As gardens come alive in the warmer months, enthusiasts turn their attention to the radiant blooms of roses and hydrangeas.
Instead of turning to expensive fertilizers, a natural and eco-friendly alternative could already be in your kitchen—used coffee grounds and tea bags.
Gardening expert Michael Perry, also known as Mr Plant Geek, highlights that both roses and hydrangeas benefit greatly from the acidic properties and nitrogen-rich content found in coffee and tea.
These common kitchen scraps offer a simple way to enrich the soil and support flower development without spending a penny.
“Did you know it’s not just us who enjoy a good cuppa? Our plants can benefit too!” says Perry. The nutrients in coffee and tea help feed the soil, encouraging fuller, larger blooms, especially in acid-loving varieties like roses and hydrangeas.
Both of these garden favorites prefer slightly acidic soil and appreciate a generous helping of nitrogen, which helps fuel healthy growth and vibrant flowering.
You can scatter used coffee grounds directly around the base of your plants or mix them into compost. Over time, they break down and release nutrients, creating a rich, fertile ground that flowers love.
Additionally, coffee grounds can help deter garden pests like slugs and snails, which often threaten tender flower growth. Sprinkling them around the base of your hydrangeas or roses provides a natural, dual-purpose solution—nourishing the plants while keeping critters at bay.
By reusing simple items like tea bags and coffee grounds, your garden can flourish beautifully while cutting down on waste. Roses and hydrangeas in particular will thank you with bigger, more vibrant blooms—all with just a little help from your morning brew.
