Boost your roses' growth and longevity with three kitchen scraps this July
Roses are now in full bloom with the arrival of summer - and there's a straightforward method to nurture healthier and more vibrant blooms by providing them with the appropriate fertiliser. The optimal time to fertilise roses is early July, during their peak blooming season. This replenishes the nutrients they require to boost flower production and withstand the heat.
However, you don't need to splash out to enhance your roses. Kelly, a gardening enthusiast and founder of My Soulful Home, has revealed that you can nourish your flowers using simple kitchen waste. Kelly stated: "Want a lush and lovely garden without spending a dime on fertiliser, slug protection & compost?
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"Well, have a banana an egg and a cup of coffee for breakfast." It might sound odd, but banana skins, coffee grounds, and egg shells can be transformed into a highly effective homemade fertiliser. This will provide roses with the nutrients they need for longer-lasting blooms, reports the Express.
Why should you feed roses a homemade fertiliser?
Kelly explained: "Banana peels add phosphorus and potassium to the soil. Both are essential to a healthy plant. Potassium is responsible for the formation of new flower buds.
"Your roses in particular will want a bunch of bananas and you will want a bunch of rose buds."
Egg shells are an excellent source of calcium, which helps prevent diseases such as blossom end rot and contributes to the overall structure of the plant.
Coffee grounds can do wonders for roses by providing nitrogen, which is vital for the growth of foliage and the overall well-being of the plant.
This DIY fertiliser not only nourishes roses with essential nutrients but also serves as an effective method to repel slugs, which detest both the strong aroma and gritty texture of coffee.
Kelly explained: "Sprinkling the grinds on top of the soil may also deter slugs and snails...[they] don't like the feeling of sliding over the grinds."
How to make a homemade fertiliser for roses
Firstly, wash the eggshells thoroughly to eliminate any remnants of yolk and leave them to air dry in a separate container.
After the eggshells are dry, crush them into small pieces and mix the majority of them with banana peels and coffee grounds in a container.
Reserve some of the crushed eggshells to scatter around your roses, creating a barrier that slugs won't cross due to the sharpness of the shells.
Next, store the concocted fertiliser in a ziplock bag within the fridge until you're ready to use it, then bury the homemade blend close to the roots of your rose bushes to feed them.
Kelly shared: "My secret garden tips are to cut up the peel, crush the shells scoop together the grinds and work all three into the soil under and around your plants.
"Toss the secret trio into a container before you mix in the planting soil. Each will act as a slow-release fertiliser, pest deterrent and soil amendment."
However, as with any fertiliser, gardeners should be mindful that overfertilising roses can result in excessive foliage growth. This means less energy is directed towards flower production, potentially leading to weak blooms or an unhealthy plant.
To prevent this, it's recommended to apply this homemade fertiliser just once in midsummer to enhance blooming, and then keep a close eye on the roses after application.
This straightforward fertiliser is a brilliant method to reduce food waste and save on gardening supplies, while also promoting larger, more plentiful and healthier rose blossoms this summer.
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