Best Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes (2026)

Fertilizer spikes are compressed sticks of slow-release fertilizer that you drive into the ground around a tree or shrub. They are popular because there is nothing to measure, spread or water in, and they keep fertilizer off lawns, sidewalks and storm drains. They are also not a perfect solution: nutrients stay concentrated in small pockets of soil rather than spreading across the root zone. Below are seven spike products currently listed on Amazon, for shade trees, evergreens, fruit trees and bulk landscape use, followed by an honest look at when spikes beat granular fertilizer and when they don’t.

Part of our Trees & Shrubs guide →

In this guide

1. 1. Miracle-Gro Tree and Shrub Plant Food Spikes — Best Overall for Mixed Yards
2. 2. Jobe’s Tree Fertilizer Spikes 16-4-4 — Best for Deciduous Shade Trees
3. 3. Old Farmer’s Almanac Evergreen Tree and Shrub Spikes 10-4-10 — Best for Evergreens
4. 4. Jobe’s Evergreen Tree Fertilizer Spikes 13-3-4 — Best Value Evergreen Multi-Pack
5. 5. SimplyGro Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes 8-8-8 — Best Balanced Formula
6. 6. Miracle-Gro Fruit and Citrus Plant Food Spikes — Best for Fruit and Citrus Trees
7. 7. Winchester Gardens Landscaper Pack 15-10-9 — Best Bulk Pack
8. Spikes vs Granular Fertilizer: When Each Makes Sense
9. What to Look for in Fertilizer Spikes
10. How to Use Fertilizer Spikes
11. Frequently Asked Questions

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How we compared: we compared 7 current Amazon listings on what each listing states about NPK, spike count, intended plants and feeding schedule. We did not test or handle the products, and availability changes.

1. Miracle-Gro Tree and Shrub Plant Food Spikes — Best Overall for Mixed Yards

Best overall

Why We Like It

• Covers deciduous, evergreen and acid-loving plants
• Clear coverage guidance by drip line size
• Simple spring and fall schedule
• Spacing instructions on the listing

Specification	Details
Spikes per pack	12 (3 lb)
NPK	Not stated in listing
Plants	Deciduous, flowering, evergreen trees; hydrangeas, azaleas, magnolias
Schedule	Once in spring, once in fall
Coverage stated	3 trees with 4 ft drip line diameter or 1 tree with 12 ft
Spacing	Around drip line, at least 3 ft apart

Miracle-Gro Tree and Shrub Plant Food Spikes — compressed specs

Most yards have a mix of shade trees, evergreens and flowering shrubs, and this is the one spike in the group that lists all of them, including acid-loving hydrangeas, azaleas and magnolias. The listing is also unusually clear about coverage: a 12-spike pack feeds three small trees with a 4-foot drip line diameter or one tree with a 12-foot drip line diameter, which helps you buy the right amount.

It does not state the NPK ratio in the listing, so check the package if you need to match a soil test. That coverage figure also highlights the limitation of spikes for big trees: a mature shade tree with a 30-foot canopy would need several packs per feeding.

Check Miracle-Gro Tree and Shrub Spikes price on Amazon

2. Jobe’s Tree Fertilizer Spikes 16-4-4 — Best for Deciduous Shade Trees

Best for shade trees

Why We Like It

• Nitrogen-focused for leafy growth
• Two packages, 30 spikes total
• Listing says it will not burn trees
• Feeds all season per listing

Specification	Details
NPK	16-4-4
Spikes	15 per package, 2 packages
Plants	All deciduous trees and shrubs
Release	Time release, feeds all season
Listed weight	About 8.3 pounds

Jobe’s Tree Fertilizer Spikes 16-4-4 — compressed specs

Jobe’s is the most familiar spike brand, and this 16-4-4 formula is aimed squarely at deciduous trees such as maples, oaks and ornamental flowering trees. The high nitrogen supports leaf growth and color. With 30 spikes across two packages, it covers a medium-size shade tree or several smaller trees at one feeding.

Low phosphorus is a plus in many US soils, which already contain enough, and in areas with phosphorus restrictions. Compared with the balanced 8-8-8 SimplyGro, this formula pushes foliage harder and is a poor match for fruit trees, where the Miracle-Gro Fruit and Citrus formula is better suited.

