Shoot dry weights ofIlex vomitoriaAit. ‘Schellings Dwarf’,Pittosporum tobiraThunb., andJuniperus chinensisL. ‘Blue Vase’ fertilized with Sref 20N‐2P‐8K and Step (micronutrient formulation) or Osmocote 18N‐3P‐10K and Micromax (micronutrient formulation) were not different when grown in a 1 sedge peat: 1 cypress sawdust: 1 cypress shavings (v/v/v) medium with or without superphosphate.PhotiniaXfraseriDress shoot and root dry weights decreased if supersphosphate was added to the growing medium and fertilized with Sref and Step, but were not different when fertilized with Osmocote and Micromax. Shoot tissue P levels ofP. XfraseriandP. tobiraincreased with the addition of superphosphate regardless if Osmocote and Micromax or Sref and Step were used, but there was no corresponding increase in shoot dry weight. Water soluble P levels of the superphosphate amended medium with Sref and Step decreased about 70 ppm during the 6‐month experimental period.