Growing plants can be a hard job, along with keeping them healthy and alive. But plants only have basic needs, and these can be fulfilled with a bit of attention.
There can be several reasons behind why you may think you lack a green thumb, such as over-watering or even under-watering.
But keeping your plants fed with proper nutrients can become one of the easiest things to take care of once you find their perfect feed.
Outdoor plants may vary in the amount of fertilizer they need; some can require a little every day, others may need it monthly.
But by simply adding a good fertilizer into your plant can help them thrive with the extra minerals and nutrients.
The best outdoor fertilizer is one that keeps all parts of the plant healthy such as the roots, stems, and leaves.
Explore the best fertilizers for outdoor growth in this buying guide, as I share the most suitable options available with you.
We get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Table of Contents
Best Fertilizer for Outdoor Growth
Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Vegetable Plant- Best Vegetable Fertilizer
This Miracle-Grow fertilizer formula is meant to feed everyday vegetables and fruits. It contains natural ingredients that help enrich the soil while giving your vegetables and fruits all the nutrients they need for perfect growth.
The Miracle-Grow Shake’ n Feed fertilizer can help prevent your plants from getting disorders that are associated with calcium deficiency.
Calcium also helps plants grow stronger cell walls, which in return makes good quality and long-lasting plants.
For application, simply shake the bottle of fertilizer provided and add it into the plant container or on the ground. Make sure you do not premix it with water, as it must always be applied dry.
The product should not be applied to plants that have wet leaves or stems.
It has an NPK ratio of 12-4-8, which is great for a slow-releasing fertilizer. This fertilizer needs to be applied again after three months have passed, and the plant must be watered regularly.
Pros
- Suitable for containers and ground soil
- It needs to be applied once every three months
- It does not need to be premixed
Cons
- 12-4-8 NPK ratio is good for young tomato plants, but not fully grown ones.
Learn more about this fertilizer here.
Proven Winners Premium Continuous Release Fertilizer- Best Continuous Release Fertilizer
This fertilizer has an NPK ratio of 15% nitrogen, 7% phosphate, and 15% potassium. Nitrogen is great for foliage growth, while phosphate is great for flower production, and potassium is needed for resistance against diseases.
The Proven Winners Premium Continuous Release plant food is a great yet cheap option for flowering plants.
This fertilizer is designed to help feed your plant for six months. The release pellets should be released over the plants to help with the months-long nutritional needs of the plant.
The product is designed to have a shaker top along with a measuring scoop to help you add the perfect amount of fertilizer. The package has instructions on how much fertilizer should be used.
Once the proper amount has been determined, simply apply the product directly to the soil or work it in. Make sure you do not do anything to the roots.
It is good for both potted and ground-based plants, which makes it easy to use as you do not need to repot or dig into fertilizing your plant. It is important to water your plant regularly when using this fertilizer.
To get the best plants, apply the fertilizer every Spring. Fertilizers such as these are dependent on the surrounding temperature to release nutrients for the plant when it needs them.
You can use this product on all perennials, shrubs, and annuals when they were originally plants. Then use it again every Spring for shrubs as well as perennials.
Pros
- You only need to use it once every six months
- It is easy to use
- Suitable to be used on soil and in containers
Cons
- It is dependent on surrounding temperatures
- Only good for flowering plants
Learn more about this fertilizer here.
Miracle-Gro Feed for Succulent Plant- Best Fertilizer for Succulents
This fertilizer is meant for succulents’ plants, which are known to be more resistant than other plants. However, succulents are known to be affected by the slightest changes in the environment.
But the Miracle-Gro fertilizer is helpful in this situation as it helps succulents grow well and strong. This fertilizer can feed succulent plants such as cacti, jade, aloe, and many other popular ones.
Once added to soil, it instantly feeds the plant. All you have to do is apply the fertilizer directly to the soil or mix it in with water.
When you mix it in with water, make sure you rinse off the foam left on the leaves. Plants in small pots need only two pumps of it, while large pots of up to six inches in diameter will need five pumps.
This fertilizer needs to be applied once every two weeks.
Pros
- It is cheap
- Easy to use
- Great for a variety of succulent plants
Cons
- If any residue is left on the foliage, then it will damage the plant
- Needs application once every two weeks
- The amount specified is only suitable for potted plants, not for the ones planted on the ground
Click here to know more about this fertilizer.
Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food (Water Soluble)- Best Outdoor Fertilizer Overall
This is another Miracle-Gro fertilizer that is loved by many. It is an all-purpose fertilizer and is one of the most popular fertilizers on the market.
The fertilizer is meant to be mixed in with water, and an easy way to do it is by having the Miracle-Gro garden feeder jar. This product should help you cover up to six hundred square feet of land.
The NPK ratio for this fertilizer is 24-8-16, and it’s considered to be one of the best ratios as it can work for many plants. The product does not cause any burns to the plant if used as directed.
In order to get the best results, the fertilizer must be used once a week or once every two weeks. It can feed trees, houseplants, vegetables, and shrubs.
