If you’re hoping to have your garden bursting full of vibrant colours in time for summer, then this peculiar hack might just help. While your local garden centre will have plenty of fertilisers ready to go, this slightly more DIY version is said to yield incredible results but, warning; it might come with a strong smell.

The surprising trick was shared in a list of the top 20 most unusual gardening hacks in Australia. All of the tips are somewhat unorthodox, but perhaps the most surprising is burying fish heads under plants. The list said the heads are perfect fertilisers for your plants.

“After a successful fishing trip, bury the fish heads in your garden,” it explained.

“They're rich in nutrients and make excellent fertilisers.”

Another person also took to Reddit to share how using fish heads in their garden had proven a success, with an image showing their flourishing tomato plants.

The person said they decided to give the smelly hack a go after a “family rumour” that his great-uncle used fish heads to help grow tomatoes.

“Our plants are way bigger so far this year compared to last year,” the Reddit user said, explaining a plant that wasn’t planted with fish heads didn’t grow as well.

Home and lifestyle magazine and website Better Homes and Gardens Australia said the unusual technique is, in fact, a very old tradition of Native Americans.

It explained how as the fish break down and decompose, they release three nutrients key for plant growth — nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

It added that by planting it deep into the ground, the important nutrients are absorbed into the soil and roots, not just the plants, making it incredibly effective.

Using the classic Aussie food staple Vegemite as a fertiliser and watering plants with beer, were some of the other tips included in Australia’s top 20 most unusual gardening hacks shared by Airgarden.