Q: What is the best time to feed camellias? I have several that have been planted for more than fifteen years.

A: Camellias need nutrients when their growth starts in early April. You can use granular synthetic fertilizers then; rainfall will wash them into the soil.

However, I see a lot of benefit to feeding camellia, azalea, rhododendron and other woodland shrubs with organic fertilizer.

Products such as Holly-tone, Milorganite, cotton seed meal or blood meal contain nutrients that are released over a long period, just as the shallow-rooted plants desire.

camellia