Renting a top dresser (soil spreader) in Canada?

Apr 20th, 2020 1:19 pm

#1

JohnEnglish [OP]: Deal Addict; Oct 5, 2008; 1198 posts; 68 upvotes

Apr 20th, 2020 1:19 pm

Renting a top dresser (soil spreader) in Canada?

Does anyone have any idea of where I might be able to rent a top dresser in Toronto, Canada? I've been searching on line and calling around but no one seems to know what I'm even talking about. I've found aerators, vacuums, overseeders, dethatchers, etc. but no top dressers.

I know Bannerman manufacturers one here in Toronto (http://sportsturfmagic.com/ProductPages/minitopper.html) but it goes for about $1,000 and I don't want to buy one; I'd rather just rent one when I need it as I don't have too much storage space.

My lawn is about 4,500 sq. ft. and the gate to my back yard is 27" wide so I'm not looking to rent a huge industrial model.

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Apr 20th, 2020 3:38 pm

#2

SLOGAN: Deal Addict; Jul 19, 2004; 1110 posts; 78 upvotes; Ajax

Apr 20th, 2020 3:38 pm

The homeowner topdressing market is very small, and as a result, nobody rents them.
The company I work for receives several calls a year requesting this rental, but our equipment is way overkill, and won't fit through most gates.
You aren't the only one asking

Bannerman is a reputable manufacturer (we sell them too), and while it is an expensive upfront cost, you can always sell it down the road for close to what you paid for it.

I know this is not helpful in your search, but I just thought I would give some commentary.

-Logan

Oh boy, Buffalo testicles!

+4

Apr 20th, 2020 4:10 pm

#3

JohnEnglish [OP]: Deal Addict; Oct 5, 2008; 1198 posts; 68 upvotes

Apr 20th, 2020 4:10 pm

Thanks, I had a feeling that might be the case. Storage is my main issue. I don't really have anywhere to put it when I'm not using it.

Apr 21st, 2020 8:04 am

#4

grumble: Deal Addict; Mar 22, 2017; 1328 posts; 1406 upvotes; West GTA

Apr 21st, 2020 8:04 am

Honestly I have heard that topdressing is picking up a bit of steam as a service - it's certainly getting more attention in the US, and Canada typically follows close behind. If you can't find a solution this year, then you might find one next year. Your issue might be the 27 inch wide gate. A lot of topdressing tools need wider.

It should pick up steam, it really improves lawns (and gardens!)

Apr 21st, 2020 3:27 pm

#5

JohnEnglish [OP]: Deal Addict; Oct 5, 2008; 1198 posts; 68 upvotes

Apr 21st, 2020 3:27 pm

grumble wrote: ↑ Honestly I have heard that topdressing is picking up a bit of steam as a service - it's certainly getting more attention in the US, and Canada typically follows close behind. If you can't find a solution this year, then you might find one next year. Your issue might be the 27 inch wide gate. A lot of topdressing tools need wider.

It should pick up steam, it really improves lawns (and gardens!)

I've been thinking of calling around to some lawn care places. I've always put top soil down by hand but it's so time consuming. I've seen a few 20 - 24" top dressers but the problem is I don't want to buy them, just rent one.

Apr 23rd, 2020 9:50 pm

#6

breads: Member; May 31, 2017; 304 posts; 83 upvotes

Apr 23rd, 2020 9:50 pm

If you do find a place that rents them out, please share the info.

Apr 25th, 2020 10:24 pm

#7

JohnEnglish [OP]: Deal Addict; Oct 5, 2008; 1198 posts; 68 upvotes

Apr 25th, 2020 10:24 pm

breads wrote: ↑ If you do find a place that rents them out, please share the info.

Will do.

Apr 26th, 2020 12:25 pm

#8

psfl: Jr. Member; Jan 18, 2009; 124 posts; 62 upvotes; Leask

Apr 26th, 2020 12:25 pm

Home depot rents them
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/tool-a ... 08810.html
The price runs starts at $61.00 for 4 hours minimum

+1

Apr 26th, 2020 9:46 pm

#9

cliff: Deal Addict; Aug 5, 2003; 2398 posts; 354 upvotes; North York

Apr 26th, 2020 9:46 pm

psfl wrote: ↑ Home depot rents them
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/tool-a ... 08810.html
The price runs starts at $61.00 for 4 hours minimum

That link is for an overseeder, not a soil spreader (and I scrolled thru HDs rental list, didn't see a soil spreader)

May 4th, 2020 9:52 pm

#10

JohnEnglish [OP]: Deal Addict; Oct 5, 2008; 1198 posts; 68 upvotes

May 4th, 2020 9:52 pm

Yeah, that's an over seeder. It won't work with soil.

