Q: I have a lot of shrubs on my property, mostly holly, nandina and conifers. Most are over five years old and are fertilized each year. Would skipping a year be a mistake?

A: If established shrubs are mulched, they need little fertilizer each year. Once they reach the desired size, fertilizer only forces you to do an annual pruning. It does little to keep the plants healthy. If finances are tight but you want to feed your landscape, why not use free composted horse manure? Details at http://xrl.us/manure