The Best Time to Fertilize Shrubs & Bushes

At Planting Time

• Healthy soil is vital to getting your shrubs off to a good start. If you have poor soil or soil that doesn't drain well, amend it before planting with compost. This organic matter will provide your new plant with food for months as the shrub takes root. After you fill in the planting hole, provide your bushes with a balanced fertilizer specifically intended to ease transplant shock.

Other Feeding Times

• Shrubs aren't heavy feeders and rarely need additional fertilizer since their roots can extend far into the soil to obtain food. If you do need to feed your shrubs, feed them in the spring when they are using extra energy to put on new growth. In the fall, mulch your bushes with a layer of compost. This will not only slowly release nutrients into the soil, but will also provide the roots a layer of winter protection.

Determine Feeding Needs

• While plants such as vegetables and annuals are known as heavy feeders due to their quick growth and fruit production, shrubs will rarely need additional food. Signs your bushes may need fertilizer are slow or stunted growth, discolored leaves, leaves falling off before fall or the plant dying back. Once you've determined these problems aren't caused by insects or disease, have your soil tested to see what nutrients are lacking. In some cases, an incorrect soil pH may be preventing your shrubs from being able to take up nutrients. A soil test will guide you in the right direction to rejuvenating your shrubs.

Feeding Properly

• Feeding your shrub properly doesn't mean dumping a cup of fertilizer on the ground. First, determine what kind of fertilizer you need based on a soil test and on the type of plant -- evergreen, acid-loving, fruit-bearing, etc. Second, read the package label to see how much to apply at one time. Adding extra fertilizer won't make your plant grow better, but simply wastes fertilizer and money. Finally, work the fertilizer into the top few inches of soil. This makes it more readily available to the plant and keeps children and pets out of the fertilizer.