Abstract: A lawn spreader for particulate material such as grass seed or fertilizer has a slidable control knob immediately adjacent the handle gripping portion for movement by one or more fingers to control the rate of feed of particulate material from the spreader without removal of either hand from gripping position. An adjustable stop for the control knob is also provided adjacent the handle gripping portion for ready adjustment without stopping the spreader and without requiring the operator to bend or stoop to reach to or adjacent to the rate gate.