A fertilizer cage apparatus comprising an elongated body that has an upper end and a lower end, an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an elongated channel. The elongated body further comprises a spike portion and a central portion. The spike portion is at the lower end, and a broadening region adjacent the spike portion. The central portion has a base wall and at least one axially outward wall projection. At least one of the base wall and the at least one axially outward wall having at least one opening. The base wall defines a central portion of the inner elongated channel with the axially outward wall projection defining a longitudinal channel of the inner elongated channel. The fertilizer cage receives a fertilizer spike within the central portion. A method of use is also disclosed.

A gardening apparatus including a housing having an inner chamber, a handle, a hose coupled to the handle and configured to actuate release of a granular substance, a receiving clip, a plurality of wheels, a rotatable structure, and a plurality of circular devices including a plurality of projections, wherein the plurality of circular devices is removably attached to the plurality of wheels. The gardening apparatus is useful for simultaneously fertilizing and aerating a lawn or garden, while promoting speedy germination of plants, flowers, vegetables, and more.

Steering and roll control systems to counteract yaw and/or roll forces during operation of a vehicle having first and second wheeled members coupled together by an articulating joint mechanism that is configured to pivot in a yaw direction and/or a roll direction. The steering assistance systems include a biasing unit configured to apply a counteracting force to bias the first and second wheeled members toward a straight-line arrangement thereof. The roll control systems include an additional biasing unit configured to apply a counteracting force to bias the first and second wheeled members toward a level alignment arrangement of the vehicle.

A hand-held spreader is provided having a base with a mechanism for spreading particulate material response to turning a hand crank. The base is universally attachable to hoppers of different types which provide particulate material to the base for spreading. Different types of hoppers when attached to the base can adapt the spreader to spread different particulate material, such as of seed or salt. Teeth may be provided along upper edge of the hopper for use in scooping up particulate material into the hopper. Another type of hopper which can be attached to the base has a closed top end to provide a sealed container of particulate material, and has a sealing member releasable from the hopper to allow flow of particulate material from the hopper to the attached base.

A hand-held spreader is provided having a base with a mechanism for spreading particulate material response to turning a hand crank. The base is universally attachable to hoppers of different types which provide particulate material to the base for spreading. Different types of hoppers when attached to the base can adapt the spreader to spread different particulate material, such as of seed or salt. Teeth may be provided along upper edge of the hopper for use in scooping up particulate material into the hopper. Another type of hopper which can be attached to the base has a closed top end to provide a sealed container of particulate material, and has a sealing member releasable from the hopper to allow flow of particulate material from the hopper to the attached base.

A hose-end spreader device includes a hopper configured to contain an amount of granular product, the hopper comprising a hopper inlet and a hopper outlet in communication with the hopper inlet. The device further includes a first chamber in communication with the hopper outlet, the first chamber comprising a first opening through which the granular product exits the device, and a first impeller disposed in the first chamber. Also included are a housing disposed below the first chamber, the housing comprising a fluid inlet, a second chamber in communication with the fluid inlet, and a second opening in communication with the second chamber through which a fluid exits the device, and a second impeller disposed in the second chamber. The second impeller is coupled to the first impeller.

A dual gate control assembly for a spreader includes a rotary plate pivotable between fully open and fully closed positions with respect to openings formed in the hopper. A spreader gate is provided at the outermost openings of the hopper and rotary plate with each spreader gate being independently movable between fully opened and fully closed positions allowing for a plurality of variable operational modes affecting both material drop amount and spread direction.

An electric handheld broadcast spreader with pattern and speed controlling baffled skirt detachably attaches to a conventional spreader mechanism to disperse particles in a controlled, directional manner within a proximal coverage area with two hands. A broadcasting/dispersing skirt receives particulate material from a conventional spreader. The inner volume of broadcasting/dispersing skirt comprises upper layer baffles, with upper gaps forming between each upper layer baffle; lower layer baffles, offset from the upper layer baffles, with lower gaps forming between each lower layer baffle; and multiple vertical deflector vanes disposed perpendicular to lower layer baffles. Discharged particulate material strikes the surface of the baffles, before passing through gaps. The particulate material traveling in a lateral direction strikes the deflector vanes and outlet edge of broadcasting/dispersing skirt. This controls velocity and direction of dispersed particulate material, causing particulate material to be confined within a close pattern coverage area on ground surface.

An electric handheld broadcast spreader with pattern and speed controlling baffled skirt detachably attaches to a conventional spreader mechanism to disperse particles in a controlled, directional manner within a proximal coverage area with two hands. A broadcasting/dispersing skirt receives particulate material from a conventional spreader. The inner volume of broadcasting/dispersing skirt comprises upper layer baffles, with upper gaps forming between each upper layer baffle; lower layer baffles, offset from the upper layer baffles, with lower gaps forming between each lower layer baffle; and multiple vertical deflector vanes disposed perpendicular to lower layer baffles. Discharged particulate material strikes the surface of the baffles, before passing through gaps. The particulate material traveling in a lateral direction strikes the deflector vanes and outlet edge of broadcasting/dispersing skirt. This controls velocity and direction of dispersed particulate material, causing particulate material to be confined within a close pattern coverage area on ground surface.

A broadcast spreader and methods of using the same. One method includes dispersing particulate material using a broadcast spreader having a hopper and an impeller by placing the spreader in a first configuration where a first set of through openings proximate a bottom portion of the hopper permit the particulate material to pass therethrough and fall onto the impeller to thereby be distributed in a first spread pattern, and shifting the spreader into a second configuration where a second set of through openings proximate the bottom portion of the hopper permit the particulate material to pass therethrough and fall onto the impeller to thereby be distributed in a second spread pattern. The first set of through openings includes a different number of through openings than the second set of through openings, and the first spread pattern is different than the second spread pattern.