Ex-royal gardener reveals the everyday kitchen staple to help give your flowers a boost in the garden this summer

The Sun

14-05-2025

A FORMER royal gardener has revealed the kitchen staple that can give your flowers a boost for summer.
With temperatures set to remain high this weekend, it's the perfect time to get outside and get stuck in to your gardening tasks.
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And although you may think that getting your garden in tip top shape will involve the use of pricey products, Jack Stooks, a former royal gardener, has revealed that a throwaway item has a multitude of uses in the garden.
The gardener, who previously worked at the Highgrove Estate, revealed that leftover coffee grounds are great to use as compost.
"They are great to use in compost, they break down well and add to the mix, so that's definitely something worth doing," he said, on behalf of Coffee Friend.
"You can also add them directly to garden beds.
"If you're producing a lot of grounds, they can even act a bit like a mulch and get worked into the soil.'
Compost provides essential nutrients to plants, helping to give them a boost so they bloom bright in summer.
However, Jack warned that since coffee is acidic it is not suitable for all types of plants.
He explained that ericaceous plants - things like rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas prefer acidic soil, so will tolerate the coffee grounds well.
However, he added that for plants that don't like acidic soil, coffee grounds are best avoided.
The gardening whizz also revealed that coffee grounds can be used as a hack to deter squirrels.
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Simply place them around bird feeders and the strong smell of the grounds will keep the pests away.
However, he added that the hack is messy as the grounds will turn to sludge once it rains.
" Birds will walk through it, and that mess can then turn into a breeding ground for disease, which could spread among the bird population," he warned.
Sharing an alternative tip, Jack advised using Slinky to keep squirrels at bay.
5 ways to save money in your garden
Garden design experts at Lighting Legends have revealed the ways you can lower gardening costs.
1. Install a water butt
Water butts are a large container that sits in your garden and collects rainwater. This water can then be used to water plants, top up ponds or water features and wash the patio and other garden furniture. The natural outdoor water could help you save money on your water bills as you are less likely to use a hose during the summer months.
2. Use solar powered or LED lighting
Solar powered lights get their energy from the sunlight in the day so they can illuminate your garden at night. They're easy to install and are a great choice for keeping electricity bills low. LED lights are another option that are long lasting and energy efficient.
3. Grow your own salad and vegetables
Growing your own salad and vegetables will not only save you money but it can also feel really rewarding. Things like lettuce, radishes, and spinach are all fairly easy to grow.
4. Upcycle waste and rubbish
Get creative and start upcycling items instead of throwing them away. Use sticks from ice lollies as plant tags or turn old watering cans and wheelbarrows into planters instead of buying new pots. Once you get creative the ways to upcycle are endless.
5. Start composting
Start composting your kitchen scraps like vegetable peelings and coffee grounds and combine them with garden waste such as leaves and grass clippings to create a nutrient rich compost. This could reduce your need to spend money on expensive fertilisers.
'You can simply thread it down the pole of your bird feeder, and when a squirrel tries to climb it, they simply can't, " he said.
"It's a much cleaner and safer solution than spreading coffee grounds everywhere, just in case they get wet.'
Jack previously revealed the one mistake gardeners should never make to their lawns, if they are keen to keep grass green and healthy.
"When it gets too hot, what you definitely don't want to do is keep mowing the grass and keeping it as short as possible", he told Big Fat Links.
"You want to forgo cutting for a week or two so that the grass keeps growing by itself, rather than depleting it.
"Wait until you have some moisture back in the soil."