Compost, granular fertilizer, miracle grow....all of them? Or just one of them? Very confused HELP!!?

We bought our house three years ago and the flowerbeds had been severely neglected, bone dry with horribly dry, hard NC red soil. We mixed in lots of horse manure the first year, planted a few things which died. Last year we pulled out a ton of dirt and put in topsoil and compost, planted and everything lived (yay!) but didn't really grow much. Now, everything planted last year is coming up, covered in new growth, leaves, and some flower buds. I am so confused on how to feed them, there are so many options and I don't want to overdo it. We mowed over all the leaves that fell off our trees in the fall and put them in the flower beds, then covered with a thick layer of mulch over everything. The leaves are breaking down into the soil, so that is considered food I guess? I have osmocote pellets I used last year, and wanted to get miracle grow and add compost on under the mulch...is that too much? Plants are hydrangea, lilac, rose, azalea, rhodies, going to plant camellia in there in week

Compost, granular fertilizer, miracle grow....all of them? Or just one of them? Very confused HELP!!?
Slow down. Too much too soon.

1). leaves need to be well rotted to be benefical to the flower beds. Leaf molds. They take about 3 years to rot in the compost pile before adding to the beds. -rotting leafs stink. Plus the pull the nutrients out of the beds- allow them to rot.

2). Osmocote is good to start new plantings with.

3). Amend the soil with 1 part sand, 1part peat/topsoil-humas/loam and 1 part your garden soil. Then plant.

4) Add bonemeal to flower/rose beds. Check your PH.

5) Add compost (well rotted - store bought or on 3rd year post) to established beds in the spring to add nutrients lost over the winter and when you removed you winter mulch.

6). Miracle grow works best when used on existing beds.

hope this helps.

7) Try Posie Power - you can order from the internet.
Reply:TwinC is right. Too much too soon and too high an expectation.

Go to your local Nursery and purchase a Granular 10-10-10 with minerals fertilizer. Apply it now, again in mid-June, and in Mid-Sept. A little goes a long way so one bag will last you the season for a garden setting. It also does wonders for turfgrass when applied in late fall. It is also cheap!

Stop using leaves from trees in your garden! You are looking to spread diseases and pests from such trees into your bed. A good shredded hardwood mulch is much better and decomposes much quicker. Take a soil sample to your nursery for Ph examination. Most of your plants want acidic soil and they can recommend the right additive given the Ph of the sample. Good Luck
Reply:three things will help you

Lime powder type

compost and mericalgrow fertilizer,

Lime will sweeten the soil,compost will keep the roots cool and hold the moister the plants need and add to the soil in time,fertilizer will feed them but only feed them well once a week once the plants start to bloom stop the fertizer and only fertilize once a month unless you have drowt then do it more often good luck your plants need the graybox acid type mericalgrow,they all like acitic soils.

irene