An experienced gardener has shared some “great” kitchen leftover items that are not only usable but can also deter mice and cats from getting into your garden.
Fertilizing your garden is one of the best things a gardener can do.
The right fertilizer will result in bigger flowers, bigger yields, and overall healthier plants, but good fertilizer can be pricey. Thankfully, gardeners have shared their favorite kitchen leftovers that can help you save money and cut down on kitchen waste.
No matter how hard we try to eat everything in our homes before it spoils, everyone has to deal with kitchen waste, and this is especially true for plant-based products.
According to the Express, in an effort to minimise waste, one gardener asked if he could use orange peels in his garden, what not to add to the garden and whether it would have a positive effect on his plants.
Writing on the Gardening UK Facebook page, Angela Knight said: “Hi, I have a few questions about composting. Can I put orange peels in the compost bin? I eat a lot of oranges and didn't know you could do that so I just throw the peels away.”
“I know you can't put onions, cooked food or meat in the bin, but is there anything else you shouldn't put in the bin?”
All members of the group were in favour of adding orange peel to their gardens, with Louise Gallagher saying: “I always add oranges and onions! I've never had any problems.”
“We've put in everything, raw vegetable and fruit peelings, onions, orange banana peels, a bucket of unwashed seaweed, shredded paper and cardboard,” Mabel Walker said.
“I always put in onion, orange, lime and lemon peels and have never had a problem. It's been great for the plants and has kept mice and cats out of the garden,” Brian Corr said.
For those struggling with garden litter box cats, orange's strong scent could be a great, safe repellent: “We compost all our oranges – the only thing we avoid is the cooked ones,” says Emma Kelsall.
Speaking of composting, Chris Taylor said: “Orange peels are a great addition to compost as they break down and release phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. All plants need as many of these nutrients as they can to grow.”
“I put orange peels in the compost every day and my family loves freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast.”
What any smart gardener should do with orange peels is mix them into their compost pile. After a few years, the peels will break down and turn into nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, all important elements that enrich garden soil.
Its acidic nature makes it ideal for crops that prefer more acidic soils, such as potatoes, blueberries, and azaleas.
Budget-conscious shoppers will be happy to hear that oranges aren't all that expensive, with a pack of five available for just 95p in supermarkets including Tesco, Asda and Aldi – a small price to pay for a boost in plant-based nutrition.
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