May 13th, 2020 9:29 pm

#11

breads: Member; May 31, 2017; 304 posts; 83 upvotes

May 13th, 2020 9:29 pm

JohnEnglish wrote: ↑Will do.

Did you find a place to rent the mini top dresser from?

May 26th, 2020 9:49 am

#12

JohnEnglish [OP]: Deal Addict; Oct 5, 2008; 1198 posts; 68 upvotes

May 26th, 2020 9:49 am

breads wrote: ↑ Did you find a place to rent the mini top dresser from?

No

May 26th, 2020 3:21 pm

#13

Redfisher: Deal Addict; Feb 10, 2011; 1254 posts; 421 upvotes

May 26th, 2020 3:21 pm

Kicking myself for not jumping on the chance of buying one of these for 1k almost new! Could have rented it out to a few neighbours and paid for itself fast!

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-outdoor-tools-s ... ios_social

No One Goes to Palmerston Ontario

May 26th, 2020 3:53 pm

#14

breads: Member; May 31, 2017; 304 posts; 83 upvotes

May 26th, 2020 3:53 pm

JohnEnglish wrote: ↑No

If you lived in the KW area, I'd have offered to split the purchase price, and could've stored it.

+1

May 27th, 2020 12:15 am

#15

cliff: Deal Addict; Aug 5, 2003; 2398 posts; 354 upvotes; North York

May 27th, 2020 12:15 am

There are what looks to be a couple options at Salisbury in Caledon - might be worth a call

http://www.salisburygardensupplies.ca/price.html

+2

May 30th, 2020 1:12 pm

#16

JohnEnglish [OP]: Deal Addict; Oct 5, 2008; 1198 posts; 68 upvotes

May 30th, 2020 1:12 pm

breads wrote: ↑ If you lived in the KW area, I'd have offered to split the purchase price, and could've stored it.

That’s very kind of you to offer. Unfortunately, I’m way down in Toronto.

cliff wrote: ↑ There are what looks to be a couple options at Salisbury in Caledon - might be worth a call

http://www.salisburygardensupplies.ca/price.html

Thanks, I’m going to give them a call and find out what the dimensions are and what the delivery charge is for Toronto. Might as well ask them about soil delivery too.

May 30th, 2020 3:48 pm

#17

JohnEnglish [OP]: Deal Addict; Oct 5, 2008; 1198 posts; 68 upvotes

May 30th, 2020 3:48 pm

cliff wrote: ↑ There are what looks to be a couple options at Salisbury in Caledon - might be worth a call

http://www.salisburygardensupplies.ca/price.html

Well I called them and they said it’s only 12” wide which makes no sense as the one they show on their website is the Bannerman mini topper and that’s 35” wide. I also got a good laugh out of them when I asked if they delivered to Toronto. Their website says all of the GTA. They said they do the GTA including areas east of Toronto but “we don’t deal with Toronto”.

Jul 28th, 2020 2:44 pm

#18

m4gician: Deal Fanatic; Sep 2, 2006; 5995 posts; 671 upvotes; Stouffville, ON

Jul 28th, 2020 2:44 pm

hey buddy, find anything like this for rent? I don't want to shell out the $1000+ to purchase and store this thing, I need to use it to revitalize my lawn personally and I have a decent size of lawn to do it with.

--

Jul 28th, 2020 4:50 pm

#19

m4gician: Deal Fanatic; Sep 2, 2006; 5995 posts; 671 upvotes; Stouffville, ON

Jul 28th, 2020 4:50 pm

I'll settle for a place that rents the manual push version of this: https://www.amazon.ca/Landzie-Compost-P ... B07ZQSV81S

Home Depot doesn't seem to rent it

--

Aug 9th, 2020 9:40 pm

#20

DavidG76675: Newbie; Aug 8, 2020; 1 posts

Aug 9th, 2020 9:40 pm

Just finished a 2750sqft lawn reno and spread 12 bags of peat moss by hand - would really have liked to have one of these. Also handy for yearly sand top dressing. I might buy one if I can get enough interested renters.