Gardeners struggling to maintain a lush lawn while keeping pests at bay are being advised to turn to a humble household item: used tea bags. Horticultural experts suggest that these kitchen leftovers, often discarded, can serve as a natural fertiliser and pest deterrent for under £1.
Chris Ware from Climbing Wild Gardeners explained: 'Tea bags contain beneficial compounds that improve soil structure, retain moisture, and provide plants with essential nutrients.' He recommends burying used tea bags just beneath the soil's surface to support healthy root growth and reduce fungal infections.
The strong scent of tea is also effective at repelling slugs, snails, cats, and foxes. Ware advises covering the bags with a thin layer of soil to conceal them while still benefiting from their deterrent qualities.
At just 88p for 80 Stockwell tea bags from Tesco or £1.70 for 40 PG Tips from Sainsbury's, this method offers a budget-friendly alternative to chemical treatments. The tannic acid and nutrients in tea bags enhance soil structure and moisture retention.
Ware also recommends banana peels as a natural fertiliser, rich in potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Chopping them up and burying them near plant roots can improve resilience and fruit production.
