Miracle-Gro is a famous brand of soil fertilizer, and you can use it for many different plants. If you want to fertilize your boxwoods but don’t know which product to use, you might be wondering if you can use Miracle-Gro.
You can use Miracle-Gro on boxwoods because all Miracle-Gro fertilizers contain the nutrients that boxwoods need to thrive. You can use the Miracle-Gro fertilizer spikes, shake’ n feed, or all-purpose fertilizer. Although Miracle-Gro works well for boxwoods, you can also use other fertilizers.
The rest of this article will discuss why Miracle-Gro is suitable for boxwoods. It will also discuss some of the best fertilizers you can use and whether fertilizer is always necessary for boxwoods.
Why Is Miracle-Gro Good for Boxwoods?
Miracle-Gro is good for boxwoods because it feeds the plants the nutrients they need in the right amounts. It contains all the necessary ingredients, including high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. It’s also super easy to find and an affordable option.
Miracle-Gro is suitable for boxwoods for the same reason many other fertilizers are beneficial. It’s not necessary to go with Miracle-Gro, but it’s an excellent choice.
You can also opt for a fertilizer explicitly made for evergreens, which I’ll discuss later when I recommend some of the best fertilizers for boxwoods.
Are Miracle-Gro Fertilizer Spikes Good for Boxwoods?
Miracle-Gro Fertilizer spikes are good for boxwoods because they’re easy to install, and once installed, they feed the plants instantly. You generally only need to install fertilizer spikes once or twice a year for your boxwood, so they’re particularly convenient.
Since boxwoods are pretty tiny, you won’t need to use many spikes; as a result, the process should be straightforward. You could opt for Miracle-Gro spikes, but there are also other brands to choose from. All the leading fertilizer spike brands contain the same vital ingredients.
To learn more about fertilizer spikes for evergreens, you should check out this article: Are Fertilizer Spikes Good for Evergreens?
Applying Fertilizer Spikes to the Soil
Applying fertilizer spikes is easy. All you need to do is install them around the plant’s dripline. However, since boxwoods are so tiny, you’ll only need to apply one spike (in most cases).
Once you’ve found the spot where you want to install the spike, you’ll need to hammer it into the soil until it’s not visible anymore.
Over the course of a few months, it will feed your boxwood until it fully disintegrates. Then, you can install another one.
What Nutrients Do Boxwoods Need?
Boxwoods need potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus to survive and thrive. While these critical nutrients are essential for boxwoods, they’re also crucial for every other kind of plant.
In addition to needing these three nutrients, boxwoods do best in soils that range from a pH of 6.5 to 7.5; in general, they prefer neutral soil. Because of this, you should avoid using fertilizers made for acid-loving plants. You should also avoid alkaline fertilizers because this will affect the pH level of the soil and the plant, which could cause serious issues.
I’ve already mentioned nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus as essential ingredients. However, other nutrients are critical for boxwoods and all plants. Some of them include:
- Calcium. Calcium is vital for structural roles in plants’ cell walls and membranes, so it’s good to use a fertilizer that contains some calcium. However, many soils already have plenty of calcium, so you shouldn’t worry too much about it.
- Sulfur. Sulfur is vital for many reasons, but one of the main ones is that it helps with chlorophyll formation. Like calcium and other nutrients, sulfur is natural and can be found in soil and other parts of the earth without fertilizers.
- Magnesium. Like sulfur, magnesium is also essential for chlorophyll production. Without it, plants like boxwoods wouldn’t be able to thrive or live for very long.
Before choosing a fertilizer for your soil, it’s a good idea to get a soil test done. This will tell you what nutrients your soil needs. The results could also indicate that your soil doesn’t need extra nutrients. It may also uncover that it already has too many.
If your soil already has enough or too many nutrients, adding fertilizer on top of that could damage or burn your plants.
Thankfully, most fertilizers you can buy in stores and online are not too intense, and they contain the right amount of ingredients. When exposed to these fertilizers, your plants shouldn’t experience any issues. But even still, it might be worth it to get a soil test if you have concerns.
The best way to do a soil test is to get a kit. For example, you can get a kit from many garden stores. You can also get them from specific university extensions, such as Penn State University.
Is Fertilizer Always Necessary for Boxwoods?
Fertilizer is not always necessary for boxwoods, but you may need to use it if your soil lacks nutrients. Any standard fertilizer works well for boxwoods, as long as it’s not too acidic or alkaline.
Since evergreens don’t usually need as much fertilizer as deciduous plants and trees, you don’t have to worry too much about fertilizing your boxwoods. In many cases, they can thrive and remain bright and vibrant without using any fertilizer at all!
However, if you notice your boxwood looks dull or is growing slower than it should be, you might need to give it some love with some fertilizer.
Here are some signs your boxwood needs fertilizer:
- It’s growing at a prolonged rate. If you notice your boxwood is growing super slowly or has stopped growing entirely, it may need fertilizer.
- It looks dull. Since boxwoods are evergreen plants, they should be vibrant all year round. If they aren’t, the issue might relate to a nutrient deficiency. Adding fertilizer should help perk up the plants and give them a brighter appearance.
- Other plants are also suffering. If you notice other plants in the surrounding area are also suffering, there could be a lack of nutrients in the soil across your entire garden. In this instance, you’d need to use fertilizer.
If you notice any of the above problems, Miracle-Gro and many other fertilizers should help fix them. However, you should be aware that the above issues may not always relate to a lack of nutrients.
In some cases, your plant may be having problems because it’s not getting enough water or sunlight. So, there are many things to consider before jumping to conclusions about your plants’ health.
Conclusion
You can use Miracle-Gro on boxwoods because it’s an excellent fertilizer brand that contains all the essential nutrients your plant needs. Although Miracle-Gro is an appropriate option, you can use many other fertilizers. Some fertilizers are explicitly made for evergreens, while others are more universal.
If you’re unsure whether your boxwood needs nutrients, look out for dullness or slow growth. Get a soil test if you have significant concerns.
Finally, remember: while a low-medium level of fertilizer is generally good for boxwoods and other plants, too much can be detrimental.
