How to Feed Trees and Shrubs

When to feed your tree or shrub depends on the type of plant food you choose (more on that below). In general, it's a good idea to feed during these times:

• Spring: Trees and shrubs use a lot of energy in the spring, pushing out flowers, leaves and seeds, so they benefit most from plant food during this active period
• After blooming: Feeding your flowering shrubs after they've bloomed will encourage more blooms next year.
• Early fall: This helps your plants store up nutrients they'll need to survive the winter and be ready for next spring. Don't wait too long—feeding plants as they're going dormant for winter can confuse your plants, causing them to grow when they should be resting.

Also look out for signs for distress in your plants. Your trees and shrubs send plenty of messages that they're lacking nutrition. If your trees and shrubs are displaying lots of new shoot growth and leaves, they have ample nutrition. If they are only producing a little new growth and the leaves are pale or yellowing, it's a sign that it's time to feed.

Always check your plant food label for best practices, including how long to wait between feedings.

The two main types of plant food for trees and shrubs you'll find are tree spikes and granular plant foods. Here are some general guidelines about which to choose and how to use each. Always refer to your plant food's label for specific application instructions.

Tree spikes, like Miracle-Gro® Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes, Miracle-Gro® Evergreen Plant Food Spikes, or Miracle-Gro® Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Spikes, are exactly what they sound like: long cylindrical spikes of plant food that provide extended feeding to your trees and shrubs.

• How to Use: Just push or hammer plant food spikes into the ground and water to start feeding. How many spikes you need depends on the width of your tree or shrub's dripline, or the area under the branches. Tree spikes need to be spaced 3 feet apart along the dripline.
• How Often to Use: Plant food spikes typically require the fewest number of applications per year to keep your trees and shrubs thriving—just place them in the ground once in spring and once in fall for continuous feeding.

Granular plant foods are dry, small particle or pellet plant foods that are easy to apply. Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® Flowering Trees & Shrubs Plant Food and Miracle-Gro® Citrus, Avocado, & Mango Food fall into this category.

• How to Use: Granular plant foods are sprinkled on top of the soil around your tree or shrub then mixed into soil or watered to start feeding.
• How Often to Use: One benefit of using granular plant foods is that they often have some extended-release plant food to continuously feed your plants. That means you're feeding every 6 weeks to 3 months or more, depending on the product used.

There are tons of options, but ultimately, the best plant food for your tree or shrub is the one that's easiest for you to use and provides your plants with the nutrients they need to thrive. Tree spikes are easy to apply and target the nutrients directly into the root zone, but they may not be ideal for young, newly planted trees and shrubs. On the other hand, granular fertilizers are ideal for broadcast applications over a large area and can be used on trees and shrubs of any age; however, they may require more work to measure and apply.

All trees and shrubs have different requirements for healthy growth, so they require different nutrients. Before selecting food for your tree, it's wise to conduct a soil test, either with an at-home soil test kit, available at most garden centers or online, or by testing the soil with your local extension service. Learn what nutrients your type of tree requires and may be lacking based on your soil test.