Hydrangeas are known for their beautiful blooms, but there is a simple way to get bigger flowers and also protect them from pests this summer.
Katie Femia, a gardener and founder of The Homespun Hydrangea, has shared that adding orange peels to the soil of hydrangeas can be beneficial as it can give flowers a boost.
She said: “Orange peels contain nutrients that can help feed your soil when added to compost or the soil in general.”
Orange peels contain nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth and also contains a little phosphorus and potassium, which also help keep flowers healthy.
Katie said: “Did you know that orange peels are chock full of nitrogen? Nitrogen is essential to good fertiliser.
“When your soil needs a boost, you can add in ground-up orange peels. The peels will release the nitrogen and the result is nutrient-rich soil your plants will love.”
Oranges also make the soil slightly acidic which hydrangeas prefer as it can enhance their nutrient, plus can change the colour of the blooms.
Katie said: “Some plants thrive off of acidic soil. If you are planting a perennial that needs acidity in the soil, orange peels may be able to help.”
Not only are orange peels rich in nutrients but they also increase the organic matter in the soil which can aerate it and help improve water retention which is incredibly important during the hot summer temperatures when plants are easily stressed.
All you have to do is save any leftover orange peels in a container with a lid and feed them to hydrangeas once a month which gives the peels time to decompose and release nutrients slowly.
Simply bury the peels into the soil around the base of your hydrangeas, but make sure to check the pH levels of the soil before introducing anything new to plants as you can risk overfertilizing flowers.
Orange peels are also very effective at keeping many summer pests away such as mosquitoes and aphids, which can suck the sap from flowers to stunt their growth.
Many insects dislike the sharp citrus smell of orange peels as it can overwhelm them and make it more difficult for them to navigate, meaning they are more likely to keep away from an area with the scent.
You can simply scatter orange peels on the soil of your flowers or you can make a simple deterrent spray to use around your garden.
Katie said: “Orange peels can help keep aphids away and protect your plants when you use them in a natural pest-repelling spray.
“Just add the peels to a spray bottle and fill with hot water. Shake well, then allow the mixture to cool thoroughly.
“You can then spray the mixture wherever aphids are present. It is safe on plants and a more natural, chemical-free way to repel bugs.”
