With the arrival of summer, roses are in full bloom, and there's a simple method for achieving healthier and more vibrant flowers by providing them with the correct fertiliser.

The optimal time to fertilise roses is early July, during their peak blooming season, as it replenishes the nutrients they require to boost flower production and assist them in dealing with the heat. However, Kelly, a gardener and founder of My Soulful Home, has shared that you don't need to spend any money to enhance your roses, as you can nourish flowers with some basic kitchen scraps.

Kelly said, "Want a lush and lovely garden without spending a dime on fertiliser, slug protection, and compost? Well, have a banana, an egg, and a cup of coffee for breakfast."

It might sound odd, but three simple ingredients can be transformed into a highly effective homemade fertiliser. This fertiliser will provide roses with the nutrients they need for longer-lasting blooms. Here's why it can be so effective. 

1. Banana peels

Kelly explained: "Banana peels add phosphorus and potassium to the soil. Both are essential to a healthy plant. Potassium is responsible for the formation of new flower buds.

"Your roses in particular will want a bunch of bananas, and you will want a bunch of rose buds."

2. Egg shells

Eggshells are an excellent source of calcium, which helps prevent diseases such as blossom end rot and improves plant structure.

3. Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds also aid in providing roses with nitrogen, which promotes the growth of foliage and is crucial for the plant's overall health.

This homemade fertiliser primarily boosts roses by supplying them with the nutrients they need. It also effectively keeps slugs away from flowers, as these pests are known to be highly sensitive to the strong scent of coffee and detest its texture.

Kelly said: "Sprinkling the grinds on top of the soil may also deter slugs and snails...[they] don't like the feeling of sliding over the grinds."

How to create a homemade fertiliser for roses

Ensure you thoroughly wash out the egg shells to remove any yolk and then leave them in a separate container to dry out.

Once the egg shells have dried, crush them into small pieces and then add most of them to the container with the banana peels and coffee grounds.

Reserve some of the eggshells to sprinkle around your roses, as slugs will not crawl over the sharp shells.

Then, store the fertiliser in a ziplock bag and keep it in the fridge until use, and bury the homemade mixture underneath near your rose bush roots to feed them.

Kelly stated: "My secret garden tips are to cut up the peel, crush the shells, scoop together the grinds and work all three into the soil under and around your plants.

"Toss the secret trio into a container before you mix in the planting soil. Each will act as a slow-release fertiliser, pest deterrent and soil amendment."

However, as with any fertiliser, gardeners should be aware that overfertilising roses can lead to excessive foliage growth, meaning less energy will be directed towards flowers, potentially resulting in weak blooms or an unhealthy plant.

To prevent this, ensure to only apply this homemade fertiliser once in midsummer to help boost blooms, and then monitor roses after application.

This easy fertiliser is a brilliant way to reduce food waste and save some money on gardening supplies, whilst also promoting larger, more plentiful and healthier rose flowers this summer.