19/07/2022
Why You Should Start Burying Tea Bags in Your Garden
December 15, 2021
You have already finished enjoying a relaxing cup of tea. What do you do with the used tea bag? Many people throw it away into the trash can. Maybe because they don’t know what to do with a used one? If you’re wondering if there are other uses of a used tea bag, you’ll be happy to know that your garden needs it. You can help your yard grow if you bury it instead of throwing it away, and here’s what happens when you do:
1. Tea is a natural fertilizer.
Tea leaves have tannin and other nutrients acting as natural fertilizers for your garden. On the other hand, the tea bag is made from abaca leaf stalks fiber, while the leaves release their nutrients when they decompose. As a result, your yard becomes an ideal area for growing trees, flowers, and shrubs. Moreover, you can re-brew the tea bag to make weak tea for your potted plants.
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2. A tea bag repels pests.
You may combine coffee grounds and tea bags as pest deterrents. The odor emanating from the mixture will drive away bugs that chew on your vegetables and flowers. Moreover, you may brew the old tea bag to create a weak tea that you pour around the plants and over the leaves. Again, the aroma will drive away spiders, mice, and bugs.
3. Tea boosts the decomposition of other items.
The acid in the tea hastens the decomposition of other items in your fertilizer bin. Therefore, you can use your compost sooner than expected. First, however, you must ensure that your tea bag doesn’t have polypropylene. You can take out the leaves and add them to your fertilizer pile if you’re unsure.
4. Tea bags promote water retention.
You can put the tea bags near the roots of your vegetables, flowers, and plants. They help your plants become healthier because they retain longer.
5. Tea bags limit w**d growth.
If you wish to control w**ds in your garden, you can simply bury tea bags around because they slow down their growth.
6. Tea leaves can germinate seeds.
Your used, wet tea bag is an excellent choice for growing seedlings. However, it would be best to have a paper towel, water, a plastic tray, and seeds. The tea leaves retain moisture and provide food to help your plants grow healthy.
7. The smell of tea keeps cats away too.
If you don’t want your feline to urinate on your plants, you can use tea or coffee grounds to keep it at bay. You also sprinkle them around your garden. This strategy works for indoor plants as well.
8. Eliminate excessive waste.
Burying or putting your tea bag in the garden or your compost pile helps reduce waste. This practice reduces the amount of garbage that goes into landfills.
9. Tea leaves serve as food to worms.
Tea leaves are safe for worms to consume, and, once digested, they offer a nutrient-rich output that makes the soil conducive for growing vegetables and plants.
10. Chamomile and black tea help fight fungus on plants.
You can brew weak chamomile or black tea and use it to water your plants to keep fungus away.
What Plants Benefit from Used Tea Leaves?
Tea leaves are beneficial because of the higher amount of acid they provide the soil with. However, they can’t compete with shop-bought fertilizers. You may add them to your compost pile. Here are the plants that generate benefits from tea leaves:
Azalea
African violets
Some berry fruits
Begonia
Daffodils
Camellia
Ferns
Easter lily
Some herbs
Heather
Some orchids
Blue hydrangea
Philodendron
Oxalis
Rhododendrons
Poinsettia
Rubber plant
Roses
Spider plants
Shrubs
Vegetables
Tomatoes
Which Plants Are Averse to Used Tea Bags?
Plants requiring a neutral pH or alkaline environment don’t need tea leaves in their soil. Here are some plants that won’t benefit from an old tea bag:
Boston Ivy
Baby’s breath
Carnation
Cacti
Dahlia
Chrysanthemum
Geranium
Daisies
Pink hydrangeas
Hibiscus
Marigold
Iris
Poppy
Peony
Sunflower
Final Thoughts
If you love gardening and sipping a warm cup of tea, you’ll like the idea of not throwing the used tea bag into the trash bin. Instead, you can bury it in your garden to nourish your plants and help reduce waste in the landfills by making your yard healthier and more beautiful.
