The 39p hack gardeners swear by it to ‘improve plant performance’

COCA Cola is one of the most popular soft drinks in the world, but it can be crucial in helping your plants thrive.

According to gardening experts, adding cola to the base of your azaleas can help improve “plant performance.”

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The next Every time you open a bottle of Coke, you may want to set some aside to use in your garden.

Professionals say you only need to pour 4 oz (120 ml) onto the soil at the base of your azaleas to get them growing.

It’s said that every cola brand will do it, so you might as well opt for the cheap stuff from your local store rather than look for a big name brand.

You can use this carbonated drink instead of expensive soil and food.

But why does it work?

Experts at House overview wrote: “The reason Coke helps azaleas grow is because of its genetic makeup: the drink contains elements like potassium, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur and sodium, which work together to keep these plants healthy and thriving.”

However, make sure you don’t overdo it by adding soda to your azaleas.

They added: “This is not something you should do every day.

“Give your azaleas a coke bath every now and then at most.

Pest free benefit

Cola not only helps plants grow, but can also be used as a pesticide.

Although it is not the sugar or caffeine that kills insects, the sugar attracts ants, which eat the larvae of pest species without harming the plants.

Watering your garden in the morning allows water or Coca Cola to soak deep into the soil, with little evaporation.

“Unless you are watering with a drip irrigation system, you should avoid watering in the evening,” says expert gardener Melanie of Factory Direct Hose, a gardening products supplier.

“Plants often stay wet all night if they are watered in the evening, which is a recipe for plant disease.”

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Orange juice

Orange juice is another daily drink that can be used in the garden as it works well as a fertilizer.

The sap is very acidic, so don’t add too much or you risk killing the plants.

Just add a few tablespoons of sap to your can before watering the garden.

Lemonade is also great for extending the life of your plant. Add a small amount to your watering can.

The acid and sugar work together to prevent bacteria from growing on the plant.

You may have heard that milk is useful for plants and it is.

The expert said that vitamin B and calcium promote growth, just as they do in humans.

Garden work in November

Veronica Lorraine, The Sun’s garden editor, shares the tasks you need to do this month.

Plant your garlic in the ground in a sunny spot, and you can also plant sweet peas and bring along romaine lettuce to get you through the winter.

Depending on where you live (think about protecting your more sensitive plants), one brutal frost can set you back psychologically and financially. I have had success with plastic cloches that can look nice on smaller plants instead of the thick membrane. But for plants like bananas, cut them back and wrap them.

Once all the leaves are off your apple tree, you can consider pruning it back. The usual dead, diseased, damaged and crossing branches should be pruned. It will open the tree and encourage strong spring growth.

You can prune your roses in the usual way, by cutting and tying off the side stems – or experiment like Niff Barnes – and create incredible sculptures by stripping all the leaves and bending the main frame into swirls and shapes. It is also a good time to take cuttings.

Helleborus makes a great winter cover. Now plant them in the ground, together with bright cyclamen for color accents.

Clean out your greenhouse – wipe down all the windows – fairy liquid and water are fine – and work up a sweat by tidying it up and sorting it out before it’s too cold to stay out there for too long.

Sounds simple, but rake your lawn regularly. You don’t want the grass to die under piles of old rotting leaves. Save the leaves to make leaf mold.