Five scraps you should NEVER throw away if you want gorgeous roses & hydrangeas – and ‘rat attracting’ foods to avoid
IT’S easy to just chuck away kitchen scraps when you’ve finished cooking a meal.
But there are five certain bits of culinary rubbish you should keep, as they will work wonders in your garden.
That’s according to professional horticulturist Olivia Hartley, who has over 15 years of experience helping gardeners improve their soil naturally.
“Most people throw these away without realising they’re throwing away nutrients too,” Olivia said.
“Used properly, kitchen scraps can build richer soil, cut back on waste, and save you money on store-bought fertiliser.”
First up, banana peels.
Thanks to the fact they’re rich in calcium, potassium and phosphorus, they’re perfect for encouraging root growth and feeding flowering plants – and are particularly good for roses, tomatoes and peppers.
Simply chop the peel up into pieces and bury them directly into the soil around the plant.
“They decompose quickly and give a steady nutrient boost,” Olivia explained.
If you’re a coffee fan, you should keep your used grounds too, as they’re packed with nitrogen – which really helps support leafy growth.
They also help attract earthworms, which then aids soil aeration.
Just sprinkle the grounds around the base of the plant, or mix them into compost to use.
They are particularly useful for acid-loving plants such as blueberries and hydrangeas.
But don’t go overboard with them either, as they can “make the soil too dense if piled on”, Olivia warned.
And you can even benefit your garden if you’re more of a tea drinker too.
Keep your used teabags, as they help add nitrogen, improve soil structure and deter pests when sprinkled around plant bases.
However, make sure you’re only using plastic-free teabags – or tear the bag open and use the loose tea inside instead.
“It’s a small habit that pays off long term,” she added.
Top gardening trends of 2025
Gardening experts at Barnsdale Gardens has shared the top gardening trends of 2025.
Matrix planting
It seems that a top planting trend for this year is going to be Matrix Planting.
In essence, planting in groups or blocks to give an effect of being wild whilst actually being carefully managed.
Selection of the plants is essential, to give year-round interest either with flowers, seed heads or frosted/snowy spent flower heads. Some recommend using plants that seed around, but this could make managing your matrix planting harder to keep under control.
Chrysanthemum comeback
I hope that the humble Chrysanthemum makes as much of a comeback this year as Dahlias have over recent years, because the simple single flowered types, such as ‘Innocence’ and ‘Cottage Apricot’ would be spectacular within a matrix scheme.
The hardy varieties are so easy to grow in a sunny spot and give such a valuable burst of late summer and autumn colour that would lift any dull- looking border.
Blended borders
For some time now we have been promoting the growing of veg within ornamental borders and I think this could really take off this year.
The choice of ornamental-looking varieties available in seed catalogues is phenomenal and, if managed correctly, visitors to your garden will not even realise that you have veg growing!
Must-have tool
My secret is out. I discovered the Hori Hori a couple of years ago and now it seems so is everyone else.
It is such a well-made, adaptable tool that can be used as a trowel or weeding tool in the garden that and everyone I speak to who have used it absolutely would not now be without it. Enough said!
If you’ve got any peelings from veg like carrots and potatoes, it’s a good idea to keep them to one side as they make “excellent compost material”.
“Just keep them free from oils or seasonings,” Olivia said.
“Straight peelings are best.”
And the final item of food waste you should keep is the shells of your eggs – crushed up, they can add calcium to plants and deter pests.
“Wash, dry, and crush them before sprinkling,” she added.
“They break down slowly, so they feed the soil over time while acting as a slug deterrent.”
But it’s important to remember that not all kitchen scraps are garden-friendly.
Things like dairy products, meat or cooked food should always be kept away from compost or soil, as they “attract rodents and slow decomposition”.
“Sustainable gardening starts with everyday choices,” a spokesperson for kitchen and bathroom experts Plumbworld said.
“Turning simple kitchen waste into soil food is not only budget-friendly – it’s better for your garden and the environment.”