my default is to never fert at planting ... it will be stressed... not hungry at that point .. let it settle in.. before you start it on steroids ...

remind us where you are ?? ... maybe it makes a difference ...

one thing to note.. you dont know whats in the pot.. and we dont know how you plan on planting it ...

odds are.. there is fert in the media/pot .. and it might not need any more.. if your plan is to just stick the whole gob into a hole ...

on the other hand.. if you plan on bare rooting to some extent ... then you might need to add more.. or dump the potting media into the bottom of the hole dug ... and mixing/working that into the native soil ...

in my sand... i had to do the above.. as a big gob of potting media.. lead to water management problems... in the hot heat of summer ...

ken

welcome to the forums ... this might have been better posted in the perennial forum .. rather than the tree forum ...

imo.. the tree will NEVER need fert ... ever ...

and i will presume.. the stuff in your picture.. is probably as minimal as can be.. and a little of this or that.. isnt going to be a problem ... a pic of the analysis chart would tell us that ...

ken

Thanks everyone for your quick response! Forgot to mention that I live in New England, Zone 6. The spot will get full sun exposure, > 10 hours during the summer.

Don't be alarmed if the leaves droop in the sun. They'll recover at night. Presumably they'll get more shade as the tree grows and they'll prefer that.

Use the 18-24 in. spacing implied by the statement on the tag. Even then you will be waiting awhile for the initial plantings to grow together.

Big root geranium does not want full sun; it will live, but look wilted and sad. A better choice for full sun is close relative, Geranium 'Bikovo' or 'Karmina'.

Both of these are very tough plants and great groundcovers.