An environmental expert has shared the truth about green tea bags and how some gardeners could be missing out on a trick to rescue your plants this year

An environmental expert has shared the real reason why homeowners should save their used tea bags, which could save many UK gardens this summer.

The Ecology, Environment, and Conservation Journal has warned gardeners to use leftover green tea bags to help their plans.

By adding green tea leaves to any outdoor space with plants, extra nutrients are fed into the soil.

The site explains: “With any compost, it is important to add a healthy balance of nitrogen-packed organic materials and carbon-rich brown materials such as dried leaves.”

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Green tea can not only be used to provide nourishment for plants, but also helps to promote food waste by encouraging sustainable gardening practices.

However, the website did warn the pH needs of the plant must be considered before attempting to scatter the soil with green tea.

Some shrubs prefer an alkaline soil, therefore if covered in tea, it may not react beneficially to the acidity of the product.

For those who wish to attempt recycling their green tea bags in the garden, there are some key points of advice to follow.

Gardeners can create a tea fertiliser by allowing green tea leaves to steep in a decent sized jar for 24 hours, before straining the liquid.

The compost tea can then be directly placed into the soil and used as a natural fertiliser spray.

Experts have issued a reminder to double check the pH of the soil before putting in large amounts of tea, and it is recommended to use organic tea leaves to avoid any synthetic materials coming into contact with the natural plant life.

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It has been advised to combine the green tea products with other compost materials to give your plants the best treatment.

The most important guideline is to keep an eye on your plants.

Watching and waiting, while also evaluating whether an adjustment to the green tea is needed, is essential to maintaining your garden’s health.