If you’ve ever tossed a banana peel in the bin without a second thought, it might be time to reconsider. Gardeners are being urged to stop wasting them and turn those slippery scraps into powerful natural fertilisers that can transform garden beds. According to homebuilder, Perry Homes, banana peels are more than just kitchen waste, and will help your rose gardens thrive thanks to being packed with essential nutrients like phosphorus and potassium, which are really important for plant growth.
Phosphorus helps promote strong root development and flower production, and potassium helps with overall plant health and disease resistance. The experts recommend adding the banana peels to your compost pile where they will break down alongside other organic matter, and enrich the final compost with minerals.
You can also blend banana peels with water to create a nutrient-rich liquid fertiliser that plants can absorb more rapidly, a method which is especially useful for feeding roses and flowering plants.
Chopping peels into smaller pieces before burying them in the soil to help them decompose faster.
Not only will this help reduce food waste, but it also avoids synthetic chemicals, promoting healthier soil microbes using a non-toxic and entirely free method that keeps your garden both green and safe.
You can bury the banana peels a few times a season, such as when the plant is leafing out in spring and around the middle of summer.
Other tips include enriching the soil using alfalfa, feeding you roses regularly, watering depply and consistently, pruning, inspecting your roses reguarly for any pests and diseases, and applying organic mulch.
The experts recommend pruning roses in early spring to remove damaged wood and improve airflow, applying mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds, and routinely checking for pests or diseases to treat issues early.
Additionally, plant roses in sunny, well-draining locations, select reblooming varieties for continuous flowering, protect roots from damage using ‘gentle cultivation techniques’ and mulch, and use natural pest controls like neem oil to keep your roses healthy and vibrant.