I’m a Royal Gardener – The Free Ways to Transform Your Outdoor Space

THEY SAY one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And your trash could be the key to a free garden transformation.

Jack Stooks, senior gardener at King Charles and who has worked at the Royal Gardens at Highgrove for over 20 years, explains why you should think twice before throwing things in the bin.

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Recycling is an invaluable way to help our planet. There are certain types of waste that you can find a new purpose for in your outdoor space.

In the same way, composting, where you allow the material to break down into compost, can make your garden flourish. It acts as a natural weed killer, keeps slugs away, and even makes flowers bloom more beautifully than ever.

On behalf of LitterBins, horticultural expert Jack shared effective ways to use everything from old cardboard to glass.

With his tips, your garden will be royal, without you having to spend a cent…

Cardboard

Cardboard is often used in gardens because it can act as a mulch to keep the soil moist.

Think of it as an alternative to wood chips. It can also block light, which helps kill weeds because they can no longer photosynthesize.

It naturally decomposes in the soil and nourishes the soil, also acting as compost.

The downside of cardboard is that it can reduce oxygen in the soil, so it’s not ideal if you’re placing it in a place with lots of plants.

Try laying it down, suppressing the weeds and then pulling it all out and adding fertilizer to the area. If you have a path that is always very weedy, you can lay down cardboard and put gravel on top of it.

It will reduce the amount of water that gets into the soil, and therefore the rate at which weeds can grow.”

Food waste

All raw foods are compostable, as is food waste.

Enclosed compost piles are a good purchase because they prevent rodents and pests from entering.

Foods like potato peels are great because they are rich in nutrients like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and many vitamins.

Carrot peels, apple cores, tomato pieces and broccoli stems are also good ingredients to enrich the soil.

However, cooked foods, such as chicken and bits of meat fat, are not suitable for throwing on the compost heap.”

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Coffee

Coffee adds nitrogen to the soil, which is very important for plant growth.

I have a coffee maker and we often use the granules for the garden.

You can add it to the soil with roses or another type of acidic plant, like an azalea. By putting it in the soil or around the plant, it will actually feed the plant.

In addition to these great benefits, coffee also has a strong odor, which can deter certain snails and slugs.

They feed on living plant material and often destroy entire gardens.

Peel bananas

Banana peels are great for the soil. I remember my grandparents putting them under the roses when I was a kid and I never knew why.

The good thing about bananas is that they are full of potassium, which is very good for the health of your plant.

It also ensures that the plant produces more flowers, which is good for roses, for example.

Place them directly on the potting soil or around the base of your garden as mulch

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Egg shells

Ground up eggshells are great for the garden because they are full of calcium and are good for vegetable and fruit plants such as tomatoes and peppers.

Fast growing plants can quickly absorb the calcium supply in the soil. Eggshells can help to keep the calcium supply in the soil.

Add them directly to the soil or sprinkle them in the planting holes before planting.

Some people bake the shells in the oven, because that makes them even crispier.

Eggs are also a good remedy against snails, so people often use them around plants to repel snails.

I’m not convinced, but it’s always good to put it aside because it’s known for that specific purpose.

Garden tips and tricks

Citrus peels

Citrus peels are a great way to repel insects such as mosquitoes and flies. For example, if you have a patio where you like to eat or socialize, you can place them around your potted plants.

Mosquitoes and flies do not like citrus fruits, which is why all insect repellents used on citrus fruits usually contain citronella.

Satsumas, oranges, lemons and limes are all good fruits and they dry well.

Citrus peels also contain phosphorus and potassium, which are good for plants.

Many fertilizers refer to the NPK ratio, which is the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium they contain.

Glass

People often use things like upside down glass bottles as edging for their plants.

It’s an attractive feature, but be careful not to break them when using a lawn mower or brush cutter.

Although they are often used, it is not the safest option. Furthermore, we know that glass is easy to recycle.

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