Best Fertilizer for Bushes and Shrubs: 10 Granules, Spikes and Feeds Compared

Early spring and late fall. Those are the two feeding windows most shrub fertilizer listings point to, and getting them right matters more than the brand on the bag.

In early spring a shrub pushes out new growth and wants food. In late fall roots keep working after leaves drop and a feed sets the plant up for the next year. The Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) lists exactly that spring and fall routine for acid-loving shrubs, while the Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus 2 lb lists a single feed that lasts up to 6 months.

We compared 10 fertilizers for bushes and shrubs by type, analysis, size and feeding time, using only what each listing says. Before you buy, check what your shrub likes, since azaleas and hydrangeas want acidic soil while others do not. If you are still choosing shrubs, see our guide to front yard bushes and shrubs.

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On this page

1. Compare Shrub Fertilizers by Type, Analysis, Size and Feed Time
2. Detailed Reviews: Best Fertilizer for Bushes and Shrubs
3. Do Not Feed Every Shrub the Same Way
4. Apply in the Right Place and Do Not Overfeed
5. How to Choose a Fertilizer for Your Shrubs
6. Which Shrub Fertilizer Should You Choose?
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Final Verdict

Compare Shrub Fertilizers by Type, Analysis, Size and Feed Time

Detailed Reviews: Best Fertilizer for Bushes and Shrubs

1. Espoma Organic Holly-Tone 4-3-4 Evergreen and Azalea Plant Food, 4 lb Bag, Pack of 2 (Best overall for acid-loving shrubs)

• 4-3-4Analysis
• 5%Sulfur
• 2 x 4 lbPack
• OrganicApproved

Best for: azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, camellias and evergreens

Why it ranks #1: It names acid-loving shrubs, gives spring and fall timing and lists organic approval and 5 percent sulfur.

Espoma lists Holly-tone as an organic blend with a 4-3-4 analysis and 5 percent sulfur, with no sludges or fillers. The listing names azaleas, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, blueberries, evergreens, strawberries and camellias, and all plants that thrive in acidic soils.

It says to use it in spring and fall on flowering and evergreen shrubs, applying it to the soil around the drip line and then watering. It is approved for organic gardening.

Skip it if your shrubs prefer neutral soil; the Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb) is all purpose.

2. Espoma Organic Plant-Tone 5-3-3 All Purpose Plant Food, 4 lb Bag, Pack of 2 (Best all-purpose organic fertilizer)

• 5-3-3Analysis
• 5%Calcium
• 2 x 4 lbPack
• OrganicApproved

Best for: a mixed yard of shrubs, flowers and vegetables

Why it ranks #2: It covers shrubs and many other plants, with a calcium listing and organic approval.

Espoma lists Plant-tone as an organic all-purpose plant food with a 5-3-3 analysis and 5 percent calcium. It names flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs.

For trees and shrubs the listing says to use it in spring and fall, and for roses, flowers and vegetables monthly through the growing season. You apply it around the drip line and water it in.

Skip it if your shrubs are acid-loving; the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) is for those.

3. Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 Fertilizer for Evergreen Trees and Shrubs, 18 lb Bag (Best large bag for evergreens)

• 4-3-4Analysis
• 18 lbBag
• 5%Sulfur
• 2 per yearFeeding

Best for: hedges and many evergreens that need several feedings

Why it ranks #3: It is a big bag for evergreens and lists twice-a-year timing.

Espoma lists Evergreen-tone as an organic fertilizer for needle leaf and broadleaf evergreens such as pine, fir, spruce and juniper, plus azaleas, rhododendron and camellias. Analysis is 4-3-4 with 5 percent sulfur and no sludges or fillers.

The listing says most evergreens are best fed twice a year, in early spring and late fall, and that it can be used at planting. It is made in the USA and approved for organic gardening.

Skip it if you want an all-purpose bag; the Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb) covers flowers and vegetables.

4. Miracle-Gro Shake N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Plant Food, 8 lb (Best continuous-release for flowering shrubs)

• 8 lbBag
• 3 monthsFeeds up to
• In-groundUse
• ContainersUse

Best for: flowering shrubs in the ground or in pots

Why it ranks #4: It feeds for up to 3 months and works in the ground and in containers.

Miracle-Gro lists a plant food for all flowering trees, shrubs and acid-loving plants, with natural ingredients to feed soil microbes. The listing says it gives continuous release feeding for up to 3 months.

It can be used in the ground and in containers. The listing does not give an NPK analysis.

Skip it if you want organic approval; the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) is approved for organic use.

