Are they showing signs of malnutrition? Unless there's something clearly wrong, hardy shrubs shouldn't need fertiliser ... ever.

Generally, plants established in the landscape need very little supplemental fertilization. They get what they need from the soil, especially if you mulch routinely.

If you feel you need to fertilize or the plant's appearance/performance indicates a need, it is best to have a soil test done to see what specific nutrients may be deficient and how best to correct.

If you don't want to be bothered with any of that, any organic all-purpose fertilizer (3 numbers the same) would work and is difficult to mess up :-) Just follow directions on the package.

ETA: Floral and I were typing at the same time. And I never fertilize my garden except for any container plantings. But I do mulch consistently with compost!

Parts of the eastern states have large areas of seriously deficient soils, that packaged organic fertilizers may not be strong enough to correct. Your nearest USDA Cooperative Extension Service branch office should be able to assist you in determining what may be called for on your site.

they are trees/shrubs.. not children.. they do not need to be fed ... UNLESS .. a soil test indicates something is lacking in your soil .. and then we would call it a soil amendment .. which may or may not include fertilizer ...

so.. contact your county extension office and find out how to have your soil analyzed .,.. and while you are talking to them.. you might ask them generally if they are aware of any local issues .... often they know what the counties issues are ... without testing every backyard or garden ....

dont get wrapped up in all the marketing crush about having to feed your poor babies ... they just want to separate you from your hard earned money ....

btw ... if your plants are right next to the lawn ... and that lawn is fert'd .... most good sized plants have their roots out under that lawn ... and ergo ... dont really need anything more ...

ken

" Unless there's something clearly wrong, hardy shrubs shouldn't need fertiliser ... ever. "

Fully agree!

Actually what growth type a plant is has little to do with how likely it is to need fertilization for best results. Tree or turf, if a given site has deficient soil fertilization is likely to be needed. In a way a tree is basically a plant apartment building, the most recent and juvenile growth at its branch tips not that different from a herbaceous plant.

Look at container grown nursery stock when you buy it, regardless of type these days it is likely to have fertilizer visible on top of the potting medium. Sometimes I even see recently arrived balled in burlap, field grown woody plants at outlets with fertilizer having been placed on top of the wrappings.

I would disagree with that assessment. The shorter and shallower the root system, the less able the plant is to access soil nutrients. Trees and shrubs have deeper and more far ranging root systems that can access nutes over a much wider and deeper area than say any annuals or turf grasses. That's why lawns are routinely fertilized while woody plants are generally not.......or not with any similar degree of frequency.

And the fertilization of nursery stock, containerized or B&B, cannot be realistically compared to similar plants established in the landscape. There is no place for them to access nutes other than via supplemental fertilization!

Personally, I'd be elated with the soil results returned to gil_happy on that card. All the major components at those percentages and trace elements. I don't see where you'd notice anything suffering at those levels. Some are a bit low but not very.

I don't see nitrogen on the card which could be a problem if at very low levels. PH could also be a factor. What type of soil is it?

I would think a little high N lawn fert would solve any problems you could have with soil components like that! But then drainage, moisture and a few other issues could be a problem.

:-)

That is a true statement Huggorm.

At this point, we have no idea about any of this, including whether fertilizer with herbicides was used at any point in time over the past several years. Maybe the OP can comment to fill us in. :-)

Testing for N is often omitted from soil tests. It is the most mobile of any of the necessary plant nutrients and can vary widely depending on current condtions so difficult - if not impossible - to assess accurately. And it is consumed in the greatest quantity by plants so is frequently deficient.......but can be easily supplemented by routine mulching with any decent organic product. Or through fertilization :-)

Thank you so much everyone for all of the comments and suggestions. The last time my yard was treated was back in March of 2015. To provide a little more info on my yard, I don't have any type of sprinkler system and my yard is on a slope, so the rainfall runs off my yard.