Gardening expert's 'best way' to boost flowers on plants - and cats hate it

Gardeners have to learn the composting process in order to master it, and it requires an investment of time, effort and regular maintenance - but there is one kitchen item that helps

While composting is a top tip for gardeners to reduce waste and nurture a flourishing garden, it's not exactly a walk in the park.

It takes a bit of know-how to get it right, plus a commitment of time, effort and ongoing upkeep. But for those who aren't quite ready to take the plunge into full-blown composting, there's good news: food scraps can still be gold for your garden. You can simply bury them straight into your soil as a natural boost for your plants or as a nifty way to fend off pests – no waiting necessary.

Coffee grounds, for instance, are a prime example of this trick. On the Gardening UK Facebook page, one gardening enthusiast was curious about how to use a box of coffee grounds she'd snagged for nothing, reports the Express. Helen Skinner posted: "The coffee shop down the road has let me collect a box of grounds. How is it best to use though?

"Do I just add a few scoops to the watering can or do I dig it in around the plant's roots? I plan on using it for my roses, rhododendrons and azaleas. Thank you." The post quickly became a hotbed of advice, with fellow group members chipping in with their two cents on the best ways to utilise the grounds. Frances Reed commented: "I'm getting some from my local coffee shop for my roses. Been using it for years. Never fails me."

Meanwhile, Jim Saunders advised: "The best way to use coffee grounds is to dig it into the soil around your roses using a fork." Gardeners are brewing up a storm with their secret weapon against pests—used coffee grounds! Sandra Ferguson said: "I sprinkle them around the base of my roses to give them a boost, then fork it in and water."

She claimed coffee grounds not only invigorate her roses but also deter unwanted feline and rodent guests: "Found that the coffee has even worked to repel cats and rats I've seen entering my garden." Fellow green-fingered enthusiast Sheryl Worthy added: "I scatter mine throughout the whole garden. It's great for keeping the slugs at bay too."

Another avid gardener, Rosemary Martin, concurred, saying: "And cats." Meanwhile, Tracey Mclellan shared her long-term success with the method: "I just sprinkle mine over the top of the soil have done for 15 plus years now used tea bags too, and my partner drinks a lot of ground coffee."

Both fresh and spent coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and teeming with loads of micronutrients, which can help fertilise gardens. Countless gardening enthusiasts stand by this kitchen waste as a means to fend off slugs, snails, and rats, and to prevent cats from treating their verdant patches as litter trays.