Jobe’s Slow Release Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes, Easy Plant Care for Oak, Maple, Dogwood, Boxwood, and Many More Acid Loving Trees and Shrubs, Bulk 160 Count

These are a great way to give a slow release fertilizer to trees and shrubs. The box of 160 saves lots of money if you use that many spikes. The box comes with the spikes loosely packed. There are no individual boxes. The spikes do hit each other in transit and some fragmentation does occur. When opening the box, all of the spikes are intact but there is some powder on the bottom. They come with multiple caps for insertion. However, after looking at a you tube video, I strongly suggest trying this technique. Get a 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe, easily available at almost all hardware stores, and cut it to about 4 feet. They come in very long lengths, but many stores have shorter remnants. Then get a 1 1/2 inch wooden dowel, available from the same store, and cut it to about 5 feet. The standard dowel is about six feet. You can use the full length is needed. It will fit in the 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe. Then, when the ground is still soft, simply drop the Jobe's spike into the pipe, insert the dowel, and use a hammer to hit the wooden dowel to impact it into the ground. I marked the dowel so I would know when the spike was about 4 inches below the ground surface. This way you can insert 160 spikes without every bending over. The caps aren't needed as the pipe keeps the spike centered and the dowel applies a broad impact directly on the spike.

The box was very beat up and corners were rounded. However, not one of the jobes stakes were damaged. I have more fruit trees and flowering trees than I can Count; I need a box once a year. Sometimes I break them a put pieces in my smaller potted plants . If used in potted plants more watering is necessary.

Jobe's fertilizer spikes in bulk are one of the most reasonably priced options for similar products. We have large trees which take a lot of spikes. The spikes are remarkably sturdy and do not crumble when driving them into the ground. In my experience the red plastic caps that go on top of the spike to drive it in are awkward to use and slip to the side. Simple option! Use a 16oz rubber mallet. It is much quicker and less hassle. When the spikes get to flush or slightly below the soil, hit them with a regular hammer. It crushes the top a little bit but they go in further. Then work a little soil over the shallow hole.

I have used these spikes for a while with great success, so I figured I might as well get the bulk order and save some money. What I assume is the manufacturer packaging is decent, however the arrived in a broken box, and multiple stakes broken, which was a disappointment. They work good, help keep plants growing and healthy.

We have orchards here on the farm and have always used Jobe's tree fertilizer spikes and we love this much larger convenient size so that in the spring we can get all of them fertilized in one go. Our fruit trees just love them and reward us with so much fruit it is almost impossible to keep up with them, but we manage. If you want more from your orchard, consider these spikes. We have found that with our hard ground, we use a huge spike to make a hole in the ground, take the plastic cap off and place the fertilizer spike into the hole cover it up and viola, two or three at each tree and onto the next. Our farmhands say they really like these fertilizer spikes, and it is not hard to put them in.

If you have very many fruit trees and wish to fertilize them, this is the best way to go, because if you put the amount of sticks out as the directions say, you'll use quite a few for each tree, depending on how big your trees are. These work great, since I started using them my trees are growing more each year and producing more. I would suggest using a rubber mallet to tap them in the ground, and do it when the grounds not real dry, otherwise you will probably crumble the tops of the sticks even with the little protective installation cup.

I used the pictured tools for burying the spikes into my rocky clay soil. First I watered the area a little. Then, I pounded the green metal chisel into the dirt using the hammer and the 24” marker flag to measure the spacing. I wiggled the chisel side to side before pulling out of soil. Then, I sunk the spikes with the included red cap using the rubber mallet. They went in without breaking and I was able to use one red cap for all 26 spikes I installed. Time will tell if it helps the junipers with their growth, but I’m pretty sure it won’t hurt them. I’ll do this again in the fall.

I use these in spring and fall. My Japanese maples, especially, grow faster and fuller than one can reasonably expect. Great product.

Pkg. arrived unbroken. Best way to purchase this large amount of fertilizer sticks. Will defiantly be buying again!

item came as advertised in a timely manner

Produce was as advertised. Works

Box was delivered full, dry, and with all stakes unbroken. Came with lots of rubber caps. The stakes were easy to drive into the ground and didn't shatter or crack. Will buy again.

Easy to use