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A Master Gardener
Shows Whether Teabags Can Prevent Weeds From Growing
By TIFFANY SELVEY
When master gardener Tiffany Selvey heard that teabags may help rid her garden of weeds, she found scientists, in fact, had studied if tea can be used as an herbicide replacement.
In a study published in Agronomy in 2019, researchers tested the effect of different types of tea on seed germination rates to see if natural chemicals could prevent weed growth.
They found that Vietnamese tea was most effective at reducing the seed germination rate, but they concluded that its high caffeine content was probably inhibiting the plant growth.
So, used teabags don’t have nearly enough caffeine to suppress weeds; however, you can still use them in your garden, as they contain several nutrients that can improve your soil.