5. Scotts Evergreen, Flowering Tree and Shrub Continuous Release Plant Food, 3 lbs (Best small bag for acid-loving trees)

• 3 lbBag
• 2 monthsFeeds up to
• Slow-releaseNitrogen
• Soil applyMethod

Best for: a few acid-loving shrubs and small trees

Why it ranks #5: It is a small bag with a 2 month feeding window.

Scotts lists a continuous release plant food with slow-release nitrogen for evergreens, dogwoods, hydrangeas, magnolias and other acid-loving trees and shrubs. It feeds up to 2 months and is applied directly to the soil.

The listing says it will not burn plants when used as directed. It does not list an analysis.

Skip it if you want a longer feed; the Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus 2 lb lists up to 6 months.

6. Jobes Tree Fertilizer Spikes, 16-4-4 Time Release for All Shrubs and Trees, 15 Spikes (Best spikes with higher nitrogen)

• 16-4-4Analysis
• 15Spikes
• No mixingUse
• All seasonFeeds

Best for: deciduous shrubs and trees where you want no mixing or measuring

Why it ranks #6: It lists a high nitrogen analysis and feeds with no mixing.

Jobes lists time-release fertilizer spikes with a 16-4-4 analysis for all deciduous trees and shrubs. The listing says they need no mixing or measuring and feed below the surface where active roots are growing.

It says the spikes will not burn trees and feed all season. The listing says no wasteful runoff or mess.

Skip it if you have evergreens; the Espoma Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 (18 lb) is for those.

7. SimplyGro Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes (12 Spikes, 3.0 Lbs) (Best balanced 8-8-8 spikes)

• 8-8-8Analysis
• 5 inSpike length
• 12Spikes
• 3 monthsFeeds up to

Best for: trees and shrubs where you want a balanced feed in pre-measured spikes

Why it ranks #7: It lists a balanced analysis and a made-in-USA build.

SimplyGro lists a balanced 8-8-8 formula in 5 in spikes that feed trees and shrubs for up to 3 months. The listing suggests applying twice a year for best results.

The spikes are pre-measured and hammered into the ground, with no cap or special equipment. The listing says they are made in the USA.

Skip it if you want a higher nitrogen spike; the Jobes 16-4-4 Tree and Shrub Spikes is 16-4-4.

8. Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus Outdoor and Indoor, 2 lb (Best long-feed all-purpose granules)

• 2 lbSize
• 75 sq ftCoverage
• 6 monthsFeeds up to
• 11Nutrients

Best for: a mixed yard where you want one long feeding

Why it ranks #8: It gives the longest listed feeding window here and lists coverage.

Osmocote lists a granular continuous release food with 11 nutrients that feeds up to 6 months. Each granule has a resin coating that controls release.

The listing says it works on houseplants, flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs and roses, indoors and out, and that one 2 lb container covers up to 75 sq ft. It says it will not burn when used as directed.

Skip it if you want a shrub-specific food; the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) names shrubs.

9. BioAdvanced Shrub Care Protect and Feed Fertilizer, 4 lb Bottle, Granules (Best feed plus insect and disease control)

• 4 lbBottle
• 6 weeksProtection
• SystemicType
• Roses, azaleasPlants

Best for: roses, azaleas and ornamental shrubs with bugs or black spot

Why it ranks #9: It combines food with insect and disease control, so it is a treatment product, not a plain fertilizer.

BioAdvanced lists granules that kill listed insects such as Japanese beetles, aphids and lace bugs and control black spot, powdery mildew, rust and southern blight, with systemic protection up to 6 weeks. It feeds as well.

It names roses, flowers, iris, azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons. Because it is an insecticide as well, read the label for safe use, including near pollinators.

Skip it if you only want fertilizer; the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) is a plain organic food.

10. BioAdvanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed Concentrate, 64 oz (Best 12 month feed and insect protection)

• 64 ozSize
• 12 monthsProtection
• Mix and pourMethod
• Slow-releasePlant food

Best for: larger shrubs and trees with listed insect problems

Why it ranks #10: It lists the longest protection window, but it is an insecticide with food added.

BioAdvanced lists a mix and pour concentrate that kills listed insects such as Japanese beetles, emerald ash borers, adelgids, leafminers and aphids, with protection for up to 12 months. It also lists slow-release plant food.

No spraying is needed because you mix and apply as directed. Read the label for rates and for use around pollinators and water.

Skip it if you only want fertilizer; the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) is organic food only.

Do Not Feed Every Shrub the Same Way

Azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and camellias like acidic soil, and a food made for them, like the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb), lists sulfur and acid lovers. A general food like the Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb) covers many plants but is not made for acid lovers.

