Best Slow Release Fertilizer For Arborvitae

#1 · Best Overall

1. TreeHelp Arborvitae Fertilizer

• Weight: 1.5 kg
• Form: Liquid

Best for: Arborvitae-specific growing-season feed.

Why it ranks #1: Specifically formulated for arborvitae, it supplies slow-release nitrogen throughout the growing season and promotes robust root development.

TreeHelp identifies arborvitae as its specific target and uses slow-release nitrogen that continues feeding throughout the growing season. That focused formulation suits owners seeking long-term vitality and root development for one large tree or a small group of younger trees.

The stated coverage is one large tree or two to three smaller or newly planted trees, which helps buyers gauge whether the package fits their planting. Slow-release nitrogen continues feeding during the growing season, while robust root development is the stated vitality benefit. Complete instructions are included, supporting a guided application workflow. The supplied details do not give an application rate or schedule, so users should rely on those included instructions rather than assume timing or quantities from the listing.

Skip it if you need a listed NPK ratio and application schedule before choosing; GARDENWISE Evergreen Fertilizer provides an 8-4-8 ratio and seasonal directions.

A strong fit for arborvitae owners focused on root development, especially those feeding one large tree or a few smaller or newly planted ones. Follow the included instructions, since the listing itself gives no rate or schedule.

Listed on Amazon as: TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer for Arborvitae

#2 · Best Spike Format

2. Jobe’s Evergreen Spikes

• Weight: 14.08 oz
• Form: Sticks

Best for: Twice-yearly evergreen spike feeding.

Why it ranks #2: Names arborvitae among its intended plants, has a 13-3-4 NPK formula, and comes pre-measured for twice-yearly spring and fall use.

Pre-measured spikes deliver a 13-3-4 formula below the soil surface, targeting the active roots of arborvitae and other evergreens. That placement makes this a practical option for gardeners who want scheduled, direct feeding rather than scattering fertilizer over the surrounding soil.

The 15-count package suits a small planting or several individual trees, while the spike form avoids the runoff, mess, hazards, and smells cited in the product information. Its 13-3-4 NPK supplies nutrients continuously below the surface, where active roots grow. The stated application schedule is twice yearly, in early spring and late fall. Installation calls for a hammer and plastic spike cap, with spikes driven 1–2 inches; plan for that hands-on task at each feeding.

Skip it if you want granules to spread around many plants at once; this requires individual spike placement and a hammer.

A good fit for arborvitae owners who prefer root-targeted spikes and two scheduled feedings a year. It also covers cypress, pine, and cedar; choose another form if driving spikes into the ground does not suit your routine.

Listed on Amazon as: Jobe’s Slow Release Evergreen Fertilizer Spikes, Easy Plant Care for Cypress, Arborvitae, Pine, Cedar, and Many More Acid Loving Trees, 15 Count

#3 · Best Granular Formula

3. GARDENWISE Evergreen Fertilizer

• Weight: 12 oz
• Form: Granules

Best for: Arborvitae-targeted granular nutrition.

Why it ranks #3: Specifically lists arborvitae and provides an 8-4-8 slow-release granular formula with instructions to apply two to three times per season.

An 8-4-8 slow-release formula specifically names arborvitae among its intended plants, giving evergreen growers a targeted granular option. Its stated micronutrients and focus on root and foliage health make it relevant to gardeners seeking steady support for outdoor trees and shrubs.

The granules are sprinkled around the plant base, avoiding stems and leaves, then watered thoroughly; this straightforward workflow fits beds with several shrubs as well as individual trees. The product calls for application two to three times per season, so it requires more scheduled attention than a once-applied seasonal feed. Its 8-4-8 balance and micronutrients are described as supporting roots and foliage, while the slow-release formula is intended to deliver nutrients consistently over time and reduce frequent applications.

Skip it if you prefer a twice-yearly spike schedule; Jobe’s Slow Release Evergreen Fertilizer Spikes lists early spring and late fall applications.

A practical match for arborvitae owners comfortable applying and watering granules several times per season. Its stated plant range also covers azaleas, magnolias, and pines, but the application schedule is an important part of the fit.

Listed on Amazon as: GARDENWISE Evergreen Fertilizer – All-Purpose Granular Plant Food for Outdoor Trees and Shrubs, Azaleas, Magnolias, Pines & Arborvitae – Slow-Release Formula (12 oz)

#4

4. Scotts Evergreen Plant Food

• Weight: 3 lb
• Form: Powder

Best for: Short-cycle soil-applied evergreen food.

Why it ranks #4: Designed for evergreens and acid-loving trees, it encourages root growth and lush foliage and feeds for up to two months.

