Lawn Fertilizer – Can I Use It On Trees And Plants

Q: I bought a fertilizer meant for lawns (32-0-8) to use on my bamboo. Can I also use this on trees, camellias, hydrangeas, azaleas and other perennials?

A: I think it would be better for the shrubs to use either a general purpose landscape fertilizer like 16-4-8 or a slow-release organic fertilizer like Milorganite, Holly-Tone, or E B Stone. That said, plants don’t read fertilizer labels, so I could also see using the lawn fertilizer at a rate of 1 pound per 1000 square feet of landscape area applied twice per year. It’s your choice.