Are you throwing trash like banana skin after you’ve finished eating? If you grow plants, you most probably already know the uses of banana peels in the garden. But if not, then hold on to that trash and learn how your garden can benefit from it!
And it’s not just banana peels that can be used to nourish and protect the garden. There are a number of other food trash many of us throw away without knowing they still have great purposes to serve in the garden!
Do you want to improve your garden? Check out this food ‘ trash ‘ you must keep from now on for ‘free’ fertilizers and tips and tricks to keep critters away from your plants.
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Banana Peels
If you’re having problems with aphids, one thing you can do is bury banana peels around your plants. Aphids don’t like the smell of banana peels, so this can help keep them away. Just make sure to chop the banana peels into small pieces before burying them, and to bury them about one or two inches deep.
Don’t simply put one whole banana peel or else rodents or squirrels will be digging in your soil! Banana peels also provide the same nutrients we get from plants. For instance, Maria from Ferme Florentino shares how banana peels affect the growth of her blooms and you can read more about it here.
Egg Shells
Eggshells are an easy and effective way to keep slugs and worms out of your garden. Simply crush up some eggshells and sprinkle them on top of the soil. The eggshells will deter pests from entering your garden, and they’ll also provide some essential nutrients to your plants.
Worms will be put off by the sharp edges of the egg shells, and eventually will leave your garden. They can also serve as calcium supplements for tomatoes and apples. (Find out more about the surprising uses for egg shells here!)
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be a great addition to your soil. They contain phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, which can help improve the soil’s structure. Adding coffee grounds to your soil can help promote healthy plant growth.
When looking to incorporate coffee into your gardening routine, it is important to remember a few key things. First, make sure the coffee grounds are cool before adding them to the soil. This will help to prevent any potential burning of the roots.
Additionally, only incorporate coffee into the soil of plants that enjoy high levels of acidity, such as hydrangeas and azaleas. By following these simple tips, you can enjoy the benefits of coffee in your garden without any negative consequences.
Nut Shells
Nutshells don’t disintegrate as quickly as other compost materials so it is a nice addition to your compost heap. Because of their size, they can aid in soil aeration. Use pistachio or peanut shells but NOT walnut. It contains a substance called juglone which is a toxic plant. Also, don’t forget to remove salt by washing them. Salt can kill your plants.
Chocolate Husks
Cacao has many great benefits for humans and plants can profit, too, from their husks! They provide plants with phosphorus and nitrogen for structural stability and green growth respectively. They also help insulate the soil and protect the roots of the plants!
We hope this trash helps in nourishing and protecting your garden. If you know of other food ‘trash’ that can be used for the garden, please do share it with us through the comments box below! 🙂
