The urge to dose every plant with fertilizer as soon as a few warm days come should be restrained. Late, freak frosts will kill new growth and possibly the plant itself. Our last frost date is April 20th in this USDA Zone 6b. Wait until the end of April.

In the case of all evergreens and conifers, it's best to fertilize at the end of April, and a second time in the fall, on first of August and only use acidic Holly-Tone fertilizer, granular, time-released, evenly-balanced fertilizer. Unlike Mir-Acid which is a high-nitrogen, constantly-applied fertilizer, Holly-Tone shows results gradually and doesn't dose the plant with too much, all-at-once. Mir-Acid requires repeated applications, "jump-starting" and "crashing" the plant constantly. Holly-Tone is much gentler with a more even feed.

Yews are classified as evergreens also, but won't respond to either fertilizer very well. They're better left un-fed; somehow they take care of themselves and prosper.

By waiting until the end of April, and feeding all Hollies, Pieris japonica, Pines, Blue and Norway Spruce, Mountain Laurel, Rhododendron, Azaleas, Dogwoods, Cherries and other conifers with Holly-Tone, you'll have a much richer and lusher garden until the Fall feeding time arrives.