The best plant granules, compared.
Top pick: Miracle-Gro rose and shrub plant food 3 kg carton Best value: Miracle-Gro rose and shrub plant food 3 kg carton – Best value for roses and shrubs: 3 kg at about £9.99, 4.6 from 2,896 reviews, twice a season on the listing. Updated October 2026.
Plant granules are granular plant foods you scatter on soil or mix into compost. In the UK you buy a tub or carton for borders, vegetables, containers and shrubs. They are not clay growing media, and they are not granules that only hold water in the pot. A suitable pack matches the release type, the plants named on the label, the pack size and a rate you can follow. An uncoated granule is a base or top dressing every four to six weeks from late winter into autumn. A coated granule is one spring application for about a season. An organic granule needs moisture and soil life. An ericaceous granule is for lime-hating shrubs. Match a small jar to pots, a mid-size tub to a short border, and a large tub to a plot. If the listing gives no rate, wait for the pack. The checks are set out in the [plant granules buying guide](/hub/fertiliser-soil-and-bark-mulch/plant-granules/sub/plant-granules-buying-guide). Containers, hungry crops and a proven shortage are the usual reasons to feed.
Plant granules are granular plant foods you scatter on soil or mix into compost. In the UK you buy a tub or carton for borders, vegetables, containers and shrubs.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you feeding?
Miracle-Gro’s rose and shrub carton is 3 kg on the title at about £9.99. The item-weight field is 3.13 kg. The listing says to apply at the first buds and at the second flush, and that it feeds for up to three months. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 2,896 reviews, and 50 of the reviews read for this listing are from the United Kingdom. Reviewers use it in the planting hole and as a top dressing, report more blooms on roses, and say a large carton lasts more than one season for a typical border. The cardboard carton lets in moisture, and an Amazon label has covered the instructions for some buyers. Reviews include a pot rose that died after a month and a warning not to overfeed, which matches the fast-acting bullet if you heap granules against a stem. The unit-count field is 1.0 count. It is the best value for roses and shrubs on pack size and stars. On title weight it is about £3.33 per kilogramme. The 8 kg uncoated tub is about £3.00 per kilogramme and is a different job.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Roses and shrubs if you want a large carton at about £9.99.
Less suitable: Gardeners who only need a small ericaceous jar.
Specifications
Common questions
What is this carton for?
The bullets say fast-acting granules for roses and shrubs in beds, borders, pots, containers and hanging baskets. The target-species field says roses and shrubs.
How often does the listing say to apply it?
Twice a season: at the first sign of flower buds and at the second flush. A bullet says it feeds for up to 3 months.
How big is the pack?
The title says 3 kg carton. The item-weight field is 3.13 kg. The unit-count field is 1.0 count.
The Miracle-Gro Continuous Release twin pack is two 900 g units at about £11.94, sold as one spring application for the season with a temperature-controlled coating. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 2,641 reviews, and the 50 reviews read for this listing are from the United Kingdom, the largest British sample here. Reviewers mix it into compost when potting on, use it on hanging baskets, raised beds and summer bedding, and like that there is no diluting and no strong smell. The item-form field says powder while the included-components line says controlled-release plant food, so expect prills rather than a soluble powder. One review objects to a resin or plastic coating that will not break down, and the buyer returned the pack. At least one gardener says it does not last as long as the season claim. There is no gramme rate on the listing. It is the top pick for a once-in-spring all-purpose feed, on stars, sample size and price band, not a laboratory test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Pots, baskets and mixed beds if you want one spring application.
Less suitable: Gardeners who want an uncoated general feed or a named ericaceous jar.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a powder or a granule?
The item-form field says powder. The included-components field says controlled-release plant food. Expect prills, not a soluble powder you dissolve in a can.
When does the listing say to apply it?
The bullets say one application at the start of spring feeds plants for the season. The coating is described as temperature-controlled.
Does the listing name indoor plants?
The target-species field says plants. Reviews mention indoor and outdoor pots. Indoor use is not a dedicated bullet.
