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As the temperatures start to drop, our yards need a bit more TLC once winter hits. This is especially the case if you want your plants to thrive, or grass to look greener all year round. And while we often rely on expensive fertilizers or soil boosters to do the job, you can save a lot of money (while helping the environment) thanks to simple homemade fertilizer hacks. In fact, there is one common fruit that you can use to give your yard a healthy boost this November. What’s more, it’s simple to do, organic, and is far cheaper and safer to use than commercial products. So what is this surprising fertilizer trick? Use bananas in your yard this winter Bananas are a healthy snack, but instead of throwing out your peels, put them to good use in the garden. Bananas also make a great soil fertilizer, thanks to their abundance of nutrients. These include potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium — which are all essential to the healthy growth of flowering plants, fruit trees and your lawn. You can simply throw leftover banana peels into your compost heap/pile to quickly decompose and break down into soil, or blend or grind them into a powder. “Banana peel is a great way to give flowering plants a natural boost of potassium, which supports nutrient movement within the plant and improves water regulation, both of which are essential when flowers are forming,” states David Denyer, gardener at Eflorist. “Simply bake your banana peels at a low temperature for a few hours, then either blend or grind them into a fine powder. Then, mix the powder into your soil to provide a slow, steady release of nutrients that can really make a difference to plants like dahlias, calendula, or cosmos.” If you want to save your leftover banana peels without having to deal with bad smells in your kitchen, another good tip is to store them in the freezer, until you're ready to compost. “To prevent unpleasant smells, store these scraps in a designated spot in the freezer,” suggests Brian McDaid, garden expert at Eagle Dumpster Rental. “Once you have a good amount, use a plastic bin to layer kitchen and garden scraps with materials like dry leaves, sawdust, and cardboard. Mix every week to ensure proper aeration. Over time, the scraps will break down into nutrient-rich compost for gardening.” Making the most of your kitchen scraps Composting is an eco-friendly way to reuse your organic food scraps and yard waste into something that can really benefit your yard. If you want to try your hand at making compost, check out our simple steps on how to make compost at home. Plus, beware of these 7 composting mistakes to avoid. So the next time you snack on those nutrient-filled bananas, don’t forget to save the peels to give your yard a healthy winter boost. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. More from Tom's Guide
