Feed Pittosporum
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What to Feed Pittosporum Plants
Pittosporum hedges grow fast, but they also exhaust soil nutrients quickly. Without the right feed, they become thin, pale, or slow to recover after pruning. The best way to keep pittosporum lush and green is with a balanced NPK fertiliser — and nothing works better than CompleteGrow’s All Purpose Liquid Fertiliser NPK 20-20-20. It delivers the exact nutrients pittosporum need for dense foliage, strong roots, and year-round resilience.
🌿 At a Glance: Feeding Pittosporum
- Best Fertiliser: CompleteGrow NPK 20-20-20 Liquid
- Application Rate: 4 ml per litre of water
- Feeding Frequency: Every 6–8 weeks (young hedges) / Twice yearly (established)
- Best Timing: Spring, mid-summer, and immediately after pruning
- Pro Tip: Always water deeply after feeding to maximise nutrient uptake
What Nutrients Do Pittosporum Need?
Pittosporum are evergreen shrubs, clipped frequently, which means their demand for nutrients is constant. Every cut forces new growth, and without feeding, hedges thin out quickly. A good fertiliser for pittosporum must provide all three macronutrients:
- Nitrogen (N): Powers lush, green foliage. A hedge low in nitrogen looks pale and weak.
- Phosphorus (P): Builds strong root systems, critical for young plant establishment and resilience.
- Potassium (K): Improves branching, strengthens foliage, and builds tolerance to heat, pests, and pruning stress.
Imbalanced fertilisers often create problems — high nitrogen alone produces leggy, soft growth, while lack of phosphorus slows root development. A 20-20-20 NPK blend is ideal because it feeds pittosporum evenly at every stage of growth.
Tip: Don’t rely on lawn fertilisers or compost alone. They lack the precise balance pittosporum need and often underperform in hedge care.
How to Feed Pittosporum for Best Results
Feeding isn’t just about what fertiliser you use — timing and method make the difference between a hedge that looks average and one that thrives.
Feeding schedule:
- Early spring: First application to wake plants from winter dormancy and kick-start new shoots.
- Mid-summer: Second feed during the strongest growth flush to maintain hedge density.
- After pruning: Always fertilise lightly after cutting back to speed recovery and regrowth.
Application tips:
- Water the soil before applying fertiliser — this prevents burn and improves absorption.
- Dilute CompleteGrow 20-20-20 at 4 ml per litre of water and apply evenly at the root zone.
- Mulch after feeding to hold moisture and lock nutrients in the soil for longer.
Young pittosporum (first 12–18 months) benefit from more frequent feeding — every 6–8 weeks in the growing season. Established hedges thrive with two strong seasonal feeds.
Why CompleteGrow 20-20-20 is the Best Fertiliser for Pittosporum
There are many fertilisers you could use, but only one consistently produces dense, green, and fast-growing pittosporum hedges: CompleteGrow’s All Purpose Plant Liquid Fertiliser NPK 20-20-20. Why gardeners choose CompleteGrow:- Balanced growth: Equal NPK ensures hedges don’t suffer nutrient imbalances.
- Fast-acting: As a liquid feed, results appear faster than with slow-release pellets.
- Reliable recovery: After pruning, hedges bounce back quickly and evenly.
- Australian conditions: Designed to perform in local soils and climates, from coastal areas to inland gardens.
Quick FAQs
- What should I feed pittosporum? A complete NPK fertiliser — CompleteGrow 20-20-20 is the top choice.
- When should I feed? Spring, mid-summer, and lightly after pruning.
- How often? Every 6–8 weeks for young plants, twice yearly for established hedges.
- Can I use slow-release fertiliser? Yes, but liquid feeding with CompleteGrow gives faster, more reliable results.
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What is NPK 20-20-20 Fertiliser?