If you have the Miracle-Gro feeder jar, then simply add the fertilizer to it and attach the jar to a garden hose. Choose how you wish the water to spray by turning the yellow head on the feeder jar.
Once ready, squeeze the trigger on the feeding jar and spray the plant’s base. When using this product for outdoor plants, mix one tablespoon of it with one gallon of water.
When you use this product for indoor plants, mix half a teaspoon with a gallon of water. If you do not have a feeding jar, then take a watering can and fill it with the instructed amount of water.
Add the fertilizer into the watering can and feed your plants from the base for the best results.
Pros
- It can be used for indoor and outdoor plants
- It is easy to use
- Perfect for its price
- Can be used for vegetables, trees, shrubs, and houseplants
Cons
- It needs to be used every week or once every two weeks
- It needs to be mixed in with water
For more information on this fertilizer, click here.
Miracle-Gro Plant Food Spikes for Trees and Shrubs- Best Fertilizer for Trees
Trees and shrubs seem like they do not need any fertilizing, but giving them the nutrients they need every year is important for their growth. Using food spikes is one of the easiest ways to feed these types of plants.
This product helps your plant become more vibrant in color and gives lush foliage. It also contains natural ingredients, which is better for the environment and your plants.
The Miracle-Gro Trees and Shrubs Fertilizer is great for evergreens, trees, fruit, citrus, palm trees, and acid-loving plants. One of the biggest challenges with young trees and shrubs is that they only require occasional feedings.
Young plants use a lot of energy in Spring since they produce flowers, more leaves, and seeds. Thus, they benefit more from fertilizers during this period of growth.
If you feed your plant shrubs once they have bloomed, it will encourage your plant to bloom more next year. The food spike for this product has been made to be used annually in Spring and early fall.
It released nutrients continuously over the season. Thus you do not need to add more of it before the season ends.
To use the product, enclose the plastic cap on top of the food spike. Drive the food spike into the wet soil; make sure it is always wet when this is done.
Insert the product under the drip line, which is the outermost circumference of your tree. If your trees and shrubs are small, then place the spike two feet away from the center of the plant.
Every spike should be at least three feet apart and should be following the drip link. Insert the spike two inches deep and remove the cap once the spike is in the ground.
You can use the plastic cap for the future insertion of food spikes.
Pros
- Easy to use
- It needs to be used seasonally
- Can fertilize a variety of plants
- It is made of natural ingredients
Cons
- It cannot be used for potted plants
To know more about this fertilizer, click here.
Jacks Classic by JR Peters Tomato Feed- Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes
Tomato plants can be tricky to take care of, but there’s nothing better than a fresh tomato grown at the end of a hot summer. Jacks’s Classic Tomato Feed has the perfect NPK ratio of 12-15-30 for every tomato plant.
This product will help your tomato plant gain vibrant green leaves, along with strong vines and even more fruit. The high potassium level in this fertilizer helps produce the best tomato plant.
However, this is not an organic fertilizer, which means it will not be creating organic tomatoes. This isn’t just used for tomatoes, but it can also be used for other vining fruits and vegetables.
Make sure that the fertilizer is mixed in with water before being added to the plant. This assures that the perfect amount of nutrients is delivered to your plant.
Pros
- It has high levels of potassium, which helps with the good growth of tomatoes
- Can be used for other vining fruits and vegetables
- It comes with a free scop for accurate measurement
Cons
- It is not organic
For more information about this fertilizer, click here.
Lawn Food by Simple Lawn Solutions- Best Fertilizer for Lawns
Simple Lawn Solutions has one of the best lawn fertilizers, and this one is known to contain no harmful chemicals. It is great for the use on St. Augustine, Zoysia, Buffalo, Centipede, Bermuda, Bahia, Fescue, Regress, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Florida Palmetto.
The product contains high amounts of nitrogen and has an NPK ratio of 28-0-0. This is mostly used as a supplement for nitrogen deficiency in lawns.
It has up to seventy percent quick-release nitrogen and thirty percent slow-release nitrogen. This variation helps your lawn remain fed until its next application.
The product contains great quality feed-grade compounds that help nourish your lawn with proper nutrients. Its design makes it easy to use and works quickly in terms of application as well.
You can detect if your lawn has nitrogen deficiency by looking into symptoms such as yellow leaves, slow growth, pale green color, and poor density.
Pros
- It is easy to use
- Perfect for nitrogen-deficient plants
- It does not contain harmful chemicals
- Slow releasing and quick releasing nitrogen help keep the lawn vibrant for a long period of time.
Cons
- It does not contain enough potassium and phosphate
To know more about it, click here.
Indoor and Outdoor Smart Release Plant Food by Osmocote- Best fertilizer for Every Plant
The best product to be used for any plant as its NPK ratio of 19-6-12 makes sure no plant is over-fertilized or under-fertilized. This fertilizer also contains eleven other essential nutrients for every plant.
It is known to work for almost all variety of plants and is great for any growing condition. The product is designed for both indoor and outdoor plants.
It is made in a way where it controls the release of nutrients, meaning it releases them over the span of a few months. One packet of this fertilizer can feed a plant for up to six months.
