Lawns will turn green and grow super thick with free natural DIY fertiliser that gardeners call ‘liquid gold’

IS your neighbour's lawn looking greener than ever - whilst the grass on your side seems to be dying?

Lawn envy is a real thing. The truth is any beautifully-green lawn is a result of good lawn fertilisation.

Woman standing in front of vertical strawberry planter.
2
Gardening whizz Kim explained how you can make your lawn and plants thrive with a special 'compost tea'Credit: youtube/CaliKim29
A hand stirring dark liquid in an orange bucket.
2
Not only is it totally organic but also won't cost you a penny if you already have your very own compost readyCredit: youtube/CaliKim29

Ever wondered how to get that lush, deep green lawn without leaving you with an empty wallet?

Luckily, thrifty gardening enthusiasts have come to rescue with just the right solution - and it's something called ''the compost tea'', which they insist is ''liquid gold''.

Fertiliser is not just about making your grass grow but also about nurturing a landscape that can withstand the tests of weather, as well as time.

A robust lawn is your first defense against pesky pests, diseases, and environmental stresses, such as frost or sweltering sunshine, emphasised the pros at the Lawn Squad.

read more on gardening

But does this mean you need to rush to the nearest garden centre to snap up a store-bought fertiliser?

According to YouTuber and gardener Cali Kim, there's no need to spend your hard-earned money on this lawn essential.

Dropping the knowledge bombs online, Kim, from the US, explained how her special ''compost tea'' can make your lawn thrive this summer - and it's totally free too.

As well as providing her plants ''with lots of great fast-acting nutrients'', the DIY mixture ''really increases'' the plants' growth - getting the food on the table quicker.

Kim went on in the informative video: ''Third, I love how it provides all the beneficial bacteria, microbes for the soil - it really helps my plants to be healthy and strong, and really tolerate the stress better.''

Another major benefit to this quick and simple recipe is that it avoids the use of chemical fertilisers - perfect for those who want to have a fully organic garden.

The £14.50 Wickes buy people are swearing by to get rid of weeds on their driveway for GOOD

''And the fifth thing is one of my favourites - it's quick, simple and because I'm using my own compost, it's totally free.''

To make your own ''tea'', you will need just to ingredients - compost, as well as water.

Once you've filled up a large bucket with water, let it sit outside for 24 hours, letting the chlorine to evaporate.

Kim explained: ''If you use chlorinated water, it will kill the beneficial bacteria and microbes, which are one thing that make compost tea so effective for your garden.''

When the time is up, simply add your compost to the water and give it a good stir with a stick.

Royal gardener Jack Stook's top tips for green lawns

JACK, who has worked at King Charles' Highgrove House for 20 years, shares his top tips..

  • Scarify the lawn with a rake to remove any old leaves and moss
  • Add nitrogen fertiliser into the soil
  • Alternatively, put granular feed over the lawn, or a 'plant soup' from plant material over the lawn

''I'm gonna let this sit for about 24 - 48 hours, so that it gets nice and strong, has lots of good nutrition for my plants.''

To give the DIY concoction good aeration, Kim also advised to stir it around the next morning and then once again in the evening.

''You can use it right away but it will be a little bit weaker,'' said Kim, adding that her strawberries ''love'' the compost tea.

How do I start composting at home?

While it may sound complicated, home composting is actually very straightforward - even for people with the smallest kitchens and gardens.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, this is how to get yourself set up:

1. Choose your container

Once you've decided on your bottomless container, position it in a shady part of your garden.

It can go on any surface, but if placed on hard ground then be sure to add a spadeful of soil to the bin before you start.

Then, on top of that, pile a few inches of any sticks or branches you can find to help aerate the pile.

2. Balance the materials

It's important to have the right mix of materials in the bin.

Experts recommended between 25 and 50 per cent of soft green materials - like grass clippings, weeds or vegetable kitchen waste - with the rest being made up of woody brown materials such as wood chippings.

It is also advised not to let any one material dominate the heap, especially grass clippings.

3. Feed it the right things

While it may seem you can just chuck any old thing in your compost bin, there are some things which are definitely best left out.

This includes meat and dairy products, as they attract pests, as well as any highly processed foods.

However, the list of things you can put in is huge.

Fruit and vegetable peelings and offcuts, coffee grounds, tea leaves, grass clippings, dried leaves, manure, herbs, and even hair are all good to go in.

4. Turn the heap

Once you're pile is taking shape, it's important to keep an eye on it and turning it when needed.

This adds air into the mix which is essential for composting to occur.

How often will depend on the size of your pile and the materials in it, but a turn with a spade once every week or two should be plenty.

And don't forget to also add water when the heap gets dry in hot weather.

5. Ready to go

The RHS advises people to be patient as garden compost can take between six months and two years to reach maturity.

Read More on The Sun

If you think yours could be ready, check if it is the right appearance, feel and smell.

It should be dark brown, with a crumbly soil-like texture, be warm to touch and smell like damp woodland.