Miracle-Gro Performance Organics is a 1 kg fruit-and-veg granule at about £7.99, with organic and bee, pet and child friendly in the title rather than a Soil Association line. The listing has no Soil Association mark. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 1,284 reviews, and 50 of the reviews read for this listing are from the United Kingdom. Reviewers work it around tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, beans and fruit trees and like that they can skip a weekly liquid, with some mentioning results after about a week. The mixing field prints 1:0:0, which is not a usable rate, and the listing has no duration claim. The repeated complaint is a strong manure-like smell until you water it in, plus blueish surface mould if granules sit on compost, and one balcony attracted flies after that mould. One pack arrived as a rock-hard lump. It belongs on an outdoor fruit-and-veg bed, not in a small indoor room if smell matters.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Outdoor fruit and vegetables when you want an organic granule.
Less suitable: Indoor rooms if smell matters, or anyone who needs a printed gramme rate.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this an organic granule?
The title says Performance Organics and the item type is a granular fruit and veg food. The listing has no Soil Association line.
Does the listing give a dose?
The mixing-ratio field prints 1:0:0. That is not a usable rate in grammes.
What does the title say about pets?
The title prints bee, pet and child friendly. That is a title claim, not a feeding study on the listing.
Miracle-Gro’s coated azalea, camellia and rhododendron feed is 900 g at about £8.10, with one spring application claimed for the season and no mixing required on the listing. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 785 reviews, and 50 of the reviews read for this listing are from the United Kingdom. Reviewers scatter it around the named shrubs and also mention hydrangeas, heathers and hebes, though those plants are not on the target-species field. One camellia was described as revived after yellowing and leaf drop, and several buyers treat it as a seasonal repeat. One reviewer said the granules took weeks to dissolve before they saw a result, and burst packs with loose pellets appear in the reviews. The unit-count field is 1.0 count, not grammes, and the listing has no rate. It is the coated ericaceous option, not an all-purpose vegetable feed.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Named ericaceous shrubs if you want a coated season feed.
Less suitable: All-purpose vegetable plots.
Specifications
Common questions
Which plants does the listing name?
Azalea, camellia and rhododendron. The included-components field says controlled-release plant food.
Do you mix it with water?
The mixing-ratio field says no mixing required. The bullets describe a temperature-controlled coating and one spring application.
What pack size is printed?
The item-weight field is 900 g. The unit-count field is 1.0 count.
Westland’s ericaceous jar is the cheapest listing here at about £6.00, titled 900 g while the item-weight field says 770 g. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 282 reviews, and 50 of the reviews read for this listing are from the United Kingdom. The target field says rhododendrons and the coverage field says ericaceous plants. Reviewers also name azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, holly, skimmia and blueberries, and one japonica’s yellow leaf was said to green again after a few weeks. A bullet claims a three-month slow-release feed with high potassium. Two reviews describe dead blueberry bushes or plants that died after the granules dissolved at once. That sits beside the maker’s rate, not as a failure percentage. The amazon listing has no gramme rate. The maker’s page states March and June at 40 g/m². It is the small ericaceous jar for acid-loving shrubs, not an all-purpose substitute.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Acid-loving shrubs when you want a small ericaceous jar.
Less suitable: Vegetable plots and an all-purpose feeding habit.
Specifications
Common questions
Which plants is this jar for?
The target-species field says rhododendrons. The coverage field says ericaceous plants. A bullet names a three-month slow-release feed with high potassium.
How long does the listing say one application lasts?
Three months. The listing also points to a separate Westland ericaceous liquid, sold separately.
Does the pack weight agree with itself?
The title and unit count say 900 g. The item-weight field says 770 g. The maker’s page states March and June at 40 g/m². That rate is not on the amazon listing.
Westland Boost is a 2 kg tub of slow-release granules at about £11.64, with a six-month nutrient claim that the listing itself spells 6-moth. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 181 reviews, and 46 of the reviews read for this listing are from the United Kingdom. Those reviews scatter it on hanging baskets, roses, troughs and raised vegetable beds, and several treat one spring application as enough for the summer boxes. A measuring spoon is mentioned even though it is not listed as an included component. The listing has no gramme rate. The repeated complaint is a brittle tub that arrives split, with granules loose in the Amazon bag, and several buyers say they will not order again after a damaged delivery. One reviewer said the product went mouldy, unlike a feed they had used before, and many spring reviews admit it is too early to judge. It is a container-scale 2 kg alternative to a coated twin pack, not a printed-rate plot feed.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Container and basket gardeners who want a 2 kg slow-release tub.
