Lavender plants will ‘bloom more’ in your garden if you use four kitchen scraps to feed them

Lavender plants are often associated with the idyllic image of a sunny, clear summer, due to their medium purple or light pink-purple hues. Their distinctive fragrant smell is known to soothe both body and soul, making them perfect for a quiet afternoon spent in the garden.

While lavenders are not fussy and can survive in nutrient-poor soils, a little fertilizer can encourage them to bloom. However, gardeners should keep in mind that over-fertilizing lavender can lead to excessive leaf growth without flowering or even be fatal to the plant.

That said, feeding lavender plants isn’t entirely a no-no, it’s all about getting them right. The optimal time for fertilizing lavender is spring, at the beginning of the growing season, Express reports. But what should you use to feed your lavender plants?

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Stephanie, a gardener from the home and DIY blog Celebrated Herb, suggests using kitchen scraps.

She explained: “Lavender plants don’t require a lot of nutrients, but you can still use some kitchen scraps to give them extra nourishment.”

1. Coffee grounds.

Stephanie stated that used coffee grounds are an “excellent” source of nitrogen, which is “essential for plant growth.”

Not only for lavender, but coffee grounds can also help hydrangeas and roses produce larger, more vibrant flowers.

Just sprinkle some coffee grounds around the base of your lavender plants and incorporate them into the soil.

2. Banana peels.

Banana peels are rich in potassium, which can encourage the plant to “bloom longer” and “roots to grow stronger.”

To use them, slice the banana peels and bury them in the soil around the base of the lavender plants.

Banana peels are also great for stimulating your orchid to bloom and your roses to bloom.

3. Plant residues.

Vegetable scraps like carrot tops and lettuce leaves can be used to create a “homemade compost that can give your lavender plants extra nutrients.”

Just layer the scraps with dry leaves and grass clippings in a compost bin and wait for them to break down into fertile compost.

4. Eggshells.

Ground eggshells are a beneficial source of calcium, which can help prevent blossom end rot in plants. Sprinkle ground eggshells around the base of the lavender plants.

However, Stephanie also emphasized that kitchen scraps “shouldn’t be the only source of nutrients” for your lavender plants and should be used sparingly to avoid over-fertilizing.