Best Garden Fertilizers for Trees & Shrubs of 2026
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Garden fertilizers for trees and shrubs are essential to ensure healthy growth and maximum yield. These fertilizers are specially formulated to provide the necessary nutrients that trees and shrubs require for optimal growth, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. There are many different types of garden fertilizers available, including organic and chemical options. Organic fertilizers are made from natural materials, such as compost and manure, while chemical fertilizers are made from synthetic compounds. Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to choose the right fertilizer for your specific needs. With the right garden fertilizer, trees and shrubs will thrive and produce abundant fruit and foliage.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Garden Fertilizers for Trees & Shrubs
Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes
The Almanac Fertilizer Spikes by The Old Farmer's Almanac are a great way to provide fast acting and long-lasting nutrition to your trees, evergreens, and shrubs. These 5 Inch TruSpikes are designed to be easy to use - simply hammer them into the ground without the need for a cap, and they won't break or shatter. With a simple feeding schedule of once per season, these spikes continuously fertilize your plants, promoting stronger growth and vibrant color. The spikes contain natural ingredients, including molasses, which release nutrition directly into the root zone, resulting in healthier and more robust trees and shrubs. With a nutrient-rich formula and a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, these spikes provide the essential elements for plant growth, healthy fruiting, and strong roots.
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes
The Old Farmer's Almanac Fertilizer is designed for quick and lasting nourishment of your trees, evergreens, and shrubs. These convenient 5-inch spikes are easy to insert into the soil, eliminating the hassle of caps and ensuring they won’t break. For optimal growth, simply use them once in early spring and again in late fall, providing continuous support. They contain natural ingredients like molasses that deliver nutrients directly to the roots, promoting stronger plants. With a nutrient-rich formula, you’ll see vibrant growth and healthy blooms in your garden.
Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes
Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes contain natural ingredients and promote vibrant colors and lush foliage. These easy-to-use spikes release nutrients directly into the root zone to help promote strong trees and shrubs. Feed once per season in Spring and Fall. They are also great for use on evergreens and acid loving plants.
HiThrive 16oz Tree and Shrub Fertilizer
HiThrive Tree & Shrub Food offers great value by making 16 gallons of nourishing liquid fertilizer from just a 16 oz bottle, so you can feed your outdoor plants for a long time. It supports your plants' growth by providing nitrogen for vibrant leaves, phosphorus to strengthen roots, and potassium to help them stay resilient through changing seasons. This powerful liquid blend also combines essential nutrients that boost root health and encourage thick foliage, making your trees and shrubs stronger and better able to handle drought and stress. Plus, it helps fix common problems like weak roots and sparse leaves, keeping your garden healthy and flourishing year-round.
Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Plant Food
Miracle-Gro Plant Food is a fantastic choice for your garden. It contains natural ingredients that nourish the soil's microbes, promoting healthy growth. Ideal for all flowering trees, shrubs, and acid-loving plants, it ensures deep green foliage and vibrant blooms all season long. This product kickstarts plant growth and offers continuous feeding for up to 3 months. Whether your plants are in the ground or containers, this convenient option will keep them beautiful.
Gardenwise 10-10-10 All-Purpose Fertilizer
Gardenwise All-Purpose Fertilizer is a versatile plant food perfect for both indoor and outdoor gardening. It features a balanced formula with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which supports all your gardening needs. You can enjoy up to eight weeks of sustained nutrition with its slow-release formula, making it easier for you to maintain your plants with fewer applications. The fine granules ensure even coverage for maximum absorption, allowing your flowers, vegetables, and shrubs to thrive. Plus, the quick-release nitrogen gives your plants an immediate boost for rapid growth, ensuring your garden flourishes beautifully.