Less suitable: Buyers who need a printed gramme rate or an ericaceous jar.
Specifications
Common questions
What form is Westland Boost?
The item-form field is granules. The title is Westland Boost Slow Release Plant Food 2kg. The unit count is 2,000 g.
How long does the listing say it feeds?
A bullet claims a six-month nutrient supply. That line is printed as 6-moth.
Does the listing give a rate in grammes?
No. The listing has no grammes per square metre. Some reviews mention a measuring spoon.
Topline’s 8 kg Growmore-style tub is about £23.99, about £3.00 per kilogramme on the title weight, and tells you to apply every four to six weeks from February to the end of October as a base or top dressing. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 136 reviews, and 34 of the reviews read for this listing are from the United Kingdom. Reviewers sprinkle it on raised beds and roses, rake it in, and call the granules fine when the bucket arrives intact. The listing prose says equal nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, the mixing field prints 20:20:20, and one review says the tub is NPK 7-7-7, so you cannot treat that Amazon field as the analysis. Split plastic tubs and granules on the drive come up often. One buyer thought it a bit too strong for some plants. The listing has no grammes per square metre. This listing has no ericaceous warning. Westland’s own Growmore page says that habit is not for lime-hating shrubs. It is the plot-scale uncoated feed, not a one-application coated pack.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A mixed outdoor garden that will be fed every four to six weeks.
Less suitable: Ericaceous shrubs, or anyone who wants a one-application coated feed.
Specifications
Common questions
How often does the listing say to apply this feed?
Every four to six weeks from February until the end of October, as a base dressing or a top dressing. Water before and after in dry weather.
What plants does the listing name?
Most types of flowers, vegetables, fruit trees and shrubs. The rank line sits under lawn fertilisers.
What NPK is on the listing?
The prose says equal nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. The mixing-ratio field prints 20:20:20. One review says the tub is NPK 7-7-7, not 20-20-20.
Topline’s 2 kg six-month tub is about £17.99, above the Westland Boost 2 kg price, with a six-month slow-release claim and a printed warning not to exceed rates. amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 71 reviews, and 11 of the reviews read for this listing are from the United Kingdom, so the British sample is thin. Those reviews call it easy on pots and beds, and two reviewers call it good value, but four of the eleven mention a rigid tub that split on both sides with granules loose in the box. One review says it burns plants if you use too much, and that the buyer will stay with Miracle-Gro. The unit-count field says 1.0 count while the title and item weight say 2 kg, and there is no NPK table on the listing. Until there is a larger British sample and a printed gramme rate, this is usually the listing to skip unless you specifically want this title.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Outdoor beds if you want a six-month Topline tub and will keep to the rate.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a large review sample or a printed NPK table.
Specifications
Common questions
How long does the title say this feed lasts?
The title says 6-month slow-release plant food granules. The listing says water the granules to activate.
Can it be used on houseplants?
The title names outdoor plants, vegetables or houseplants. The target-species field says all plants.
Is there an overdose warning?
Yes. The listing says do not exceed application rates because overdosing can damage plants. One review says it burns plants if you use too much.
Eight amazon.co.uk listings were scored from the stored pages and the UK review notes already on file. Shelf prices are the listing prices on file, 21 October 2026. There is no laboratory test. A duration, a plant name or a pet line is the seller’s claim unless a named maker page says otherwise. Where the title and a weight field disagree, both stay. Four listings share the same 92-point band from stars, review sample and price. The top pick is the continuous-release twin pack for one spring application, not a unique star lead. The best value is the 3 kg rose and shrub carton. On the title weights it is about £3.33 per kilogramme, and the 8 kg tub is about £3.00 per kilogramme, so the award is the rose-and-shrub pack, not the cheapest kilogramme. The weights below sum to 100.
Amazon evidence
35%Star rating on amazon.co.uk, then the size of that review file. 4.6 from 2,641 and 4.6 from 2,896 can be weighed. 4.3 from 71 cannot outrank them. A 4.5 from 181 is a smaller file than 4.6 from 1,284.
Release and plants
30%An uncoated four-to-six-week granule, a coated spring application, an organic fruit-and-veg granule and an ericaceous jar are different jobs. The top pick is the all-purpose once-in-spring feed. A shared 92-point band does not make those jobs the same product.
