Rooibos tea – a must for your garden this autumn

The antioxidant-rich rooibos tea is best-known for its health benefits, but according to South Africa’s top gardening gurus, it’s also a must for every garden.
Margaret Roberts, a prominent figure in the world of gardening and natural health has been using rooibos for composting ever since she can remember. She says rooibos makes a fantastic natural fertiliser as it contains nutrients and trace minerals beneficial to plant growth.
“Instead of throwing away your used rooibos tea leaves or bags, use them along with other vegetable and fruit peelings to make a balanced compost mix,” she says.
Roberts’ herbal garden is considered to be one of SA’s top ten gardens and is totally dedicated to organic farming.
Rooibos tea leaves also enriches the soil by increasing the nitrogen levels, whilst giving earthworms something nice to munch on.
Rooibos mulch also forms a crusty layer on the soil after a few waterings. This layer reduces water loss through evaporation and is thus ideal for reducing stress on young transplants and contributes to considerable water saving in gardens and pot plants.
Another well-known gardener, JJ van Rensburg is an equally big fan of Rooibos. “One of the best kept secrets is to break open steeped tea bags and to sprinkle the tea leaves around the plants to deter snails and other unwanted pests – it’s a very effective biological pest deterrent.”
Van Rensburg adds that contrary to the belief that all tea makes the soil acidic, rooibos doesn’t. The efficient microbes in the soil (the good bugs) actually thrive on rooibos tea leaves.
“The tea also reduces germination of weeds through the formation of an insulating layer above the soil, thus facilitating cleaner seedbeds and pot plants. Rooibos is also low in tannins and is beneficial to both plant and root development. Mixed with potting soil, it provides an excellent growing medium,” says van Rensburg.
To ensure a bountiful bloom next spring, the experts suggest getting started in autumn already, which is considered the second most important gardening season. It’s vital that gardens are prepared and ready for the cold, winter months that lie ahead.
For those eager to explore the benefits of using rooibos tea in their gardens, try one or more of these DIY rooibos gardening tips and tricks prepared by the Rooibos Council:
• Use rooibos tea bags for cleaning the leaves of household plants. Since plants absorb the tea through the leaves, they get a real treat.
• Steep used tea bags in room-temperature water until it slightly changes colour and then pour the liquid over the plants. This provides them with extra nourishment.
• When potting a new plant, use rooibos tea leaves or tea bags (dried or steeped) in the drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. Since tea is highly absorbent, it will help absorb water that will then get released slowly back into the plant.
• Feed plants by scattering steeped tea leaves into the top layer of the plant’s soil.
For more information about the benefits and various uses of rooibos, visit www.sarooibos.co.za