Once six months pass, the plant must be fertilized again. There are also no chances of your plants burning if instructions are followed.
To use the product, sprinkle in one full scoop of plant food one to four square feet. Mix the fertilizer with at least one to two inches of the soil.
Once mixed, make sure the plant is watered regularly. More nutrients will be released during warm or growing periods, and once the nutrients have been released, empty shells will still be left behind.
Pros
- It is simple to use
- It can be used on virtually any plant
- It can be used for potted or ground plants
- It only needs to be applied once every six months
Cons
- Once nutrients have been used up, empty shells are still left behind.
- It is an inorganic fertilizer
To know more about it, click here.
Hawaiian Bud and Bloom by Grow More- Best Fertilizer for Blooms
Flowing plants can have special needs and require a certain amount of nutrients that cannot be provided with any random fertilizer.
To maximize your plant’s bloom, you must fertilize it with a high potassium fertilizer.
This Grow More fertilizer is great for blooming plants since it has an NPK ratio of 5-50-17. The potassium level in this fertilizer will help create a higher yield of blooms for your plant.
Phosphate will help your plant gain healthy roots, and nitrogen is great for beautiful foliage to compliment the stunning blooms.
This product is urea-free and can be used on Orchids, Bromeliads, Guzmanias, Tropical Succulents, and Xerophytes.
This product also contains chelated micronutrients, which are great for the roots and foliage.
To apply this product to the foliage, add one teaspoon per gallon of water. To add the product to the soil, add one tablespoon per gallon.
Pros
- It can be used to fertilize leaves or the soil directly
- Has high potassium to increase the yield of blooms
- Contains chelated micronutrients
- Simple to use
Cons
- It is an inorganic fertilizer
- More expensive as compared to other fertilizers
To know more about this fertilizer, click here.
Buyer Guide for Outdoor Grow Fertilizers
Vegetable Fertilizer
When it comes to growing vegetables, choosing a good fertilizer is extremely important. Most vegetable plants are sensitive to fluctuation in their nutrients; some prefer higher levels of nitrogen while some prefer more potassium.
Not all plant fertilizers are organic; most available ones in the market are inorganic, but this does not mean your vegetables are poisonous. Using inorganic fertilizers won’t harm you, but they can harm the environment.
Thus, if you are practicing being environment-friendly, it is best to use organic fertilizers.
When you use fertilizers for fruit plants such as tomatoes, make sure you use a fertilizer that is high in potassium. There are also special fertilizers in the market that are only used for fruits and vegetables.
You can use them if you have trouble using all-purpose fertilizers. The majority of vegetable plants require feeding once a month or even weekly.
When using any fertilizer, make sure that you follow the given instructions as some may be slow releasing and, thus, must only be used once every six months or so.
Winner: Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food (Water Soluble)
Chemical Fertilizer
There are a number of multi-nutrient chemical fertilizers available in the market. These fertilizers are not organic as they have processed minerals in them, and some also contain chemical salts.
These types of fertilizers help boost the plant’s nutrients instantly, but users often end up overfertilizing their plants. It is also not a long-term solution for farming due to the high amounts of energy used in their production.
Chemical fertilizers end up using a lot of natural resources, and thus, gardeners are encouraged to look for alternatives.
Winner: Hawaiian Bud and Bloom by Grow More
What Do Popular Fertilizers contain?
Nitrogen (N)
Nitrogen is a part of the NPK ratio and usually holds the largest percentage. This is because it’s one of the most common deficiencies in the plant.
Nitrogen is needed for plant growth and encourages protein production. Protein helps plants build plant tissues and aids growth effectively.
Phosphorus (P)
Phosphorus is another part of the NPK ratio and is necessary for photosynthesis. It helps the plant store and uses energy to grow.
Potassium (K)
Potassium is the final element in the NPK ratio, and this is what helps the plant become resistant to diseases. Potassium also helps increase the yield of crops.
Plants with blooms and vegetables/fruits require a high level of potassium. Potassium also protects the plant by strengthening the root system.
The different types of Applications in Fertilizers
Pellets
These are fertilizers that come in solid form and are meant to spread around the plant. They are continuously releasing nutrients over a period of time.
Spikes
These are considered to be the least popular fertilizing method. Mostly used for outdoor plants, these are meant to be stuck into the ground and release nutrients over a long period of time.
Liquid Soil
These are meant to be sprayed onto the soil. It can be used directly or will need to be diluted in water.
Conclusion
Fertilizer is a great way to help your plant get back the nutrients it has lost over the period of its growth. This is the best method to choose when it comes to giving your plants a steady supply of nutrients.
But plants only require fertilizers when the soil is out of nutrients. This is why it’s best to first find out whether your soil needs to be fertilized before fertilizing it so that you may avoid overfertilizing.
This guide has the best fertilizers for outdoor use as it contained a variety for all possible plants. It is meant to be used as a helpful guide to choose the best option for your plants.
Good fertilizers help your plant fight diseases, strengthen its parts, and increase growth. How much a plant needs fertilizing depends on the season.
The guide contains all sorts of fertilizer, so if any of these is of your interest, just click the link and buy the one you like.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API