Evergreens have their own food too. The Espoma Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 (18 lb) names pine, fir, spruce and juniper. Match the product to the plant, then check the label for how much to use per shrub, since size matters.

Apply in the Right Place and Do Not Overfeed

Spread granules on the soil under the outer edge of the branches, called the drip line, then water them in. The Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) and Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb) listings both say this. Keep fertilizer off leaves and away from the trunk.

Spikes like the Jobes 16-4-4 Tree and Shrub Spikes and SimplyGro 8-8-8 Spikes 12 Pack go into the soil near the roots, so you need no mixing. More is not better, because too much can burn roots and wash into waterways. Follow the label rate, and water well after feeding.

Combination products like the BioAdvanced Shrub Care Protect and Feed Granules and BioAdvanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub 64 oz also contain insecticide, so read the label, especially near pollinators.

How to Choose a Fertilizer for Your Shrubs

Plant needs

Acid lovers need a product like the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) or Miracle-Gro Shake N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs. Evergreens suit the Espoma Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 (18 lb). Many mixed borders do well with the Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb) or Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus 2 lb.

Form

Granules like the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) spread by hand. Spikes like the Jobes 16-4-4 Tree and Shrub Spikes and SimplyGro 8-8-8 Spikes 12 Pack go in the ground. Liquid concentrate like the BioAdvanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub 64 oz is mixed and poured.

Feeding time

Feeding windows run from 2 months on the Scotts Evergreen, Flowering Tree and Shrub Food to 6 months on the Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus 2 lb. Organic foods like the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) break down slowly.

Organic or not

The Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb), Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb) and Espoma Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 (18 lb) list organic approval.

Which Shrub Fertilizer Should You Choose?

• If you grow acid-loving shrubs, choose the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb), because it lists 4-3-4 with sulfur.
• If you want an all-purpose organic food, choose the Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb), because it covers shrubs, flowers and vegetables.
• If you grow evergreens, choose the Espoma Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 (18 lb), because it names pine, fir and juniper.
• If you want continuous release for flowering shrubs, choose the Miracle-Gro Shake N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs, because it feeds up to 3 months.
• If you want a small bag, choose the Scotts Evergreen, Flowering Tree and Shrub Food, because it is 3 lb.
• If you want spikes with more nitrogen, choose the Jobes 16-4-4 Tree and Shrub Spikes, because it is 16-4-4.
• If you want balanced spikes, choose the SimplyGro 8-8-8 Spikes 12 Pack, because it is 8-8-8.
• If you want one long feed, choose the Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus 2 lb, because it lists up to 6 months.
• If your shrubs have insects and disease, choose the BioAdvanced Shrub Care Protect and Feed Granules, because it also controls listed pests.
• If you want 12 month protection, choose the BioAdvanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub 64 oz, because it lists up to a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best fertilizer for bushes and shrubs?

For acid-loving shrubs, the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) is the best pick here. For a mixed border, the Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb) is an all-purpose organic option.

When should I fertilize shrubs?

The Espoma listings for the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) and Espoma Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 (18 lb) say spring and fall, with evergreens fed in early spring and late fall. Follow the label for your plant.

Are fertilizer spikes good for shrubs?

They are easy. The Jobes 16-4-4 Tree and Shrub Spikes and SimplyGro 8-8-8 Spikes 12 Pack need no mixing and feed over time. Granules spread more evenly across a root zone.

Is organic or synthetic fertilizer better?

Organic foods like the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) release slowly. Synthetic continuous-release foods like the Miracle-Gro Shake N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs list set feeding times. Choose by plant needs and how much you want to work.

How much fertilizer do shrubs need?

It depends on size and product. Follow the label rate for each shrub height, and avoid piling fertilizer near the trunk.

Do I need a feed and insect control combo?

Only if you have listed pests or diseases. The BioAdvanced Shrub Care Protect and Feed Granules lists insects and diseases and the BioAdvanced 12 Month Tree and Shrub 64 oz lists up to 12 months of insect control. Use a plain fertilizer if you only want to feed.

Final Verdict

The Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) is the best fertilizer for bushes and shrubs in this guide for acid lovers. It is organic, 4-3-4 with 5 percent sulfur, and it lists a simple spring and fall routine. For a mixed border, the Espoma Plant-Tone 5-3-3 (2 x 4 lb) is an all-purpose organic choice. Before you buy, check what your shrubs prefer and follow the label rate.

See the Espoma Holly-Tone 4-3-4 (2 x 4 lb) on Amazon