Also known as the “Thuja” tree, this evergreen crop can either be planted as a tree or a plant. They are popular as a specimen and they can also be used to create an evergreen beautiful hedge all around your compound.
For them to grow healthy, glossy and with that attractive green color, arborvitae thrives best with annual fertilizing. The fertilizer is best applied in early spring before new growth begins. The best way to do it is by using slow-releasing, granular fertilizer.
Several fertilizers in the market can be used to nature your arborvitae trees, however, not all of them are good for the plants. Here is a comprehensive list of the fertilizers that will definitely do good for your arborvitae trees.
1. Bio-Advanced Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed
There is nothing as annoying as watching your evergreen arborvitae hedge slowly turn into that frustrating brown color. This fertilizer is designed to provide systemic protection from a variety of insects and conditions that can cause destructive brown coloring on your plants.
On top of that, this fertilizer is designed to protect, feed, and nourish your plants for up to 3 months. Some of the plant destroyers that this fertilizer can do to protect your plant is to ward off the scale and kill emerald ash borers, adelgids, harmful fertilizers among many others.
The best part of this fertilizer is that it can last up to 12 months from the day of application. This means that come rain, come sun, come snow, or even wind, the fertilizer will still work at its best. This is because it is waterproof therefore it cannot be washed away by a heavy downpour or melting snow.
Pros
- Provides 12 months of protection for the plant.
- Only need one application to kill destructive insects and prevent infestations.
- Kills a large number of listed insects that are common to this plant.
- It is a slow-release fertilizer.
- Designed to improve the health and gloss of your trees and shrubs.
- Systemic protection of both indoors and outdoors plants.
- Its protection is rainproof and cannot easily be washed away.
Cons
- It has restrictions; cannot be sold in CT, MD & VT.
2. Ferti-Lome Azalea-Evergreen Food
This double action fertilizer is formulated to work two ways on your plants. First of all, it is packed with essential micronutrients that are good for both the growth and the long health of your trees. This fertilizer will therefore help to nourish the plant’s entire system for an overall healthier evergreen look.
Besides that, the fertilizer is formulated to protect new growth plants for up to 8 weeks. This is a crucial stage in a plant’s life, and it needs a maximum protective hand to be fully established. This fertilizer can be absorbed through the leaves and the roots.
It will give your plants a more stable root system and more lush foliage. It protects against harmful insects such as leaf beetles, leafminers, lace bugs, aphids, Japanese bugs among others. It is highly effective and provides lasting protection for your plants.
Pros
- New growth is protected for up to 8 weeks.
- Promotes strong roots and beautiful blooms.
- Comes with 5 essential micro-nutrients containing imidacloprid.
- Highly effective with lasting protection.
- Absorbed through both the leaves and the roots.
- Helps with health and stronger growth.
- Gives a more stable root system and more lush foliage.
- Ward protects against many harmful insects.
Cons
- Limited and protects only against the listed insects.
3. Schultz Nursery Plus Plant Slow Release Food
This slow-release fertilizer is designed to give your trees and shrubs the best look they could ever get. It gives that evergreen, lush, and glossy healthy look. This slow-release can work on your plants for up to 3 months.
It is formulated with iron, fertilizer, and micronutrient combination. This helps to grow healthier, fuller, and larger evergreen shrubs and trees. They act by first feeding the root system. This creates a strong base for the plant by giving it healthy reliable growth.
The fertilizer when used on the shrubs and trees quickens their growth rate. If you are a keen farmer, you will also notice that your plants or shrubs are more capable of fighting off plant diseases. The fertilizer is in granular form and contains nitrate nitrogen which is highly responsible for deep greening in your trees.
Pros
- It comes in granular form.
- It is a slow-release with a formulation of 12-6-6.
- The nitrate-nitrogen elements will deep green your shrubs.
- It nourishes the plants for up to 3 months.
- The micronutrients in it help for healthier, fuller, and larger shrubs.
- It starts by first feeding the root system of the plants.
- Creates a strong base for the plant.
- Helps the trees to grow more quickly and fight off diseases.
Cons
- Not yet found.
4. Jobe’s Evergreen Fertilizer Spikes
This special formulation is a time-release for Junipers, spruces, and other evergreen trees. They are pre-measured, and they nourish right at the very roots of your plants. This means that they deliver a continuous supply of fertilizer directly to the entrails of your trees.
Because of its slow release nature, the formula can be inserted either in early spring or during the late fall. This will ensure that your trees and shrubs will continue to grow and nourish throughout the season.
The preparation and application of the fertilizer are very easy and effective. They are applied by inserting around each tree’s drip line and as mentioned before, it will last through all season. This also means that there will be a continuous supply of nutrients below the surface of the soil where the roots of your plants are activated and build with ultimate strength.
Pros
- It nourishes the plants at the root system.
- It is very easy to prepare and apply to the plants.
- No wasteful run-off, no mess with this fertilizer.
- There is no hazard or pungent smells from the fertilizer.
- Apply early spring and late fall.
- Continuous supply of nutrients continues on the surface.
- It is a slow-release formula.
Cons
- They are not easy to use, and they are the size of railroad spikes.
- Not usable for newer smaller trees.
5. Miracle-Grow Shake ‘N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs
This continuously released plant food is excellent for your plants and shrubs’ fertilizer. This is because nitrogen and potassium often get depleted quicker. On the other hand, additional potassium, iron and sulfur, and magnesium help prevent common nutrient deficiencies.
