On this page you’ll find all my latest good gardening tips

 

 Go bananas for tiptop azalea flowers!

 

Here’s a great tip for getting more out of your azaleas with bigger and brighter flowers.  Save banana skins in a bin or paper bag or anywhere they can dry out a bit without attracting flies. In early spring hack these into small pieces (you can do this earlier if you like and leave them in the bag/bin) and soak in buckets of water at the rate of 6 or so kilos (about 3lbs) to 5 litres (10.5) of water (the quantities here don’t have to be exact – it’s the principle that counts!).  Leave for 24 hours, then pour into ground around azalea bushes, banana skins and all.  Use approximately half a bucket to each bush. Scuff the skins around the soil a bit, taking care not to damage plant roots.  This is a simple, effective and organic way of recycling banana skins and giving your azaleas a potassium boost.

Added hint:   Mix in wood ash (about 5 cupfuls) per bucket ) or sulphate (sulfate) of potassium  (1 cupful per bucket) for an even better effect.

 

And if you really want to learn all about growing great azaleas then go to My Books on this website for information on the best and cheapest book around.

 

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