Healthy trees and shrubs are the backbone of any beautiful garden. Whether it’s a majestic Oak, Birch, Elm, or Maple providing shade on a summer’s day, or a fragrant lilac bush adding colour and scent to your borders, these larger plants play a key role in both structure and seasonal interest. But just like your lawn, flowers and vegetables, trees and shrubs also benefit from regular feeding, and one of the easiest and most efficient ways to do this is with specially formulated tree and shrub fertiliser spikes.

In this blog, we’ll explore why fertilising trees and shrubs is essential, the best times to apply fertiliser, how fertiliser spikes work, and why they might be the perfect solution for your garden care routine.

Why Do Trees and Shrubs Need Fertiliser?

Trees and shrubs, especially when grown in urban gardens or landscaped spaces, often face limited access to nutrients. In the wild, fallen leaves and organic matter naturally replenish the soil. In managed gardens, however, we tend to clear away these sources of natural compost, leaving the soil less rich than it would be in nature.

Without proper nutrients, trees and shrubs may show signs of stress — yellowing leaves, slow growth, sparse foliage, or reduced flowering. This is especially true for popular garden plants like hydrangeas, magnolias, or Japanese acers, which often require a nutrient boost to thrive in less-than-ideal soil conditions.

Feeding your trees and shrubs helps to:

• Encourage strong root development
  
• Support lush foliage and vibrant blooms
  
• Improve resistance to pests and diseases
  
• Boost resilience during droughts or harsh winters

What Makes Fertiliser Spikes a Great Choice?

Our tree and shrub fertiliser spikes are designed with convenience and effectiveness in mind. Unlike granular or liquid feeds that require careful measuring and can be prone to runoff, root burn, or evaporation, spikes are:

• Pre-measured, so there’s no guesswork
  
• Slow-release, ensuring nutrients are delivered gradually over time
  
• Tidy and discreet, with no mess or surface disturbance
  
• Root-targeted, inserted directly into the soil where roots can absorb the feed
  
• Weather-resistant, with no risk of runoff past the roots when overwatered or during heavy rainfall

By placing nutrients where they’re needed most — beneath the soil near the root zone — spikes help ensure your trees and shrubs get sustained nourishment without you having to constantly reapply product.

How and When to Use Fertiliser Spikes

One of the best things about our fertiliser spikes is how easy they are to use. There’s no mixing, no spraying, and no spreading.

To apply:

• Choose early spring and late winter for application — this is when plants are gearing up for new growth or winding down and preparing for dormancy.
  
• Position the spike about halfway between the trunk and the outer edge of the tree or shrub’s canopy.
• Water abundantly to moisten the soil before inserting
  
• Using a hammer and a flat cap, gently drive the spike into the soil about 2 inches below the surface.
  
• For larger plants, insert multiple spikes evenly spaced around the root zone.
  

That’s it! The slow-release formula will feed your trees and shrubs for 8 weeks continuously, giving you more time to enjoy your garden rather than tend to it.

How Often Should You Fertilise Trees and Shrubs?

For most trees and shrubs, fertilising three times a year — early spring, summer and autumn — is sufficient. These three feeding times align with the natural growth cycles of most woody plants, giving them the nutrients they need to produce new shoots, leaves, and blooms, through the dry summer months, and to store energy and strengthen roots ahead of winter.

Ideal Candidates for Fertiliser Spikes in Your Garden

You can use tree and shrub fertiliser spikes with virtually all types of ornamental and native garden trees and shrubs. Here are a few common garden favourites that will thank you for the extra feed:

• Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – loves a rich soil to support its fragrant spring blooms
  
• Hydrangea – especially hungry bloomers, benefitting from extra nutrients to maintain large, healthy flowers
  
• Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) – known for its beautiful foliage but can be sensitive to nutrient-poor soil
  
• Rhododendrons and Azaleas – need extra help in alkaline soils or in pots
  
• Boxwood (Buxus) – often grown as hedging or topiary, they need regular feeding to maintain colour and shape
  

Even more robust native trees like rowan, crab apple, or silver birch will respond positively to an annual feed, particularly if they are newly planted or growing in a compacted or nutrient-deficient area.

Feeding your trees and shrubs doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. Tree and shrub fertiliser spikes offer a stress-free, low-maintenance way to deliver essential nutrients right where your plants need them. By feeding in spring and winter, you’ll support strong root growth, healthier foliage, and better resistance to the challenges of the seasons ahead.

So next time you’re preparing your garden for a new season, don’t forget the giants among your plants — they need a little TLC too. With a hammer, a few spikes, and five minutes of effort, you can give your trees and shrubs everything they need to flourish.

Get ready to feed your trees and shrubs the easy way – Explore our range of fertiliser spikes in-store or online and give your garden the boost it deserves.