Begin fertilization in late winter or early spring when the nandina begins showing new growth. Make three to four applications annually, spacing the applications two months apart from spring until fall.
Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer, such as a 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 blend. Use the lowest fertilizer amount recommended on the package for the size of your nandina shrub.
Sprinkle the fertilizer in a ring around the trunk. Space the fertilizer ring approximately one foot out from the base of the nandina shrub.
Water the nandina thoroughly after each fertilizer application. Immediate irrigation helps dilute the fertilizer so it quickly seeps into the shrub's root zone.