YOUR Christmas leftovers could be the key to a flourishing garden come springtime.
According to a gardening expert who has previously worked for the royals, taking action now can level up your flowerbeds.
In the wake of festivities, many of us are left wondering what can be reused rather than thrown away.
If you’re facing into yet another meal of leftovers with a mountain of food left in the fridge, don’t worry it doesn’t have to go to waste.
In fact, treat yourself to a take away and repurpose those leftovers in your garden.
Vegetable scraps
Speaking exclusively to Heart Bingo, former royal gardener Jack Stooks revealed how Christmas leftovers can be put to good use.
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“Ideally, if you’ve got anything that’s not cooked, like vegetable or potato peelings – all of those kinds of things are perfect to put in compost,” the pro explained.
“Any of the raw peelings, that’s all compostable and quite easy to go into the compost for use in the garden next year.”
Jack also pointed out that you don’t want to put cooked products in your compost heap.
“For cooked foods, it’s better to use them in soups or stock, or even in pet food,” he recommended.
Wrapping paper
And his tricks aren’t limited to raw vegetable scraps, the pile of wrapping paper waiting for bin collection can also be beneficial to your garden.
Jack explained that you can shred your Christmas wrapping paper and add it into the compost, where it will slowly rot down.
“This is useful if you have a small amount of paper from a small gathering, but if you have large amounts then it’s a bit harder,” he continued.
“Just make sure you are putting small amounts in there at a time. A reasonable amount can be shredded and composted.”
He advised households to avoid adding wrapping paper that has a metallic side to their gardens.
Wrapping paper can also be turned into mulch to regulate soil temperatures and prevent weeds.
“It’s the same principle – if you’re making it into compost, you can use that on the borders,” the gardener explained.
Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs
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Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives.
1. Clean your garden
Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech’s Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks.
2. Weeding
Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round.
3. Hedge maintenance
Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat.
4. Composting
Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage.
5. Look after your lawn
Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely.
Since wrapping paper is made out of wood pulp, it’s similar to wood chippings.
“If you shred your paper and chuck it on your border, the wind will blow it everywhere,” he pointed out.
“You’re better off composting it, mixing it into the compost, and then adding it to the soil once it’s rotted down.”
