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Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the UK, but next time you've brewed a cuppa, think before you throw away the tea bags. Gardeners should consider using tea bags in a variety of ways in the garden as they hold some hidden benefits you might not be aware of.

Whether you want to find a use for steeped tea bags or you empty the contents directly, tea leaves can help with a multitude of gardening tasks, including fertilising, deterring certain pests, and even be used as a weed killer. Chris Ware from Climbing Wild Gardeners, teabags are packed with tannic acid and nutrients that enrich the soil. He explained: "Tea bags contain beneficial compounds that improve soil structure, retain moisture, and provide plants with essential nutrients."

Tea bags make an effective fertiliser as they provide essential nutrients to soil as they decompose, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients can help improve soil structure, increase water retention, and can slightly lower soil pH for acid-loving plants.

The tannins in tea can also help deter certain pests and inhibit fungal growth. The Art of Tea explained: "As the tea leaves and bag begin to break down and decompose, they release nutrients into the soil that helps plants retain water and thrive."

By placing steeped tea bags around your prized plants and flowers, they can help ward off hungry pests. They can be used to deter the likes of slugs and snails that want to munch on plant leaves.

Place used tea bags directly on the soil in your flowerbeds and vegetable patches, and the tea's strong smell will deter them. They can also be used to target larger pests, such as cats and foxes.

To stop the animals from digging up plants and destroying any roots or bulbs, place the tea bags in the areas where they would likely dig. Lightly cover the tea bags with a sprinkle of soil to hide them while they work to deter pests.

Tea bags can also be used to help make a compost for the garden. This is because the tea is rich in nitrogen, which helps organic matter decompose faster, and they add nutrients like potassium and phosphorus.

You'll need to make sure that the tea bags themselves are fully compostable, or you can pour the tea leaves directly into the compost pile. As tea leaves contain very concentrated amounts of certain nutrients, they're best used for plants that thrive in acidic soil.