The fertilizer comes in a 4.5lb container that can last feeding the fig plantation for over 3 months. All you need to do is to shake well the recommended amount once and your plants will be safe and glow.
The fertilizer has been certified as people and pet safe. It has also been verified as non-GMO and certified as organic. The fertilizer is manufactured in the United States from sustainable ingredients. If not satisfied, there is a money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Contains natural ingredients to feed the microbes in the soil.
- For use in all acid-loving plants, like flowering trees and shrubs.
- Helps maintain deep, lush, and green foliage all season long.
- Provides continuous release feeding for up to 3 months.
- Can be used for both potted and grounded plants.
- The ingredients used are very natural.
Cons
- Reported cases of killing small younger shrubs.
- They start molding when put in the ground, soil.
6. Espoma TR4 Tree-Tone Fertilizer
This fertilizer is specially designed for planting and feeding shade, fruit, and ornamental shrubs. The fertilizer is formulated organically using natural and organic compounds. The ratio in the formula, 6-3-2, is sufficient for healthy and green arborvitae trees and complete with all the 15 essential nutrients.
This fertilizer is formulated with both water-soluble and water-insoluble nitrogen. This means that the water-insoluble nitrogen can feed your plant continuously whereas the water-soluble nitrogen is utilized instantly for feeding. This feature makes the fertilizer one of the best slow-release fertilizers available in the market today.
The fertilizer is organic and therefore 100% environmentally safe. It consists of no sludges, hazardous or toxic ingredients. Besides that, the fertilizer has colony-forming beneficial soil microbes that make the plant healthy and resistant. It works best on the surface soil.
Pros
- A complex blend of natural organics.
- Consists of 15 essential nutrients.
- It is environmentally safe.
- Regarded as complete plant food.
- Formulated for both planting and feeding your plants.
- No sludges, hazardous, or toxic ingredients.
Cons
- Customer complaints of it turning moldy on application.
7. VPG Inc BAC421 Tree and Shrub Food
This special formulation is one of the best granular fertilizers for your arborvitae trees. Whether you are creating a hedge for your compound, a shrub, or independent trees, this is the ultimate fertilizer to use for nourishment and protection of your plants.
The fertilizer contains a fair percentage of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. These two elements are great for lush green foliage, healthy roots, and resistant plants. This is not to say that the fertilizer does not contain other nutrients, it has a host of other excellent nutrients. All these nutrients are formulated using the non-toxic formula.
The formulation contains penetrating action which moves the food directly to the feeder roots when applied around the tree or sharp drip line, thus eliminating the need to dig holes. The fertilizer is very easy to prepare and applied to the plants.
Pros
- Contains nitrogen for green foliage.
- Contains phosphate for healthy plant roots.
- Contains potash for healthy and resistant plants.
- Nutrients are formulated with non-toxic chemicals.
- Comes in granular form.
- Has penetrating action that moves the nutrients to the roots.
- Does not require the digging of holes.
Cons
- None found.
8. Down to Earth Tree and Shrub Fertilizer
This five-pound box of all-natural fertilizer is enhanced with mycorrhizal fungi and it is meant to especially give your trees a healthy glossy lifestyle. It has been fortified with eleven species of endo- and ecto- mycorrhizal fungi that help encourage extensive root development to protect against a variety of plant stresses.
This fertilizer is formulated for transplanting bare root trees, ball and burlap shrubs, and container plants. This fertilizer is best applied by mixing into the soil during the planting period. However, it can also be applied by drilling holes into the soil beside the plants.
The fertilizer helps to promote the rapid establishment and ensure survival from transplant shock, drought, and other environmental extremes that can negatively impact a young plant’s growth potential.
Pros
- Enhanced with mycorrhizal fungi.
- Fortified with 11 species of endo and ectomycorrhizal fungi.
- Encourage extensive development of roots and protect against stresses.
- Best applied into the soil at planting or by adding small holes drilled into the soil.
- Ensure that the plant survives after transplant shock.
- Comes in granular form.
- Uses natural and pet-friendly ingredients.
- Produce healthy and resistant plants.
Cons
- None found yet.
9. Slow Release Fertilizer by Perfect plants
This formulation is made to help with brightening the leaf color of your trees and to gloss them and increase their rigidity. The pellet formula will also toughen the trunk of your trees making them uneasy to break in the midst of weather turbulence.
This is the perfect right kind of fertilizer for ornamental leaf plant fertilization. It releases essential nutrients over the 6-month period therefore it is the type that you apply and get it off your mind for the next six months.
The nutrients in the fertilizer are consistent and they continue to be released every time your plants are watered. This comes very conveniently as it will save you the time and energy of having to repetitively mix the liquids together.
Pros
- Very easy to use and apply to the plants.
- Safe and gentle on the roots.
- Makes the leaves vibrant, glossy, and stable.
- Give sturdy branches and a tough trunk.
- Release essential nutrients over 6 months.
- Convenient and time-saving.
- Perfect even for the indoor house plants.
Cons
- None found.
In Conclusion
Before you start purchasing fertilizer for your arborvitae trees, you have to know a number of things about the plants first. Take research to understand the right time to apply the fertilizers on these trees and how to apply them best. Early spring or late fall is always the best time to fertilize your arborvitae because this is the time the plants are hungry, and they need extra food to bear fruits.