Do You Really Need to Fertilize Your Outdoor Plants?

There’s nothing quite like a trip to the nursery after a long winter. Browsing the rows and rows of plants is bliss-adjacent—and second only to actually planting them in your yard.

When putting plants in the ground, plenty of people opt to mix in store-bought fertilizer to give them a boost. Though it’s a popular method, is it really necessary? We talked to several horticultural experts to get their thoughts.

Do You Really Need to Fertilize Your Outdoor Plants?

In general, adding fertilizer to your new plantings is considered a wise move. “This will make sure there are enough nutrients to help the plant thrive and recover quickly from any transplant shock from the nursery,” says Matt Cline, COO at HillSide Lawn Service. 

Larger plants like trees can also benefit from root-injected liquid fertilizer in the fall and spring, he adds. Fertilizer, no matter the kind, helps plants get established in their new home and soil profile.

Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love, underscores that while most outdoor plants benefit from fertilizer (at least on an annual basis), some species can easily go without it. “If you are unsure about what your plants need, it’s always a good idea to talk to an expert at a local plant nursery,” he says.

What Type of Fertilizer Is Best for Outdoor Plants?

Not all fertilizer is made equal: Organic fertilizer is preferred among the experts, as is compost. According to Nicole Johnsey Burke, founder of Gardenary and author of several gardening books, the better approach is a more natural one.

“Use compost, worm castings, and other amendments derived from nature—like kelp meal, rock phosphate, or aged manure—to build your soil health and fertility over time,” she explains. “Basically, switch your focus from feeding your plants to feeding your soil. It’s much better for the overall health and productivity of your garden over time.”

The only store-bought fertilizers Johnsey Burke recommends are those derived from nature, explaining that synthetic ones may do more harm than good. In order for this kind of fertilizer to work, she explains, it has to be continuously applied, and repeated applications may actually make your soil less fertile over time.

Another downside? Both the manufacturing and application of some synthetic fertilizers may pollute water systems and the air. 

“I always compare using some synthetic products in your garden in the name of speeding up plant growth to taking steroids to build more muscle,” she says. “You might get fast results, but at what cost?”