Check Jobe's Tree Spikes 16-4-4 price on Amazon

3. Old Farmer’s Almanac Evergreen Tree and Shrub Spikes 10-4-10 — Best for Evergreens

Best for evergreens

Why We Like It

• Added magnesium for needle color
• Higher potassium than most spikes
• Hammer-in design, no cap needed
• Optional summer feeding guidance

Specification	Details
NPK	10-4-10 plus 6% magnesium
Spikes	24 (6 lb per title)
Plants	Evergreen and fir trees and shrubs
Schedule	Early spring and late fall; optional summer feeding
Design	TruSpike, hammered in directly; listed as unbreakable

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Evergreen Tree and Shrub Spikes — compressed specs

Magnesium is a central part of chlorophyll, and evergreens short on it often show yellowing older needles. This formula adds 6% magnesium to a 10-4-10 base, and its higher potassium is meant to support roots and winter hardiness. The TruSpike design is the other selling point. The listing says you can hammer it straight in without a protective cap, and that it won’t crush or break, a common complaint with traditional crumbly spikes in hard soil.

Compared with the Jobe’s evergreen spikes below, this has more potassium and the magnesium boost but fewer total spikes per purchase. If you have arborvitae hedges or a row of spruces, it is a strong choice. The same brand also lists a 12-spike version.

Check Old Farmer's Almanac Evergreen 10-4-10 price on Amazon

4. Jobe’s Evergreen Tree Fertilizer Spikes 13-3-4 — Best Value Evergreen Multi-Pack

Best multi-pack

Why We Like It

• Case quantity suits long hedges
• Evergreen-targeted 13-3-4 formula
• Pre-measured to limit over-feeding

Specification	Details
NPK	13-3-4
Quantity	Case of 6 packages; listing describes 15 spikes per package
Plants	Evergreen trees and shrubs
Schedule	Early spring and late fall
Release	Slow release

Jobe’s 01611 Evergreen Tree Fertilizer Spikes — compressed specs

If you are feeding a long row of arborvitae, junipers or yews, buying spikes a pack at a time adds up. This listing is for a case of six Jobe’s evergreen packages in a 13-3-4 formula, applied in early spring and late fall. The listing text is a little inconsistent about total count, mentioning both 15 spikes per package and “6 count total,” so confirm the quantity on the product page before ordering.

Compared with the Old Farmer’s Almanac evergreen formula, this is higher in nitrogen but lower in potassium and lists no added magnesium. It is the better pick when you need volume; the Almanac spikes are better when needle color is your main concern.

Check Jobe's Evergreen Spikes 13-3-4 price on Amazon

5. SimplyGro Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes 8-8-8 — Best Balanced Formula

Best balanced

Why We Like It

• Balanced ratio for almost any tree
• Each spike feeds up to 3 months
• Hammer-in TruSpike design
• Made in the USA

Specification	Details
NPK	8-8-8
Spikes	24 (6 lb per title)
Spike length	5 inches
Feeding duration	Up to 3 months per spike
Plants	Deciduous, coniferous, decorative, flowering, fruiting

SimplyGro Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes — compressed specs

A balanced 8-8-8 formula is a safe default when you are feeding a mix of trees and shrubs and haven’t done a soil test. SimplyGro lists everything from conifers to fruiting trees and says each 5-inch spike feeds for up to three months, with feedings in spring and fall. It uses the same TruSpike hammer-in design as the Old Farmer’s Almanac line, so you can skip the plastic cap.

Lower nitrogen than the Jobe’s spikes means less push for leaf growth, but less risk of excess soft growth too. If your soil test shows plenty of phosphorus already, choose a lower-phosphorus option instead. A 12-spike version is also on the shelf.

Check SimplyGro Tree and Shrub 8-8-8 price on Amazon

6. Miracle-Gro Fruit and Citrus Plant Food Spikes — Best for Fruit and Citrus Trees

Best for fruit trees

Why We Like It

• Higher phosphorus and potassium for fruiting
• Lists citrus, apple, avocado and palms
• Spring and mid-fall schedule
• Label chart for quantity

Specification	Details
NPK	10-15-15
Spikes per pack	12 (3 lb)
Plants	Apple, orange, lemon, lime, avocado, palm
Schedule	Early spring and mid-fall
Installation	Drive below surface around drip line with mallet or by stepping

Miracle-Gro Fruit and Citrus Plant Food Spikes — compressed specs

Fruit trees need potassium and phosphorus to flower and set fruit, and too much nitrogen can produce leafy growth with fewer blooms. This 10-15-15 spike is the only fruit-specific option on our list and names citrus, apples, avocados and palms. It is a good fit for backyard orchards and in-ground citrus in warm climates.

