Gardener urges people not to throw away weeds – they have hidden benefit

A gardener has urged people to think twice before discarding their weeds, revealing a surprising money-saving use for them. Often regarded as one of the most dreaded gardening chores, it's tempting to assume that the only advantage of weeding is to benefit your cultivated plants and maintain a pristine outdoor space.

However, weeds have a little-known quality that could give your plants a real boost while providing some much-needed relief for your bank balance. What's more, you won't even need to venture beyond your own garden to reap the rewards. Richard, the host of Sheffield Made Gardens and Sheffield Made Plants on YouTube, has revealed a method for producing a homemade fertiliser that is "better" and more affordable than shop-bought alternatives.

Richard said: "On top of that, in the garden, it's often better to use something organic rather than relying on synthetic fertilisers wherever you can. But what if I told you that you can make bucket loads of plant food for free?

"You don't even need to leave your garden. Well, I'm going to show you how you can make a homemade garden fertiliser that costs nothing. It's incredibly easy to make and one that your plants are going to love."

Richard pointed out that the essential nutrients commonly found in fertilisers are "already" present within your garden. In fact, there's a strong chance you're currently spending a considerable amount of time getting rid of them.

He continued: "I'm talking about weeds, of course. Weeds are absolutely packed with nutrients, popping up in every nook and cranny of the garden. The trick isn't getting rid of them. It's getting those nutrients back out and putting them to work."

1. Gather your weeds

Amongst the nutrients that weeds draw from the soil are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, to name but a few. Weeds store these nutrients within their leaves, stems and roots, and your plants will "love" them.

Rather than discarding your weeds, Richard recommends making "weed tea", a simple liquid fertiliser that "costs next to nothing" and will provide a "boost" to your plants throughout the growing season.

He initially suggested foraging around your garden for weeds, choosing a variety (particularly nutrient-rich comfrey where possible). Richard placed the weeds into a bucket, loosely tearing them up and filling it to approximately two-thirds capacity.

Richard recommended packing it in well, noting that the more weeds you use, the better.

2. Add water

Richard pointed out that rainwater is the best option, though tap water will also work. Fill the bucket until the water covers the weeds and reaches nearly to the brim. Cover the bucket loosely (don't seal it).

He clarified that the fertiliser develops through the process of fermentation, which generates gas that would be unable to escape were the lid fastened too tightly.

3. Leave it in a shady area

Richard then advised placing the bucket in a shaded area of the garden and leaving it to brew for a fortnight. He explained that the weeds will break down and the nutrients will "leech" into the water.

He also warned that it would "absolutely stink", but that's "exactly what you want". Richard explained that he'd used plant pot saucers to weigh down the weeds to ensure they touched the water in a previous batch.

4. Dilute

Once ready for use, Richard warned the fertiliser would be "potent" and recommended diluting it with water. He poured roughly a measuring jug full of fertiliser into his watering can before topping it up and giving it a mix.

Finally, Richard mentioned that the mixture can be used "pretty much anywhere" in your garden. He also noted that you can keep topping it up with water and weeds to "keep it going".

Richard added that he typically uses it every two to four weeks during the growing season.