There’s nothing quite like the treat of an ice-cold glass of pop in the sunshine, but before you pour those leftover dregs down the sink, you could make use of them in the garden. Home and garden expert Neil Mckenzie from Halton Stairlifts claims that leftover dregs of fizzy drinks can be effectively repurposed in your garden. He shared 10 key ways you can use leftover fizzy drinks to “boost” your garden and flowers.
According to Neil: “It’s best to dilute fizzy pop with water before using it on plants to avoid sugar build-up that can attract pests.”
He also warned that when using fizzy drinks around the garden, it’s important not to use too much in one spot as excessive sugar might also attract pests.
There is anecdotal evidence, particularly in Reddit forums dedicated to gardening hacks, that many of Neil’s tips work, though you should be careful about which fizzy drinks you use for certain jobs. For example, sugary drinks can cause more damage while fizzy water can add a much-needed boost.
Fertilise Plants
“Use fizzy drinks to give plants a sugar boost, especially houseplants or acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries,” said Neil. “The sugar content can help promote microbial activity in the soil.”
Experts from Gardening Know How, said: “Sugary soda pops are not the most ideal choices for use as fertilizer.
“Just like salt, sugar prevents plants from absorbing the water — not what we’re looking for. However, plain carbonated water introduced for a short period of time does encourage plant growth over the use of tap water.”
Compost Accelerator
Neil explained: “Pouring leftover fizzy drinks into your compost can speed up the decomposition process. The sugar feeds microorganisms, helping them break down organic matter more quickly.”
Experts from Gardening Know How recommend using cola in compost heaps to help the microorganisms break down. “The sugars in cola attract the microorganisms needed to jump-start the breaking down process, while the acids in the drink assist. Cola really does boost the composting process.”
Slug and Snail Trap
“Slugs and snails are attracted to the sugar in fizzy drinks,” explained Neil.
“Pour some into a shallow dish and place it in the garden. Pests will be drawn to it and get trapped.”
Weed Killer
According to Neil, you can use fizzy drinks on driveways and paths to kill weeds. “The sugar in these drinks attracts microorganisms that produce waste, which can kill the plants,” he said.
However, you should be careful where you are using fizzy drinks in your garden. Though the hack has been a viral recommendation on social media in the past, with gardeners anecdotally recommending the use of Coke to kill weeds, experts from outdoorguide.com said: “While it is true that Coca-Cola can kill weeds because it contains acidic ingredients, it will also kill any plant it touches.”
The sugars in fizzy drinks might also attract insects.
Flower Preservative
If you want to give cut blooms from your garden an added boost, Neil recommends adding a dash of certain fizzy drinks to the plant water.
“Add fizzy drinks to water in a vase to keep cut flowers fresh longer,” he said. “The sugar feeds the stems, prolonging their life.”
Pour about a quarter of a cup of soda into the water in a vase full of cut flowers. The sugar in the soda is thought to keep the flowers alive for a little longer. Citrus-flavoured soda is often recommended.
Clean Garden Tools
“Use fizzy drinks like cola to clean rusty or dirty garden tools,” explained Neil.
The acidic properties found in certain fizzy drinks, such as cola, help remove rust and grime.
Revitalise Compost Pile
“If your compost pile is dry or slow, adding soda can introduce moisture and nutrients, helping to break down the organic material faster,” said Neil.
Speaking previously to Express.co.uk, Jason White, founder and CEO of All About Gardening said: “It might seem like the last item to be useful in the garden, but a cola drink actually has its uses.
“This is because the acid in the cola drink assists and boosts the composting process of the pile, while the sugar in the drink attracts microorganisms which are helpful in accelerating the breakdown process.”
Enhance Soil Acidity
“Use fizzy drinks on acid-loving plants to lower the pH of the soil slightly,” said Neil.”This is beneficial for plants like hydrangeas, gardenias, and rhododendrons.”
Changing the pH of the soil is likely to change the colour of hydrangeas too, though some people prefer to use coffee grounds, which can make the soil slightly more acidic.
