Deirdre O Meara 
As the cost of living crisis continues to grip the UK, many people are looking for ways to save money. One area where costs can quickly add up is gardening. A five-litre bag of soil can cost around £5, meaning that redoing your whole garden with brand new soil isn’t a financially feasible choice for many. However, according to professional gardener Gardening Grant, there is a way to save money on potting plants by reusing last year’s soil.
Grant has shared his three easy steps to reusing last year’s soil, and the hack is bound to save you a pretty penny. Taking to TikTok, he shared his three-step guide for turning weathered soil in your pots into an enriching home for this year’s flowers. “Before you get rid of or reuse last year’s potting soil, do these three things to make sure you have beautiful blooms this year,” he said.
The first step is to analyse your soil. Grant explained: “Make sure the soil from last year looks nice and healthy. Remove any old roots, leaves or other debris that were from last year’s flowers.” Once you’ve checked the soil is good to go, the second step is to pasteurise it. Grant advised pouring your old potting soil into a big bin bag, tying it up tight, and putting it somewhere sunny to “bake” for four to six weeks. The green-fingered expert added: “This process is known as solarisation and will kill off any unhealthy microbes or fungus that might harm your plants. Using transparent or clear plastic bags will heat up the soil faster. But black garbage bags will work too.” Grant used a transparent blue bin bag to pasteurise his old soil.
The third and final step is to revitalise the “baked” soil. Grant said: “After the old soil has been pasteurised, add in half to two-thirds of fresh potting soil to make sure it’s full of nutrients your plants need to survive.” The content creator joked in the TikTok video’s caption that you can use the saved money to buy more plants. He penned: “Buying fresh potting soil each year is $$$, but if you do these three things, you can reuse last year’s potting soil and save some money (to buy more plants, of course).”
Reusing last year’s soil is a great way to save money and reduce waste. However, it’s important to note that not all plants will thrive in reused soil. Some plants, such as tomatoes, are more susceptible to soil-borne diseases, so it’s best to use fresh soil for these types of plants. Additionally, if your soil was infected with a disease last year, it’s best to dispose of it and start fresh. With these caveats in mind, reusing soil can be a great way to save money and get the most out of your garden.
In conclusion, Gardening Grant’s three-step guide to reusing last year’s soil is a great way to save money on potting plants. By analysing your soil, pasteurising it, and revitalising it with fresh soil, you can ensure that your plants have all the nutrients they need to thrive. While reusing soil isn’t suitable for all plants, it’s a great option for many and can help you save money and reduce waste.