Citrus in particular is a heavy feeder and often needs more frequent feeding than spikes alone provide, especially for micronutrients like iron, zinc and manganese. For more options, see our roundup of the best fruit tree fertilizers.

Check Miracle-Gro Fruit and Citrus Spikes price on Amazon

7. Winchester Gardens Landscaper Pack 15-10-9 — Best Bulk Pack

Best bulk

Why We Like It

• 70 spikes in one case
• All-around 15-10-9 ratio
• Less packaging per spike
• Pre-measured dosing

Specification	Details
NPK	15-10-9
Spikes	70 per case
Listed weight	18 pounds
Plants	Trees and shrubs
Schedule	Not stated in listing

Winchester Gardens Landscaper Pack Tree and Shrub Spikes — compressed specs

For large properties, small orchards or anyone feeding dozens of trees and shrubs, the Winchester Gardens Landscaper Pack is the most practical buy. Seventy spikes in a single case is far more than any other listing here, and the 15-10-9 ratio works for most trees and shrubs. The listing also describes the spikes as child- and pet-friendly, though as with any fertilizer, store it out of reach.

The listing is short on application details, so follow the rates on the case. If you only have one or two trees, the 12- to 30-spike packs above are a better fit.

Check Winchester Gardens Landscaper Pack price on Amazon

Spikes vs Granular Fertilizer: When Each Makes Sense

Tree roots spread well beyond the drip line, and most of the fine feeder roots are in the top 12 inches of soil. Granular fertilizer broadcast over the root zone reaches far more of those roots than a handful of spikes. Spikes concentrate nutrients in small pockets, and roots near the spikes benefit most. Broadcasting granular fertilizer over the whole root zone, or having an arborist inject liquid fertilizer into the soil, spreads nutrients more evenly. That said, spikes have real advantages in the right situations.

Factor	Spikes	Granular
Ease of use	Very easy; no measuring or spreading	Requires measuring and even spreading
Nutrient distribution	Concentrated pockets	Even across the root zone
Runoff risk	Low; fertilizer is below the surface	Higher if spread on hard surfaces or before heavy rain
Effect on lawn	Minimal	Feeds the lawn too
Cost per tree	Higher for large trees	Lower for large areas
Best for	Small trees, shrubs, trees in lawns or beds near pavement	Large trees, orchards, deficient soils

Spikes beat granular when the tree is in a lawn and you don’t want to stimulate a flush of grass, when the tree is near water or pavement where runoff is a concern, and for small trees and shrubs where a few spikes cover most of the root zone. Granular is better for large mature trees, for correcting a deficiency found in a soil test and for orchards. For a broader comparison of release types, see our guide to the best slow-release fertilizers.

What to Look for in Fertilizer Spikes

• NPK ratio: nitrogen-heavy for shade trees and evergreens, more phosphorus and potassium for fruit trees, balanced for mixed plantings. Our NPK fertilizer explainer breaks down the numbers.
• Plant type: evergreen and acid-loving formulas often include sulfur or magnesium. For evergreens, compare with granular options in our best evergreen fertilizers roundup.
• Spike durability: traditional spikes can crumble when driven into hard or dry soil. Hammer-in designs like TruSpike avoid that.
• Quantity: count spikes needed based on the label chart and your trees’ drip line diameter.

How to Use Fertilizer Spikes

1. Measure the drip line diameter (the width of the canopy) and check the package chart for how many spikes to use.
2. Space spikes evenly around the drip line, typically at least 3 feet apart, not against the trunk.
3. Water the soil the day before if it is dry, to make installation easier.
4. Drive spikes just below the soil surface using the cap provided or a mallet.
5. Feed in early spring as growth starts and again in fall, following the label. Avoid late-summer feeding in cold climates, which can push soft growth before frost.
6. Never use more spikes than the label recommends. More is not better and can damage roots.

For newly planted trees, wait until the second growing season before using spikes, unless the label says otherwise. For more soil and fertility guides, see the composting and soil hub.