Hydrangeas are in bloom across the country, in gorgeous shades of blue, pink and purple.
However, if you have pink hydrangeas and would love them to turn a shade of blue, there’s one kitchen item which can be used.
Hydrangeas change colour based on the pH level of the soil they grow in, which makes changing this can encourage them to turn blue.
This includes using coffee grounds which make the soil more acidic.
Whether using grounds leftover from your machine or out of a jar, either will do the job according to one gardener on Facebook.
Taking to the Gardening Hints and Tips UK Facebook page, John Baxter wrote: “You can use eggshells to try or add aluminium sulfate to the soil but I tend to sprinkle coffee scraps.
“This doesn’t just change the colour of my hydrangeas, but it also provides them with key nutrients, it took a while but I swear by it now They are a stunning shade.”
You can start adding coffee grounds to the soil whenever you fancy, but a couple of times throughout the flowering season should be sufficient.
Let the grounds dry out before adding them to the soil if they are wet as this will create mould.
Then simply spread the grounds evenly around the base or mix them into the soil.
It’s important to use coffee grounds in moderation, however, as large amounts can be harmful.
They contain salts and are acidic so it’s best not to use them on plants such as asparagus, salvia and lavender.
Citrus peels such as orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime can also be beneficial for hydrangeas and turn them blue.
This is again due to their acidic nature. Simply grind up the peels and feed them to the hydrangeas, although it may take a while for the plant to reach the desired acidity level.