Pack and price
20%Price per kilogramme uses the title weight and the listing price. The 8 kg tub is about £3.00 per kilogramme. The 3 kg rose carton is about £3.33 per kilogramme. The best value is that rose-and-shrub carton on pack size and stars.
Listing clarity
15%A usable rate, an NPK line that does not clash, and a unit count that agrees with the title. A missing gramme rate is a deduction. A 20:20:20 field beside a 7-7-7 review is a clash. It does not by itself move the award.
Buy the release type and the plants named on the pack before you buy the star line. An uncoated granule, a coated season feed, an organic fruit-and-veg granule and an ericaceous jar are not one ladder. A 4.6-star row does not mean the analysis is printed, and it does not mean the tub will arrive intact. Pack size and a rate you can follow come next. Clay pebbles and cat scatter are outside this category. The notes below are the listings and the public UK pages, not a laboratory test.
Plant granules in this category are granular plant foods, not clay pebbles and not a potting granule that only stores water. You scatter them on soil or mix them into compost for borders, vegetables, containers and shrubs. The Royal Horticultural Society treats fertiliser as optional on most UK garden soil, and useful for containers, hungry crops and a proven deficiency. Start with the release type.
Rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and blueberries need an ericaceous granule. Westland’s Growmore page says that all-purpose habit is not for those plants. A high star line does not change the plant list.
A poor display last year is not a reason to exceed the rate. Fast-acting granules heaped against a stem are a known way to scorch a plant. If the listing has no grammes, wait for the pack.
Clay pebbles, cat-deterrent scatter, foliar tablets and slug-barrier seaweed are not plant-food granules. A unit-count field that says 1.0 count is not the pack weight. Use the title and the item weight.
An uncoated general granule is a base or top dressing every four to six weeks from late winter into autumn. A coated continuous-release granule is sold as one spring application for about a season. An organic granule needs moisture and soil life, and reviews of that type often mention a smell until it is watered in. The words on the tub are easy to mix up. Shops say slow-release and controlled-release for coated feeds and for organic feeds.
Match the pack to the ground you actually have. A jar around 900 g is a pot and shrub size. A 2 kg tub covers baskets and a small border. An 8 kg tub is the plot size in this range. When the unit-count field says 1.0 count, use the title and the item weight. A title that says 900 g beside an item weight of 770 g is a clash you should see before you compare price per kilogramme. A rate you can follow is grammes per square metre or a stated handful, plus how often.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want one tub for borders and vegetables and you will feed again through the season. Topline Growmore plant-feed granules, 8 kg, are about £23.99 and say every four to six weeks from February to the end of October. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 136 reviews. The mixing field prints 20:20:20 and one review says 7-7-7, so read the tub. It is not the ericaceous jar.
You will not liquid-feed every week. Miracle-Gro Continuous Release All Purpose, two 900 g packs, at about £11.94, is the top pick for one spring application. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 2,641 reviews. The item-form field says powder; expect coated prills. There is no gramme rate on the listing.
You need an ericaceous granule, not an all-purpose 7-7-7. Westland Ericaceous Plant Food Granules are about £6.00, name ericaceous plants and claim three months. The title says 900 g and the item weight says 770 g. The coated azalea, camellia and rhododendron feed, about £8.10, is the season-coating alternative. Do not use a Growmore-style granule on these shrubs.
The top pick is Miracle-Gro Continuous Release All Purpose, two 900 g packs, at about £11.94. The listing describes one spring application for the season, amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 2,641 reviews, and the item-form field says powder while the included components say controlled-release plant food. The best value for roses and shrubs is the Miracle-Gro rose and shrub carton, 3 kg on the title, at about £9.99, with 4.6 from 2,896 reviews and a twice-a-season instruction. On the title weights the 8 kg uncoated tub is the lower price per kilogramme, and it is a four-to-six-week plot feed, not that carton. The ericaceous jar and the coated azalea feed are for lime-hating shrubs. The organic 1 kg tub is for fruit and vegetables. None of these scores is a laboratory test.
Miracle-Gro rose and shrub plant food 3 kg carton
Best value for roses and shrubs: 3 kg at about £9.99, 4.6 from 2,896 reviews, twice a season on the listing.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Sources from the research digest; data on file 21 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Lee Burkhill (Garden Ninja) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the listings. This is not a laboratory test.
