Latest news with #PrestigeFlowers
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners name 'wonder' kitchen scrap that will boost hydrangeas and roses
Gardening enthusiasts have revealed that there is a kitchen scrap which can be used to boost the blooms of hydrangeas and roses - and it can be found in most households Gardeners across the UK are buzzing about a natural soil enhancer that could give their hydrangeas and roses an extra blooming edge – used coffee grounds from your kitchen. Katherine Hill sparked a lively discussion on the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook group when she inquired: "I've heard great things about using coffee grounds in the garden, but will they boost the blooms of my roses and hydrangeas?" She dug deeper with questions about application methods: "If so, when putting coffee grounds into your soil, is it possible to put too much? Should I just sprinkle onto the soil or does it need to be mixed in?" Katherine shared her eagerness to try this eco-friendly trick: "I am always throwing out coffee grounds, but I would like to start using them this spring." The post received a groundswell of green-thumbed responses as Lana Lane offered her thumbs-up: "I sprinkle a handful of them around my blueberries, hydrangeas, azaleas and roses and they've never looked better." Sarah Williams advised on a potential pitfall: "Yes in theory. If there's too much caffeine in them it is a growth inhibitor, but a little will do wonders for the plants." Pat Ward commented on her gardening routine: "I throw them all over the yard in shrub and flower beds all year." Lastly, Lyndall Heyer shared her success story: "I just spread around my rosebushes and hydrangeas all summer and they flourish nicely." Sam Bullock gushed about his garden's success, saying: "My hydrangeas, azaleas and roses are thriving right now. They have bigger and better blooms than last year and all I've done differently is added some coffee grounds to the soil." Green-thumbed experts are in agreement that acid-loving beauties such as hydrangeas and roses can truly flourish with a touch of coffee grounds, reports the Express. For those looking to replicate the effect, Millie Durbak from Prestige Flowers has some advice: "Mix used coffee grounds with your garden soil or sprinkle them around the base of your plants." She goes on to highlight the virtues of coffee waste: "The organic matter in coffee grounds improves soil structure and helps with water retention, as well as keeping microbes happy." Not to mention the pep it gives to your patch: "The caffeine content in coffee grounds acts as a natural stimulant, promoting microbial activity in the soil and boosting nutrient absorption, resulting in healthier and more robust plants." It's even been said by gardening enthusiasts that using coffee grounds might nudge hydrangeas towards a striking blue hue, though patience is key, as it's a long-term tactic to up the soil acidity.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Expert reveals when NOT to water your plants – it's ‘one of the biggest mistakes gardeners make'
A GARDENING expert has revealed how many people are watering their plants at the worst time of the day. As sunnier days are forecast over the weekend, this guidance proves even more important for garden-lovers around the country. 1 Elise Harlock, gardening expert and brand manager at Prestige Flowers, warned: "Watering during the hottest part of the day is one of the biggest mistakes gardeners make." It may seem counter-intuitive, but watering plants in the middle of the day is not ideal for their leaves or roots. She stressed that timing is important, and can even be detrimental to plants' health and capacity to thrive. "When the sun is at its peak, much of the water you apply will evaporate before it ever reaches the roots," Elise explained. She added: "If the leaves get wet and the sun is blazing, it can lead to faster dehydration. "The plant focuses on dealing with heat stress rather than absorbing water properly." As a result, midday watering means the necessary moisture given to the plants rapidly evaporates as the sun is at its peak. Most of the water is instead lost to the air and plants cannot receive the full benefits of having been watered. Elise therefore advises plant owners to water their gardens in the morning, before the weather becomes too hot or the sun too strong. She suggests the best time to water plants is early morning "ideally before 10am", as this allows moisture to effectively reach the roots before the heat of the sun is intense. The four easy steps to get your tired lawn lush for summer & you don't need to worry about pigeons ruining it either Watering during the evening would be the next best option, however it is not recommended due to potential negative consequences. Plants receiving water too late can cause damp conditions that foster fungal growth and attract pests. Elise explained the optimal approach for plant care: "The key is deep, infrequent watering. "Rather than giving plants a quick sprinkle every day, soak the soil thoroughly a few times a week," which can help promote robust root development. Plants will then be able to better withstand warmer and dryer conditions through their root health. On top of timing, Elise highlighted the importance of watering technique: "Always aim for the roots, not the leaves. "This ensures the water gets where it's needed and reduces the risk of disease." How to find gardening bargains Doing up your garden to enjoy on warm and sunny days needn't cost the earth. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a top deal on items for the garden… You can bag big savings on plants, shrubs and flowers, as well as gardening tools and furniture. Many retailers have flash sales across entire seasonal ranges – often these promotions tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout. Sign up to mailing lists of your favourite brands and you'll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. Use a price comparison site to search out the best value items. And keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items for your outdoor areas. If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart online and leaving it for a couple of days. Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount. And always check if you can get cashback before paying. It's especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you'll get a nice kickback.
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Genius 12p hack will help to keep cut flowers fresh and vibrant for weeks
Flower expert Elise Harlock has shared a clever hack that will help to keep cut flowers fresh and vibrant for several weeks, using a simple kitchen cupboard essential Brightening up your home with a blossoming bouquet of beautiful flowers is a joy, but keeping them fresh can be a challenge for many Brits. Whether it's a bright birthday bouquet or romantic red roses, most cut flowers have a lifespan of seven to 12 days with proper care. But fear not, flower fans. Elise Harlock from Prestige Flowers has shared a nifty trick to keep your blooms vibrant for longer. "Using apple slices in the water of your vase can help cut flowers last longer," the flower expert revealed. Apples, it turns out, are more than just a healthy snack; their natural sugars and acids provide nutrients that sustain the freshness of your favourite posy for up to several weeks. Elise advises: "Begin by slicing a fresh apple into thin wedges. Then, place the slices at the bottom of a clean vase filled with room temperature water." This simple addition acts as a natural food source for the flowers, replacing the nutrients they miss after being snipped from their roots. She added: "Finally, arrange your cut flowers as usual, ensuring their stems are submerged in the water alongside the apple slices." This clever tip is particularly effective for flowers with woody stems, such as roses, hydrangeas, and lilacs, helping them stay perky and picturesque for an extended period. "These types of flowers benefit from the nutrients provided by the apple slices, helping them to stay hydrated and vibrant for an extended period," she explained. The trick is all down to the apples' knack for emitting ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone that encourages ripening. This clever little hack works because the ethylene gas from the apple slices can actually slow down the wilting process in cut flowers, keeping your blooms perky and fresh for days longer than you'd expect. Elisa stressed the need to switch out the water and apple slices every couple of days to keep things fresh. "Regularly refreshing the water and replacing the apple slices ensures that the flowers continue to receive the nutrients they need to thrive," she recommended. Bargain hunters can snag six apples for just 69p at Aldi, which is a steal at less than 12p an apple, or you can grab them for 16p a pop at Tesco. To extend the life of your flowers even further, keep them in a cool room away from direct sunlight, and steer clear of open windows to prevent them from drying out too quickly. Flower pros at Urban Stems and ProFlowers also advise stripping any leaves that might sit below the water line each day to ward off bacteria. This tip is especially handy for mixed bouquets with different types of flowers that may not all bloom at the same time.
