Gardeners told to put plastic bottles in garden this summer as weather heats up

Garden enthusiasts are being tipped off about a nifty trick using old plastic bottles to fend off flies from their greenery. The hack involves snipping off the top of the bottle and pressing the sides downwards to form a funnel shape. To concoct the fly-repelling potion, blend water, sugar and just a dash of washing-up liquid.

Once you've prepared the mixture, pour it into the bottle to entice , which will then become ensnared in the solution once they enter. But that's not the only garden magic you can perform with plastic bottles; they can also be transformed into spray repellents for flies.

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Combine a few droplets of eucalyptus oil with water and a smidgen of vinegar or witch hazel, then decant into a spray bottle. Spritz this blend around places where you lounge, as well as near windows and doors, to deter flies from congregating there.

A mix of lemongrass oil and water is equally effective, reports . The same sugary solution devised to ward off flies can also be adapted to aid bees in distress, with one simple alteration.

Omit the washing-up liquid and stir together sugar and water to assist heat-exhausted bees. Gardeners World has shared: "It's not uncommon to find bumblebees at an apparent standstill appearing tired, particularly in winter or in inclement .

"To get them back on their feet, you can mix a sugar solution by mixing equal parts warm water and sugar.

"Place near the bee's head in a bottle cap or something similar, and it should stick out its proboscis to drink, energise and warm up."

Gardeners are advised to use the sugar water trick sparingly, targeting it at specific bees rather than leaving it out constantly, as this can actually be more detrimental than beneficial.

The RSPB stated: "It's common to find tired bees on pathways, walls and places you wouldn't expect.

"In these instances, a simple concoction of approximately two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water left on a spoon or in an eggcup can provide a much-needed boost for hardworking bees.

"It's crucial to refrain from leaving out honey, or large containers of sugar water as these simply do not constitute viable long-term solutions for bees."