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes
The Almanac Fertilizer Spikes are a patented, powerhouse TruSpike that pack robust nutrition designed to feed your trees, evergreens, and shrubs continuously for up to 3 months. These 5-inch spikes are nutrient-rich with a 13-3-3 formula that promotes vigorous and colorful plants, bountiful fruiting and blooms, and strong roots. There's no need for a plastic cap or special equipment, just hammer it in and let it get to work feeding your plants. The spikes release nutrition directly into the root zone where plants need it most, without waste or runoff. For best results, feed 2 times a year, early spring and late fall, for continuous fertilization. Depending on climate and plant variety, an additional application in the summer can provide extra nutrition and help protect from summer stress.
The Old Farmer's Almanac Evergreen Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes 10-4-10
The Old Farmer's Evergreen Fertilizer offers an easy way to nourish your evergreen trees and shrubs. You simply hammer the spikes into the soil—no special tools or caps needed—and they won’t break or crumble, making application hassle-free. The spikes have a balanced 10-4-10 nutrient mix that supports healthy green needles, promotes flowering and fruiting, and strengthens roots. Plus, with added magnesium, your plants get extra care. Feeding your plants twice a year, in spring and fall, keeps them vibrant, and an optional summer application helps protect against heat stress. This product delivers nutrients directly to the roots, reducing waste and runoff for efficient feeding.
Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4
Espoma Evergreen-Tone is a natural and organic fertilizer specifically designed for all needle leaf and broadleaf evergreens, including pine, fir, spruce, juniper, azaleas, rhododendron, and camellias. Its rich blend of natural and organic ingredients, enhanced with the exclusive Bio-tone formula, promotes optimum growth and is environmentally safe, containing no sludges or toxic ingredients. Espoma Evergreen-Tone is easy to use and requires no mixing, making it perfect for planting or feeding established plants. It is approved for organic gardening and meets all requirements for organic production. Made in the USA, Espoma Evergreen-Tone is a reliable and trusted choice for gardeners who want to give their plants the best possible care.
Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone Fertilizer for Evergreen Trees & Shrubs
Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 Natural & Organic Fertilizer is a rich blend of natural & organic ingredients, enhanced with Bio-tone formula. It is environmentally safe, approved for organic gardening, and requires no mixing. Use on needle leaf and broadleaf evergreens, azaleas, rhododendron, and camellias. It is best used when planting or feeding established plants, twice each year in early Spring and late Fall. Made in the USA by the Espoma Company, a leader in natural organics since 1929.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best fertilizer for trees and shrubs?
Research in woody plant nutrition has shown however that nitrogen is the element that yields the greatest growth response in trees and shrubs. For this reason, high nitrogen fertilizers with N-P-K ratios of 4-1-1, 3-1-1 or 3-1-2 are generally recommended for feeding established woody plants.
2. What is the best fertilizer to use for trees?
As a result, trees usually respond best to fertilizer with a 2-1-1 or a 3-1-1 ratio (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium). Commonly available fertilizers with a 2-1-1 or similar ratio are 18-6-12, 12-6-6, 10-6-4, 10-8-6 and 10-8-4.
3. What fertilizer should I use on shrubs?
A complete fertilizer, such as 16-4-8, 12-6-6 or 12-4-8, is generally recommended, unless the soil test reveals that phosphorus and potassium are adequate. Two kinds of fertilizers are available: fast-release and slow-release.
4. Should you fertilize trees and shrubs?
In most landscapes, healthy trees and shrubs do not require fertilizers, especially when they reach their mature size. It is not recommended to fertilize at planting time. Research studies show most of a plant's energy is directed to root growth during the establishment period.
During our garden fertilizer for trees & shrubs research, we found 24 garden fertilizer for trees & shrubs products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 128,327 customer reviews through our big data system to write the garden fertilizers for trees & shrubs list. We found that most customers choose garden fertilizers for trees & shrubs with an average price of $18.03.
The garden fertilizers for trees & shrubs are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of garden fertilizers for trees & shrubs, including The Old Farmer's Almanac, Miracle-Gro, HiThrive, GARDENWISE, Espoma. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 768 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.
Steven Taylor grew up in a small town called Beaufort in South Carolina and his passion for building and woodworking has led him to master the latest garden gadgets. He always holds every chance to patch up or sand down his beloved garden. There are various novel technologies in his articles.