Hollies are popular evergreen shrubs that add year-round interest to gardens with their glossy foliage and bright red berries. With the right care, hollies can thrive for decades, but feeding them properly is key to their health and vigor. Choosing the best fertilizer for your holly bushes encourages strong new growth, lush foliage, and abundant flowers and berries.
How Often to Fertilize Holly Bushes
Fertilizing hollies twice per year in spring and fall, provides the nutrients they need for optimal growth.
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Spring – Fertilize when new growth emerges, usually March-April. This fuels the growth flush
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Fall – Fertilize in October-November after growth has slowed for the season. This helps the plant store nutrients over winter.
Avoid fertilizing during summer heat or winter dormancy. Instead, focus on watering and pest prevention during these stressful times.
What Type of Fertilizer is Best for Hollies
Hollies do best with a balanced fertilizer that provides key macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (represented on fertilizer labels as N-P-K).
Look for:
- 8-10% nitrogen (N) – Promotes lush foliage growth
- Phosphorus (P) – Aids root, flower, and fruit development
- Potassium (K) – Boosts overall plant health
Slow-release or organic fertilizers are ideal because they break down gradually over many weeks or months. This provides a steady nutrient supply that lasts longer vs fast-acting synthetic fertilizers.
Specific products well-suited for hollies:
- Holly-tone – A specialty fertilizer tailored for hollies
- Azalea/camellia fertilizer – Formulated for acid-loving plants like hollies
- Balanced all-purpose fertilizer (10-10-10 or 8-8-8)
- Compost or manure – Excellent organic options that improve soil
How to Apply Fertilizer to Holly Bushes
Follow these tips for fertilizing holly bushes successfully:
- Pull back mulch to expose soil surface
- Broadcast dry fertilizer evenly under the entire span of branches
- For mature bushes, apply 0.5 lb fertilizer per 0.5 inch trunk diameter
- Water thoroughly after fertilizing to dissolve and soak fertilizer into root zone
- Replace mulch over root zone
Liquid fertilizers like Miracid are also effective for hollies. Dilute as directed and apply around drip line with a watering can or hose end sprayer.
Organic options like compost and manure can be worked into the top few inches of soil in lieu of traditional fertilizer.
Adjusting Soil Acidity for Hollies
Hollies thrive best in acidic soil with a pH between 4.5-6.0. Use an inexpensive soil test kit to check pH before planting and fertilizing.
If soil is too alkaline, add elemental sulfur or soil acidifier to lower pH. If too acidic, add lime to raise pH.
An acidic fertilizer tailored for azaleas and rhododendrons can help maintain the ideal pH range for hollies.
Signs It’s Time to Fertilize Holly Bushes
Watch for these cues that your hollies need a nutrient boost:
- Minimal new growth or small leaves
- Light green or yellowing foliage
- Loss of lower leaves
- Few/no flowers or fruits
Regular feeding prevents nutrient deficiencies that cause these issues.
Avoid Fertilizer Burn on Hollies
Use care when fertilizing hollies to prevent fertilizer burn, a type of root damage.
- Never exceed recommended rates on fertilizer labels
- Keep granular fertilizers off plant stems and leaves
- Water immediately after applying to rinse fertilizer into soil
- Wait 2-3 months between applications to avoid buildup
With proper feeding, hollies will flourish for years in the garden. Choose an acidic fertilizer for these acid-loving plants and feed in spring and fall for best results.
How Do You Know When to Fertilize Hollies
There are clues if your holly needs to be fertilized. If the leaves of the holly are yellow, it means that the soil either doesn’t have enough nitrogen or is too acidic. Of course the holly may need watered too. Before adding fertilizer, it’s best to water your plant 24 hours ahead of time to make sure it gets really wet. This ensures that you won’t burn the roots.
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All plants need to be fertilized at some point in the growing season. Some require fertilizing in the spring while others recommend fertilizing monthly. In the case of hollies, they should be fertilized in the early spring and fall after a frost.
How to Use Holly-Tone Plant Food // Garden Answer
FAQ
When should holly bushes be fertilized?
What is the ideal food for a holly bush?
What helps holly bushes grow?
How do I make my holly bush fuller?
What is the best fertilizer for holly bushes?
Below you’ll find some of the best fertilizer options for these bushes. This fertilizer by Safer Brand delivers a steady and slow release of valuable nutrients to your holly bushes. Holly bushes are acid-loving plants, and this fertilizer can provide them with essential minerals to help keep their soil ph-balanced and healthy.
How do you fertilize holly bushes?
To apply a liquid fertilizer, dilute it according to the package directions and water it into the soil around the bush. Slow-release fertilizers are the best option for holly bushes, as they release nutrients over time. To apply a slow-release fertilizer, spread it evenly around the base of the bush and water it in well.
How often should you fertilize a Holly?
How often you should fertilize your holly depends on the fertilizer and soil. During the growing season (before holly buds appear) fertilize every 4 to 6 weeks. After your holly blooms and once petals begin to fall from the plant you should stop fertilizing.
Do holly bushes need fertilization?
Holly bushes need nutrients to thrive, and fertilizing them can help them to produce more leaves, flowers, and fruit. Fertilizing also helps holly bushes resist pests and diseases. The best time to fertilize holly bushes is in early spring, before the new growth begins.