Best Fertilizer for Ficus Hedge Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Best Fertilizer for Ficus Hedge Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

While ficus hedges can make your landscape, they need to grow and thrive to give you the look you want. A lot of things go into getting the most out of your plants but getting the best fertilizer for ficus hedges is a great start.

It’s why we wanted to highlight five of the best options for you here and give you a comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you get the most out of your hedges. When you’re trying to grow ficus hedges, this is a guide you’ll want to read from start to finish.

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5 Best Fertilizer for Ficus Hedge List

We know you’re busy and eager to get the best fertilizer for ficus hedges, and it’s why we wanted to highlight some of the best options for your right off the bat. These are five of the best fertilizers you can use for your ficus hedges when you’re trying to maximize growth!

Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes – Best Overall

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They’re extremely easy to apply, and they have a slow-release formula that keeps your focus hedges fed throughout the entire year.

Even better, you only have to apply them twice a year, making it less work for you to get the most out of your hedges. Even better, they’re available for a great price, allowing you to fertilize all your ficus hedges without breaking the bank.

It’s everything you could want from fertilizer from one of the largest names in the industry. So, if you want a product you can rely on and don’t have to break the bank to get, Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes is an outstanding choice.

Brand: Miracle-Gro

Size: 12 spikes

Application style: Spikes

Application schedule: Spring and fall

Miracle-Gro is one of the top names in the fertilizer industry, and these Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes are one of their top products. It’s everything you could want to get your ficus hedges growing faster than ever.

Pros

• Long-lasting and easy to apply
• Outstanding slow-release results
• A great mix of price and performance

Cons

• Not for potted plants

BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed – Premium Choice

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It does a great job fertilizing your plants for a full 12-months, meaning one application in the fall is all you need each year.

Not only does it do a great job fertilizing your plants, but it also has an insecticide that keeps tons of harmful insects away from the shrubs without deterring the beneficial ones.

BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed is an excellent choice for a wide array of plants, making it a one-stop fertilizer you can use to feed all the plants in your lawn and garden.

It’s easy to apply and does a great job, the only real drawback is the higher upfront cost. But since you don’t have to worry about purchasing any additional products to protect your plants from harmful insects, it’s a pretty great option!

Brand: BioAdvanced

Size: 4 pounds

Application style: Granules

Application schedule: Fall

When you want the best results and don’t want anything to get in your way, the BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed gives you everything you need. It’s fertilizer and insecticide all wrapped up into one great product!

Pros

• Both a fertilizer and insecticide
• Provides 12 months of protection and fertilization
• Works for a wide array of plants
• Easy to apply

Cons

• Pricier option

Scotts Evergreen Tree & Shrub Continuous Release Plant Food – Best Budget

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Scotts is another big name in the lawn care and fertilization industry, so it’s no surprise to see that they make an outstanding choice for ficus hedges. What is surprising is how affordable it is.

It’s one of the most affordable fertilizer options on the market, and it does a great job of fertilizing the soil so you can get the most out of your ficus hedges. Not only is it affordably priced, but because of its large coverage area, you don’t need to use a ton of product every time you fertilize.

However, it only feeds for about two months, so you’ll certainly have to apply it a little more frequently compared to other options.

Still, it’s easy to apply and it works on tons of different types of plants. It’s an all-in-one fertilizer you can use for all your trees and shrubs.

Brand: Scotts

Size: 3 pounds

Application style: Granules

Application schedule: Every 2 months

If you’re on a tighter budget but want a top-notch fertilizer for your ficus hedge, there’s no better choice than Scotts Evergreen Tree & Shrub Continuous Release Plant Food.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Easy to apply
• Works on lots of plant types
• Large coverage area

Cons

• Only feeds for 2-months

Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes – Best Bulk

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When you’re purchasing more, the best bang for your buck is to order in bulk.

Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes lets you do just that, with an option to order 160 spikes at once. Of course, if you want to test them out in a smaller amount first you can, as they offer packs as small as five.

But we’re confident that once you start using these fertilizer spikes you’ll fall in love with them. They use a slow-release formula so you only have to apply them twice a year, and they’re extremely effective at fertilizing the soil for a wide array of plants.

They’re also easy to apply, so you don’t have to spend a ton of time putting them in the ground. However, while they are more affordable per spike when you’re ordering 160 of them at once you’re going to spend a little more upfront.

Brand: Jobe’s

Size: 5, 9, 15, or 160 spikes

Application style: Spikes

Application schedule: Spring and fall

If you’re on a larger property and need a lot of fertilizer for your ficus hedges, then Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes have you covered. You can also order in bulk and store the extras for seasons to come!

Pros

• You can purchase in bulk
• Affordable per spike
• Easy to apply
• Very effective

Cons

• Expensive initial cost

Shake ‘N Feed Trees and Shrubs Plant Food – Easiest to Apply

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Nobody wants to spend a ton of time fertilizing their ficus hedges, which is why when you’re shopping for the best fertilizer for ficus hedges, how easy it is to apply has to be a consideration.

And if you’re looking for an easy-to-apply fertilizer, it’s hard to top the Shake’ N Feed Trees and Shrub Plant Food. All you need to do is sprinkle the fertilizer around the trees, water them, and you’re good to go for three months!

Even better, it’s a more affordable product per pound, and the granules go a long way. If you don’t have a ton of ficus hedges, there’s no reason a single bag can’t last you for multiple seasons.

The only real drawback is that it only feeds for three months at a time. That means you need to apply it four times a year compared to the twice-a-year options like the spikes provide.