Scotts feeds for up to two months and is listed for evergreens and many acid-loving trees and shrubs, offering a soil-applied option for arborvitae care. Its direct-to-soil application suits gardeners who would rather rake plant food into soil or mulch than place spikes.

The directions call for even application around plants, followed by raking the powder into the top one to three inches of soil or mulch so nutrients reach the root system. Keeping it away from the trunk or crown is part of that workflow. The product states it will not burn plants when used as directed and feeds for up to two months. That shorter stated feeding period means users should expect to revisit application sooner than with products offering longer durations.

Skip it if you want feeding to last up to six months; Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus Outdoor & Indoor lists that duration.

Choose this powder if you prefer working fertilizer into soil or mulch around arborvitae and can accommodate feeding intervals of up to two months. Follow the placement directions, especially keeping product away from the trunk and crown.

Listed on Amazon as: Scotts Evergreen, Flowering Tree & Shrub Continuous Release Plant Food

#5

5. Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food

• Weight: 2 lb
• Form: Granules

Best for: Flexible indoor-outdoor granular feeding.

Why it ranks #5: Suitable for trees and shrubs in varied growing conditions, it contains 11 essential nutrients and feeds plants for up to six months.

One application feeds plants for up to six months with 11 essential nutrients, making Osmocote a flexible choice for arborvitae gardeners who also tend other plants. Its listed use spans indoor and outdoor growing, from containers and raised beds to in-ground gardens.

The resin-coated granules release nutrition in response to temperature, according to the supplied product information, linking feeding to changing growing conditions. That can simplify care across mixed plantings: the formula is listed for trees and shrubs as well as flowers, vegetables, and houseplants. Directions call for one scoop per two gallons of soil or four square feet, mixed into the top three inches and watered regularly. The broad plant list is useful, though the listing does not specify an arborvitae-specific formula.

Skip it if you want fertilizer specifically formulated for arborvitae; TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer for Arborvitae names that tree as its target.

Consider it if one granular food for indoor and outdoor plants fits your wider gardening routine, including trees and shrubs. Arborvitae growers seeking a tree-specific formula may prefer a product explicitly formulated for arborvitae.

Listed on Amazon as: Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food Plus Outdoor & Indoor1, 2 lb.

#6

6. Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Spikes

• Weight: 3 lb
• Form: Sticks

Best for: Drip-line feeding for established trees.

Why it ranks #6: Suitable for evergreen trees and shrubs, these slow-release spikes provide a stated 15-5-10 NPK formula and feed near the roots.

Miracle-Gro’s 15-5-10 spikes place slow-release nutrients directly near tree and shrub roots, offering a defined placement method for arborvitae in the yard. The listed use includes evergreen trees and acid-loving plants, making this a relevant choice for mixed landscape plantings.

The instructions direct gardeners to soften the soil with water, place spikes around the drip line at least three feet apart, and drive them fully below the soil surface. That sequence makes placement more deliberate than simply scattering fertilizer, but does require preparation and spacing around each plant. The formula is listed for evergreen, deciduous, and flowering trees, while the 15-5-10 NPK provides named nutrient proportions for buyers comparing formula details.

Skip it if you want to avoid preparing soil and spacing individual spikes; Scotts Evergreen, Flowering Tree & Shrub Continuous Release Plant Food is applied directly to soil.

Choose these spikes if you want a root-directed format and can follow the drip-line placement steps around your arborvitae. The instructions call for softened soil and spacing, so account for that work across multiple trees.

Listed on Amazon as: Miracle-Gro Tree & Shrub Plant Food Spikes, 12 Spikes

#7

7. Jobe’s Tree and Shrub Spikes

• Weight: 12 oz
• Form: Sticks

Best for: Twice-yearly tree and shrub spikes.

Why it ranks #7: Its 16-4-4 formula and twice-yearly spike application suit trees and shrubs, but the listed intended plants do not specifically include arborvitae.

Pre-measured spikes with a 16-4-4 NPK formula provide continuous below-surface feeding for active roots, making this Jobe’s option relevant to arborvitae in broader tree and shrub plantings. The product specifically lists several acid-loving trees and shrubs, including boxwood and dogwood.

The 15 spikes are intended for two applications yearly, in early spring and late fall, giving gardeners a defined seasonal routine. Their below-surface placement directs nutrients toward active roots, and the product says the pre-measured format avoids runoff, mess, hazards, and smells. Application uses a hammer and plastic spike cap to drive spikes into the ground. While this formula is listed for trees and shrubs generally, the supplied examples do not specifically name arborvitae, unlike the evergreen version in this roundup.

