Outdoor Plants: Sprinkle 1/4 cup in hole, cover with thin layer of soil. Place plant in hole and sprinkle another 1/4 cup on roots system. Now cover with remaining soil. *for individual small plants place 1 tablespoon in hole. Cover fertilizer with a thin layer of soil then place the plant in the hole and sprinkle another tablespoon of fertilizer on roots then cover with fresh soil. Now just water. 

Existing plants or potted plants: Sprinkle 1/4 cup on top of soil surface. Cover with a thin layer of soil or decorative rock. Apply once a month through the entire growing season.

Broadcasting on shrub bed: Entire contents of bag covers 2500 square feet of soil. Just sprinkle fertilizer evenly onto soil surface and mix into soil where possible. Now just water your plants. If you have rocks covering your shrub bed sprinkle over top of existing rock bed and water immediately after.