Brand: Miracle-Gro

Size: 8 pounds

Application style: Granules

Application schedule: Every 3 months

If you’re looking for the easiest to apply fertilizer, look no further than the Miracle-Gro Shake’ N Feed Trees and Shrubs Plant Food. It’s easy to apply and does a great job, a real win-win!

Pros

• Affordable per pound
• Large coverage area
• Very effective formula
• Insanely easy to apply

Cons

• Only 3 months of coverage

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Buyer’s Guide

When you’re shopping for the best fertilizer for ficus hedges, you need to have a little background knowledge to get the best choice the first time.

That’s why we came up with this comprehensive buyer’s guide to help you pick out your fertilizer and get the most from your ficus hedges year after year.

What To Look For in a Ficus Hedge Fertilizer

When you’re looking for a ficus hedge fertilizer, there are a few different things you want to look for. But by far the most important thing is that you want a slow-release formula. This gives your ficus hedge the nutrients they need over a longer period of time without overloading them with too many in the beginning.

You also need a fertilizer with plenty of nitrogen, as this is what the ficus hedge primarily uses to grow. All of the fertilizers on our list feature both a slow-release formula and plenty of nitrogen to help your ficus hedge grow.

Applying Your Fertilizer

While the exact method to apply your fertilizer is going to vary a little bit depending on the type of fertilizer you go with, the primary method remains the same. You want to sprinkle the granules or bury the spikes along the “drip zone” of the tree.

This zone is an area from the furthermost leaves pointing straight down. This is where the roots can make the most use of the nutrients in the fertilizer. Further away and it won’t have the reach to access the nutrients, but any closer and it can overload the roots and damage the ficus.

No matter what type of fertilizer you use, we highly recommend watering the area to make it easier for the fertilizer to seep into the soil and feed your ficus hedge!

Spikes vs Granules

When you’re looking at a fertilizer for your ficus hedge, there are two real options to choose from, granules and spikes. But while they look a bit different from each other, the truth is that they’re more similar than you might think.

In reality, manufacturers fill the spikes with granules, and it simply slowly releases them over a longer period to keep plenty of nutrients in the soil month after month. Because of this, spikes are generally a longer-lasting option, but the results aren’t all that different from granules.

You’ll just have to apply the granules more often to get the best possible results while the spikes do it for you themselves!

Pruning and Watering a Ficus Hedge

While fertilizer is important for your ficus hedge, it’s not the only thing you need to do. Another thing you’ll want to do is water your ficus hedge every three to five days to ensure that the soil doesn’t dry out completely.

But when you’re fertilizing and watering your ficus hedge consistently, you’re going to notice that it takes off. A ficus hedge can easily grow two feet a year, and after a while it’s going to grow a bit larger than you want.

That’s because left unchecked a ficus hedge can reach 60 feet in height! To keep it from getting too large, it’s essential that you prune and trim up your ficus hedge to the dimensions you want.

You’ll need to keep up with each season too, otherwise it’s going to grow a bit out of control, and it’s going to be more challenging to trim it back to the height you want.

When Should You Plant a Ficus Hedge?

When you’re looking to move a ficus hedge outside, you want to move it in late spring. The ficus hedge should have developed roots at this point, and it’ll have plenty of time to settle into its new environment before the colder winter months come along.

How Long Can a Ficus Hedge Live?

If you care for a ficus hedge properly, there’s no reason that it can’t live for decades outside. Because while potted ficus hedges live for about 20 years in a pot, when they’re outside they can typically live much longer.

So, care for your ficus hedges properly and you shouldn’t have to pull them and replant them for at least 30 to 40 years!

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FAQ

When you’re trying to get the best fertilizer for ficus hedges, it’s only normal to have a few questions. We understand, and it’s why we wanted to answer some of the most frequently asked questions for you here.

When should I fertilize my ficus tree?

It really depends on the product you go with, but the most common times of year to fertilize your ficus tree is the spring and fall. This schedule gives your plants all the nutrients they need to thrive throughout the year and grow as quickly as possible.

How often should I water a ficus tree?

A ficus tree needs water about once every three days. However, it really depends on the current soil condition around the ficus tree. It shouldn’t dry out completely. If it does, you need to water again.

This means that during the hot summer months you might need to water your ficus tree every day, while during the spring and fall you might be able to stretch things out to once every five days.

Finally, if there’s a freeze in the forecast, it’s best to avoid watering your ficus tree so you don’t freeze the entire tree and potentially kill it.

Does a ficus need direct sunlight?

No! Not only does a ficus not need direct sunlight, it usually does better without it. If your ficus hedge is outside, it should be able to handle direct sunlight, but if you’re growing ficus in a pot, you need to slowly acclimate it to increased amounts of direct sunlight if you plan on moving it.

However, if you can leave it in an area with indirect sunlight, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, that’s ideal.

How can I make my ficus hedge grow faster?

When you’re trying to get your ficus hedge to grow as fast as possible, it’s all about meeting all the conditions it needs to thrive. Get the hedge as much indirect sunlight as possible, keep up with watering when you need to, and use a high-quality fertilizer to ensure the soil has all the nutrients the hedge needs to thrive.

If you keep up with all those conditions, you can expect to see your ficus hedge to grow about 2-feet per year until it reaches its maximum height of 60 feet. If you need it at a lower height you can easily trim it to keep it at the size you want!

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Conclusion

Now that you know how to get the best fertilizer for ficus hedges, it’s up to you to get it on order and fertilize your plants.

So, what are you waiting for? Get the best fertilizer on order and watch your ficus hedges take off!