Kill weeds with 49p item you can get from any supermarket — also fertilises plants

Many people will often find this item in their fridges and thankfully it doesn’t cost too much eitherThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreMany people will have tended to their gardens over the summer(Image: Uwe Krejci via Getty Images)

Many of us are looking to liven up our garden plants thanks to the dry UK weather we have been getting. Thankfully, one garden expert has shared just how by using a popular supermarket item.

Neil Mckenzie, a home and garden specialist at Halton Stairlifts, has shared that any leftovers of carbonated drinks can be repurposed in your garden. Even better, the product will only cost you 49p from supermarkets like Asda or Sainsbury’s.

However, it is worth noting that it is recommended to water down fizzy pop before applying it to plants to prevent sugar accumulation that can draw pests.

You may also want to avoid using excessive amounts of fizzy drink in one area, as too much sugar can lure unwelcome insects and creatures, reports the Express.

A 49p bottle of coke can work wonders in the garden and has multiple uses(Image: Getty)

Standard fizzy drinks work best as diet varieties lack sugar. Meanwhile, dark colas contain dyes that might leave stains. Let’s look at the different gardening methods where you can reuse cola:

Nourish plants

Neil explained: “Use fizzy drinks to give plants a sugar boost, especially houseplants or acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. The sugar content can help promote microbial activity in the soil.”

Eliminate weeds

Apply fizzy drinks on driveways and pathways to “kill weeds”. The sugar in these beverages “attracts microorganisms that produce waste”, which can destroy the plants.

Enhance compost

Adding leftover fizzy drinks to your compost can “speed up” the breakdown process. The sugar nourishes microorganisms, assisting them in decomposing organic material more rapidly.

Trap slugs and snails Slugs and snails are drawn to the sugar content in fizzy drinks. “Pour some into a shallow dish and place it in the garden”, he said.

These pests will be “lured towards it” and become trapped.

Bug spray

Combine fizzy drinks with liquid soap to make a “natural insect spray”. This mixture can repel aphids and other tiny insects from your plants.

Flower preservative

Include fizzy drinks in water within a vase to keep cut “flowers fresh longer”. The sugar nourishes the stems, extending their lifespan.

Boost lawn health

Neil explained: “Spraying diluted fizzy drinks on your lawn can promote lush growth. The sugar feeds beneficial microbes in the soil.”

Adding cola to your lawn can help boost its overall health(Image: Getty)Clean garden tools

Use fizzy drinks like cola to clean rusty or grimy garden tools. “Its acidic properties help remove rust and grime,” he added.

Revitalise compost pile

Neil recommended: “If your compost pile is dry or slow, adding soda can introduce moisture and nutrients, helping to break down the organic material faster.”

Enhance soil acidity

Neil said: “Use fizzy drinks on acid-loving plants to lower the pH of the soil slightly. This is beneficial for plants like hydrangeas, gardenias, and rhododendrons.”