Hi do you know what the ez broadcast spreader setting might be for your grubz out?

We get this question quite a bit and unfortunately the "right" answer tends to either get people confused or make them irritated. Let me explain…

When applying granules over turf, the correct application will distribute a certain "pre-determined amount of product" over a "pre-determined area of turf". To get these two pre-determined values, you first need to know the "total" area you'd like to treat. For this example, we'll say 4150 sq/ft. I chose this number because it's right at 1/2 of what a 10 lb bag of MERIT GRUBZ OUT will treat. This means it would take about 5 lbs to treat this 4150 ft total we're using in our example. So now we know the total amount of product needed and the total amount of turf this product will cover. Next we need to accurately measure out 5 lbs of granules and 4150 sq/ft of yard before we begin the actual application. For the granules, this is easy to do. Since it comes packaged in a 10 lb bag, 5 lbs would be about 1/2 of the bag. Now you need to figure out how large the various "sections" are in your yard so you'll be able to monitor the application and know you're applying the right amount to the right amount of yard. For this measurement, it's best to try and measure length times width since this is easier to add up compared to circles. In most cases this can be done by dividing the yard into squares or rectangles. For example, a section that's 41 ft wide by 1000 ft long would span 4100 sq/ft (and close to the amount 5 lbs of granules will treat). Once you've got your "yard sections" identified and "marked", you may move on to the next step…

Which brings us back to your original question: "what the EZ BROADCAST setting might be for grubz out"? Well obviously it's the setting that will get the 5 lbs of granules equally distrbibuted over the 4150 sq/ft we need to treat! Now do you see how this answer might make some people either confused or irritated? Yet it's really quite accurate in that there is no magical number or setting that will get the job done correctly for every person that might attempt to do such a treatment. Clearly people walk at many different rates and they all twist the spreader handle at different speeds so how in the world does anyone get it right? Well, for starters it's not an exact science…

In reality there is no "right" or "wrong" setting. As long as you get it real close to being "equally distributed" over the targeted turf, chances are high your effort will be spot on and effective. With that being said, I always recommend people experiment with low settings at first. This way if they're applying it too slowly they can always increase the rate. But if you start with too high of a setting, you're not able to adjust once you realize your mistake. This is because you'll probably have had applied most of the granules by the time you realize your mistake. So avoid this from happening and start with a low to medium setting.

Additionally, it's best to start with a small section of turf you know size wise along with how much product will be needed to treat it. And I know, we've already decided these values would be 5 lbs and 4150 sq/ft. But what I mean here, being that this is the first time you'd be using this equipment and this product, is that it would be wise to make these amounts even smaller. Since we know 5 lbs will treat 4150 sq/ft it also means 2.5 lbs would treat about 2075 sq/ft and 1.25 lbs would cover around 1038 sq/ft. This 1038 is a good small number and one I would recommend you start with for your first application. That means you'll need just 1.25 lbs of granules.

Now position yourself in clear view of the 1038 sq/ft along with the 1.25 lbs of granules and get ready to work. Start by walking briskly and attempt to get the 1.25 lbs distributed over the 1038 sq/ft watching carefully as you proceed. In most cases you should get a "feel" for what's happening and then adjust either your speed of pace or the spreader setting to keep the goal obtainable. Since I know my yard so well, I can tell when a setting is too large or small within 15-30 seconds and I'll adjust it once I can tell. Ideally I like the spreader setting to enable me to walk at my normal pace. This way you can tend to the task in a comfortable manner. True, some people don't mind walking briskly so for them, a higher setting is most likely needed. But then someone who is moving slow could do just as well with a lower setting. The point here is you can be flexible with the setting as long as you get the right amount of product out over the right amount of turf!

So when you're walking, be sure to keep a steady crank pace along with a steady walking speed. Note when you've got about 1/2 of the granules applied and stop to check to see that you've covered about 1/2 of the 1038 sq/ft you were targeting. This might seem tedious and a pain but it's the best way to start when using a new spreader or product. The good news is once you get the right "rate" (walking and turning of the crank), it's something you'll remember and should be able to duplicate over and over. In the end you'll be able to fill the spreader without having to measure what you've poured out and get right to work without all these extra measurements. This will happen because you'll know the setting based on your normal rate/speed and your previous "applications". For me, I always just start slow and increase it as I see fit since going back over a treated area to apply more is always an option. However, as stated before, once it's out there you can't pick it back up (at least not easily!!)

Sorry for the long winded answer but I've been meaning to better explain this process so we can use this answer for future inquries. Give it a shot; I'm sure you'll figure out the right setting for your rate of walking with the spreader combined with the speed at which you like to turn the crank. And if you need any more help or guidance, give us a call on our toll free 1-800-877-7290.