Don't throw away your tea bags! Ten uses for tea bags

Ending your day with a relaxing cup of hot tea is a great way to ease you into la-la land. Most people finish their tea and throw their used tea bags in the bin without a second thought. After all, what can you do with a used tea bag?

It turns out that you can do a lot with used tea bags, especially in the garden. Read on to find out why you might want to bury these tea bags instead of throwing them in the bin.

Ten uses for tea bags

1. Bag decomposition

Did you know that most British tea bags are made from a relative of banana? Manila hemp is made from the fibres of banana hemp leaf stalks. According to the British Tea and Infusion Association, the bags themselves decompose and the tiny amount of plastic they use to seal the tea bags will actually disappear within six months.

2. Tea adds nutrients to the soil

Tea contains tannins and nutrients that make it a natural fertiliser for your garden. According to The Gardening Cook, as the tea leaves decompose, they release nutrients into the soil, creating a healthier growing environment.

3. Reduce litter

Burying tea bags in the garden or throwing them into the compost heap helps to eliminate excess waste.

4. Tea bags keep pests away

Used tea bags (and coffee grounds) will help keep bugs away from plants. The smell stops pests from chewing on your flowers and vegetables.

5. The smell of tea works for cats too

Sprinkle coffee grounds or used tea grounds around your garden to prevent fluffy from urinating on your favourite plants. earth911 suggests that you can also use it on houseplants.

6. Your tea bags can grow a garden

Believe it or not, you can grow your own garden using used tea bags, seeds, plastic trays, water and paper towels. According to the Kiwi Conservation Club, you will germinate tea bags and then plant them in your garden.

7. Tea increases the decomposition of other items

If you use tea bags in your soil or compost, the acids in the tea will speed up the decomposition process of other things in your compost bin, which means you can use the compost faster.

8. Worms eat tea

Worms can safely consume tea. According to VeggieGardener, once they have digested the leaves, they produce a more "nutrient-rich fertiliser output", which makes your soil more suitable for growing plants.

9. Tea bags help retain water

Bury tea bags near the roots of plants, flowers and vegetables to help them retain more water and stay healthy.

10. Tea bags help to prevent weeds

When you bury tea bags in your garden, they can help stop weeds from growing (which means less work for you!) .