Best Garden Fertilizers for Trees & Shrubs of 2026

Steven Taylor Avatar
Steven Taylor
Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

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

Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes Cover #TOP 1
Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes
ftb score rating icon 9.8
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes Cover #TOP 2
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes Cover #TOP 3
Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Garden Fertilizers for Trees & Shrubs

#TOP 1

Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes

6PK-OFA-FS1333
Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes Cover
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes (Box of 6 Spikes - 1.5 Lbs)

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.

What We Like
Fast acting and long-lasting nutrition
Easy to use without breaking or shattering
Continuous fertilization for stronger growth
#TOP 2

The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes

OFA-FS1333-24
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes Cover
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes (Box of 24 Spikes - 6 Lbs) (OFA-FS1333-24)

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.

What We Like
Fast-acting nutrition
Easy to use
Natural ingredients
Long-lasting effects

Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes

4851012
Basic Pack
Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes Cover
Miracle-Gro Tree and Shrub Plant Food Spikes, For Deciduous, Flowering and Evergreen Trees, 12 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.

What We Like
Promotes vibrant color and lush foliage
Contains natural ingredients
Easy-to-use spikes release nutrients directly into the root zone
#TOP 4

HiThrive 16oz Tree and Shrub Fertilizer

HT-TREESHRUBFERT
16 oz (1 Pint)
HiThrive 16oz Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Cover
16oz Tree and Shrub Plant Food - Makes 16 Gallons of Tree and Shrub Fertilizer, Liquid Plant Fertilizer for Healthy Roots, Foliage & Year-Round Growth, Nutrient-Rich Formula for All Trees & Shrubs

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.

What We Like
High yield per bottle
Supports leaf and root growth
Enhances plant resilience
Corrects nutrient deficiencies
#TOP 5

Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Plant Food

3002410
Brown/A
8 lb.
Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Plant Food Cover
Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Plant Food, For In-Ground and Container Plants, Acid-Loving Flowering Plants, 8 lbs.

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.

What We Like
Natural ingredients for soil microbes
Deep green foliage and vibrant blooms
Continuous feeding for up to 3 months
#TOP 6

Gardenwise 10-10-10 All-Purpose Fertilizer

10 10 10 Fertilizer
1/2 quart
Gardenwise 10-10-10 All-Purpose Fertilizer Cover
10-10-10 Plant Fertilizer Slow Release - 10 10 10 All Purpose Granular Garden Fertilizer for Vegetables, Tomato, Arborvitae, Shrubs, Rose, Flowers, Fruit, Fig Trees (1/2 Quart)

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.

What We Like
Versatile for various plants
Long-lasting nutrition
Even coverage granules
Quick growth results
#TOP 7

The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes

6PK-OFA-FS1333
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes Cover
The Old Farmer's Almanac Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes (Box of 12 Spikes - 3 Lbs)

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.

What We Like
Fast-acting
No waste/runoff
Long-lasting
#TOP 8

The Old Farmer's Almanac Evergreen Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes 10-4-10

OFA-EG10410
12 Spikes - 3.0 Lbs
The Old Farmer's Almanac Evergreen Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes 10-4-10 Cover
The Old Farmer's Almanac Evergreen Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes, 10-4-10 (12 Spikes - 3.0 Lbs)

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.

What We Like
Easy hammer-in application
Balanced 10-4-10 nutrient formula
Includes extra magnesium boost
Feeds plants twice yearly
No waste or runoff

Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4

ET18
No Color
No Size
Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 Cover
Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 Natural & Organic Fertilizer and Plant Food for Evergreen Trees & Shrubs. 18 lb. Bag. Use for Planting & Feeding to Promote Optimum Growth

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.

What We Like
Organic ingredients
Easy to use
Approved for organic gardening
#TOP 10

Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone Fertilizer for Evergreen Trees & Shrubs

No Color
No Size
Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone Fertilizer for Evergreen Trees & Shrubs Cover
Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 Natural & Organic Fertilizer and Plant Food for Evergreen Trees & Shrubs. 8 lb. Bag. Use for Planting & Feeding to Promote Optimum Growth

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.

What We Like
Organic and environmentally safe
Easy to use, no mixing required
Approved for organic gardening
Rich blend of natural & organic ingredients
Effective for all needle leaf and broadleaf evergreens, azaleas, rhododendron, and camellias
Buying Guide Image

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.

Editor's Notes

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.

Written by
Steven Taylor Avatar

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.