Skip it if you want arborvitae explicitly named on the listing; TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer for Arborvitae specifically identifies that tree.

Consider these spikes for a mixed tree and shrub garden when the listed plant examples match your needs and twice-yearly feeding suits your schedule. Arborvitae-specific buyers should note that it is not named among the examples.

Listed on Amazon as: Jobe’s Slow Release Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes, Easy Plant Care for Oak, Maple, Dogwood, Boxwood, and Many More Acid Loving Trees and Shrubs, 15 Count

#8

8. SimplyGro Tree & Shrub Spikes

• Weight: 3 lb
• Form: Sticks

Best for: Mixed-tree and shrub spike feeding.

Why it ranks #8: The 8-8-8 spikes are intended for coniferous trees and shrubs, though the product does not specifically identify arborvitae.

A balanced 8-8-8 formula in five-inch spikes gives mixed gardens a single fertilizer option for coniferous, deciduous, flowering, and fruiting trees and shrubs. That broad stated range includes arborvitae, making it useful when a planting contains more than evergreens.

Each spike combines nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which the product associates with growth and color, flowering and fruiting, and root strength respectively. The five-inch stick format offers a set-it-and-forget-it approach, although the supplied information does not give an application schedule or placement instructions. With 12 spikes in the package, this format suits gardeners who prefer individual placements over spreading granules; the general-purpose formula also serves mixed ornamental plantings rather than only arborvitae.

Skip it if you need a stated seasonal schedule before applying; Jobe’s Slow Release Evergreen Fertilizer Spikes specifies spring and late-fall use.

A fit for gardeners feeding arborvitae alongside other tree and shrub types who prefer spikes and a balanced formula. The available directions do not state timing, so that missing schedule may matter to routine-focused buyers.

Listed on Amazon as: Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes (12 Spikes – 3.0 Lbs)

#9

9. Southern Ag Osmocote Fertilizer

• Weight: 5 lb
• Form: Granules

Best for: Four-month controlled-release granules.

Why it ranks #9: Its controlled-release granules meter nutrients for up to four months, but the listed uses focus on potted plants, beds, and vegetables.

Continuous nutrient metering for up to four months is the key feature of this 14-14-14 controlled-release fertilizer. Its listed uses focus on potted plants, hanging baskets, flower beds, and vegetable gardens, so it fits gardeners considering granules for those settings more directly than tree-specific feeding.

The product provides a balanced 14-14-14 formula and gives application rates for soil, bedding plants, and pot culture, which supports planning for the listed garden uses. The stated four-month release period can reduce how often those plants need feeding. Arborvitae is not among the supplied use cases, however, and the provided directions do not specify application for trees or shrubs. That makes its clearest fit container and bedding plant care rather than a confirmed arborvitae routine.

Skip it if you want an explicitly arborvitae-focused fertilizer; TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer for Arborvitae names that tree as its target.

Consider this for potted plants, hanging baskets, flower beds, or vegetable gardens where the listed rates and four-month feeding period are useful. Arborvitae growers should note that trees and shrubs are not among its supplied use cases.

Listed on Amazon as: Southern Ag Osmocote Controlled Release Fertilizer 14-14-14, 5 LB Size: 5 LB

#10

10. Schultz Slow-Release ACR Fertilizer

• Weight: 16 oz
• Form: Powder

Best for: Slow-release ACR powder format.

Why it ranks #10: The listing identifies it as a slow-release fertilizer but provides no arborvitae-specific fit, nutrient ratio, or application directions.

Schultz identifies this product as a slow-release ACR fertilizer in powder form, giving gardeners a granular-style format rather than spikes for their plant-care routine. The supplied product information is sparse, so its clearest differentiators are the named release type and powder form.

The listing provides the Schultz SPF48340 name and describes the fertilizer as slow-release, but it does not supply a nutrient ratio, target plants, application directions, or feeding duration. That leaves arborvitae owners without product-specific information here to judge formula suitability or plan an application schedule. The powder form may fit buyers already seeking a non-spike product, but the available facts do not establish how it should be applied. Safety information says to use gloves and protective clothing and store it in a cool, dry place.

Skip it if you need arborvitae-specific instructions and a stated nutrient ratio; TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer for Arborvitae names its target and feeding period.

This may suit a buyer specifically seeking a slow-release powder, but the supplied details do not establish arborvitae suitability, dosage, or timing. Choose it only if you can obtain the application guidance needed for your use.

Listed on Amazon as: Schultz SPF48340 Slow-Release ACR Fertilizer, 3.5 Lbs, 56 Ounce