Gardening can be a massive headache when your plants are struggling – fortunately this easy hack involving one popular tablet will have them growing bigger and healthier
If you want your plants to grow bigger and stronger this summer, experts say you can feed them this one common headache tablet.
Summer has finally arrived and many of us are stepping back out into our gardens to enjoy them in full bloom. It’s also the time of year when many crops begin to ripen and trees bear fruit. However, if you’re looking to get the most out of your plants, it’s usually best to give them a little boost.
A popular way to do this is by adding fertiliser or compost to the soil. However, it can be time consuming to purchase or make your own – which is why gardening experts recommend using Aspirin.
READ MORE: Gardeners urged to avoid watering plants at specific time of day in June
Commonly used as a painkiller for issues like headaches, aspirin actually contains properties that can be hugely beneficial to certain plants. This is because it’s made from salicylic acid.
This is a compound which is actually naturally produced by many plants. The experts from Gardening Know How explain: “Plants produce minute amounts of salicylic acid on their own when they are stressed.”
They continue: “This tiny amount helps plants cope when they are under insect attack, dry, underfed, or maybe even experiencing a disease issue.” They also add that it helps boost the plant’s immune system. Aspirin dissolved in water is touted as remedial for plants that are in need of a boost specifically, such as those that are diseased and in need of urgent attention.
Aspirin must be used sparingly
In order to give your plants a dose of aspirin, it’s recommended to dissolve a tablet in water first. Generally, one tablet should be mixed with 4.5 litres of water, although this may change depending on the plant.
Be careful not to overdo it with the aspirin, either. Typically, you should only spray plants with an aspirin solution every few weeks to avoid damaging them Gardening Know How warns that there are potential side effects if aspirin is used improperly. Too much may lead to plants developing brown spots or having a “burnt” appearance.
To avoid this, they advise that it’s best to spray the aspirin solution early in the morning. This is because it gives plant leaves the best chance of drying off before evening.
They also recommend spraying early to avoid harming any beneficial insects. They write: “Bees and other pollinators are most active once sun has touched the plants, so a period of time prior to that sun’s kiss is the best.
You should also wait to see how plants respond to the treatment, aspirin may not be suitable for all flora. However, the nightshade family, which includes aubergine, peppers and tomatoes, can “benefit greatly”.
If you don’t have any Aspirin lying around your medicine cupboard, no need to worry. You can pick up a pack of tablets from Boots for a bargain 54p.