I've been putting Osmocote on my Hostas every year for about ten years. The growth rate before was slow but now I have size jumps in plants that are hard to believe. Double, triple and even quaddrouple in a year time. I feed in early spring and again in mid-summer.
This is a great fertilizer for southern climates and use on trees and shrubs for all seasons. It effectively provides nutrition for all plantings while limiting shock like many products that are quick release.
Expensive, but worth it! Apply it when you plant, and your done with fertilizing until very late in the summer. It lasts a good three months, and it keeps the annuals covered with blooms! Master Gardener from DeWitt, MI
I live on a sandy hill- fertilizer does not last long--also I do not have to guess about rain as much. Some will still be there to next rain.