. However, because fertilizer spreaders are frequently made to quickly cover greater fields, they may be unduly massive and have an excessively generous output. I can only ask, -Why not? if the ice melt spreader is wide enough and can be adjusted to the dimensions of your path.

Final Words

You are now prepared to make your driveway and pathways less slick. You have a variety of choices, but I’d like to reiterate that the Scotts 76121 Broadcast Spreader is my favorite because it perfectly suits the dimensions of my driveway and yard paths.

Make sure that the tool’s specifications line up with your actual requirements to save time and have a firm foundation on which to stand.