Jon, that's why I use Osmocote Plus. It is a "no-brainer", and in my very humble opinion, a superior product to anything else I've found our there, as far as time-release products go. The NPK ratio is very good, plus it has micronutrients, which I have not found in any other time release product. I apply it twice a yaer. Super easy. And I agree, we have micronutrient issues here, we are especially deficient in Manganese, and that, combined with colder winter temps and slightly high pH, causes issues with the locking out of Manganese, and secondly, Iron. The humic acid helps to acidify the soil a bit. I have also on occasion put some soil sulfur in, with a few of my citrus cultivars that seem to have more issues during the winter with chlorosis, and that has helped. Figs of course, are dormant during this period, so not quite as much an issue, but I really like Gro Power's products, they are very good quality, and are really designed for us here in S. Calif. Great stuff :-)