Roses are a quintessential feature in British gardens, but more often than not, their blooms can quickly die.
Elise Harlock, brand manager at Prestige Flowers, said: “Roses are the stars of the garden, and with a bit of care, they can thrive all summer.”
To make roses “bloom for longer”, Elise has shared some top tips and tricks to follow, including using banana peels.
Roses are heavy feeders, meaning they need a consistent supply of nutrients to thrive, and they need feeding every four to six weeks.
Elise noted: “You can also use banana peels. They’re rich in potassium, which supports blooming.
“Just chop them up and bury them around the base of your rose bushes.”
According to John Dempsey, a gardening expert at Housetstic, applying two to three banana peels to the soil will provide a “huge advantage” for newly planted roses.
The expert said: “You should put a chopped banana in the bottom of the hole before inserting the plant and mixing the rest with compost and soil around the new plant.”
Gardeners can also use the food scrap while the plant is in active growth to provide potassium to the soil, enriching it and encouraging blooms to flourish.
Banana peel can provide several different benefits which many plants need to survive.
This includes potassium which can help to boost the immune system of roses. According to the pro, it can also prevent them from having weak-looking stems and dull green leaves.
The fruit also contains calcium, iron, copper and manganese, proving they’re not just useful for human consumption.
Pruning is also essential to keep roses healthy, vigorous and “blooming for longer”.
Elise continued: “Trim back dead or diseased wood and regularly deadhead spent flowers. This encourages new growth and extends the blooming season.
“You can simply snap off dead blooms with your fingers or use a pair of sharp pruners.”
Once completed, make sure to mulch which helps to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, perfect for the summer months.
The flower pro noted: “Here’s a clever hack, use old newspapers. Lay a few layers around your roses and cover them with organic mulch like bark or compost.
“This not only helps the environment by recycling paper but also keeps your garden neat and tidy.”