Tea leaves are not just for making tea: they are also a source of nitrogen for your garden soil. Whether you use them as mulch or use the tea leaves as compost for fertiliser, it all depends on what your garden needs. It is also wise to add other materials from your kitchen and yard to your compost heap to provide a balanced supply of nutrients for your plants.
We're all about recycling, especially when it benefits our gardens. Our latest discovery? Using tea in the garden can lead to healthier plants. Of course it can - the faded memories of parents emptying tea leaves in the midst of rich rose bushes suddenly return.
But tea leaves aren't just good for plants - they also promote composting and deter pests. We investigate the benefits and drawbacks of using tea in the garden.
What are the benefits of using tea in the garden
Amongst other ingredients, plant fertilisers contain nitrogen which promotes healthy leaf growth.
Tea also contains nitrogen - but much more than you would find in a plant fertiliser. Tea also contains potassium and phosphorus, as well as tannins - which not all plants like. Tea also contains aluminium, fluoride and manganese, and high doses can slow plant growth.
This means that stewed tea can damage the growth of plants, especially if they do not like acidic soil. Instead, it is best to add used but drained tea leaves to the compost rather than the soil or directly to the plants. There they will increase the level of nutrients and oxidation in the compost.
It is important to know that not all plants like tea leaves, either poured directly onto them or through the compost you make - the tannins in them can lower the pH of the soil and increase its acidity.
So if you are growing plants that like acidic conditions - and there is a list below - you can safely and beneficially use tea. However, if you are growing plants that prefer more alkaline conditions - again, the list below - you need to be careful. It is important to keep a close eye on the pH of the soil. Yellowing leaves can be a sign of too much acidity, so keep an eye on this.
Tea leaves are usually removed from tea bags and the bags are properly discarded before being used in the garden. However, some gardeners prefer to use paper (compostable) tea bags as a mulch or drainage layer.
Another thing to keep in mind: using tea with milk or sugar in the garden can do more harm than good: sugar can wilt plants and milk can promote the growth of mould.
Finally, over-fertilising is bad for plants, so sprinkling tea on them every day - even those that prefer acidic soil - may not be beneficial. Instead, tea is added to the compost as one of its many ingredients.
Using tea in compost
Used tea leaves added to a compost pile can boost the nitrogen content, which helps to break down other substances you add and promotes decomposing bacteria. These can be added as loose leaves or in bags - assuming the bags are paper and there are no staples or string attached to them.
Using tea as a potted plant
As with garden plants, acid-loving pot plants will benefit from having used tea added to the soil - although as mentioned above, we will add it to the compost as part of the balance of ingredients. For a full list of tea-loving plants, see below.
Using tea to prevent weeds
Tea leaves will not prevent weeds, but use them in mulches (actually use any mulch) and weeds are less likely to establish.
Using tea to deter pests and insects
If your garden plants are being damaged by pests, there is anecdotal evidence that you can use tea leaves and tea to deter those who hate the smell - mice, cats and some insects - by spreading the leaves around the roots of the plants or by spraying cooled tea onto the plant.
Using tea to prevent fungus
Spraying cold tea on the leaves can help ward off fungal diseases that some plants may suffer from.
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