You can't get very far on a garden blog without finding an article on coffee grounds. This DIY addition is one of the most common gardening hacks and also one of the most talked about. Our experience is that using coffee grounds in garden spaces is a fantastic way to stimulate plant growth. Plus, you don't need a compost bin to put small amounts of coffee grounds in your garden and container plants. As long as they are brewed, this additive can be used as it is.
There is a wealth of misinformation on the internet about coffee grounds. There are videos and articles claiming that uncomposted coffee is too acidic, high in nitrogen, and dangerous to your plants. That makes us laugh because coffee grounds can be a valuable and safe resource in the garden. If you don't believe us, try it for yourself!
Myths about coffee grounds
Using coffee grounds in garden beds can be a good thing. Source: Steve Snodgrass
Before we get into all of the reasons we love coffee grounds, let's dispel a few myths. Here are the most common misconceptions about used coffee grounds.
Coffee grounds do not make the soil pH more acidic. Sorry, but they're not a panacea for your azaleas and blueberries, or even the mild acidity that tomato plants enjoy. While unused coffee grounds are somewhat acidic, used coffee grounds have a neutral pH value. The acid that is originally found in coffee grounds is water-soluble, so it ends up in your coffee instead of the used coffee grounds.
The caffeine in coffee grounds won't harm your plants. Most of the caffeine ends up in the cup when brewing coffee. The used coffee grounds leave about 5 milligrams of caffeine per gram (for comparison: an 8-ounce cup of coffee contains 95 milligrams of caffeine). So as long as you brew the coffee grounds properly beforehand and only lightly dust them, the caffeine content is too low to harm the plants.
Coffee grounds do not repel snails. We can see where this myth comes from. Slugs and slugs are often deterred by rough textures, like diatomaceous earth, which cut into their soft bodies, essentially dehydrating them and dying them. Although coffee grounds are coarse in texture, they're not rough enough to deter these pests. Snails are also deterred by caffeine, but as mentioned earlier, depleted soil doesn't contain enough to have a big impact.
Fresh coffee grounds are not a nitrogen fertilizer. They can contain 2% nitrogen, but coffee grounds do not provide the soil with any appreciable amounts of nitrogen as fertilizer. When adding coffee grounds directly to nitrogen-loving plants, supplement the soil with a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
Benefits of using coffee grounds in the garden
Like any fertilizer, coffee grounds provide nutrients and other trace elements in the soil that can promote plant growth. Just some of the nutrients that depleted soils provide are phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. In addition to providing nutrients, an application of ground coffee can also remove toxic metals from the soil. In fact, this organic material is so good that studies have been carried out on the use of fresh soil to treat contaminated water!
So that the soil can store moisture without being watered down, it must consist of variable particle sizes. Gardeners often build that up good soil structure with compost and other green materials. Coffee grounds will do the job too, and just as well as most other organic matter! However, in order to really improve the soil texture, the soil used should be mixed in instead of just being laid on the soil surface … but more on that later.
We may love the smell of morning coffee, but garden pests certainly don't. According to anecdotal evidence, the smell is strong drives away some pests like mosquitoes, fruit flies and fleas. Caffeine is also a natural pesticide, so uncooked soil can deter other pests if used sparingly.
The use of coffee grounds can also discourage most cats from using your flower beds as a litter box. It should be noted that cats should not consume caffeine, even the small amounts found in used beans. So be careful of kittens in your yard with an unconventional appetite.
Use coffee grounds in your garden
Any excess coffee grounds can be composted before using the garden. Source: alumb
Start by collecting used coffee grounds. I like to have a small container next to my coffee pot so I don't forget to keep it. If you're not a big coffee drinker, you can ask a local coffee house about used coffee grounds. They go through a lot and usually enjoy sharing.
The type of roast you use doesn't matter. Whether you drink blonde or espresso, these coffee beans all come from the same Coffee plant. However, you don't want to mix coffee grounds with used tea leaves or other leftover food. These are best used in the compost bin.
How much to use
Probably the reason for the confusion about whether or not coffee grounds are good for plants is because the danger lies in the dose.
Too much fertilizer or additive in the soil has a negative impact on vegetable gardens, and coffee is particularly moody. Large amounts of used coffee grounds can build up too many of the same nutrients and overload the plants. Just as dangerously thick layers of coffee grounds condense and become hydrophobic, which means that the water required for plant growth is lost. When this organic matter dries up, it is also very difficult to rehydrate.
The amount of coffee grounds varies depending on the current soil structure and the water requirements of the garden plants. However, it also means that large amounts of coffee grounds are a great way to kill all of the weed growth in an area. You won't get any useful plant growth either!
How to apply coffee grounds
Strategically add coffee grounds to your vegetable garden. While drinking coffee in the morning, sprinkle coffee grounds directly on the floor. For larger quantities, work into the soil and layer compost, grass clippings, dried leaves, leaf mold or other organic materials on top. While coffee grounds are a good green material in compost, they shouldn't be used on their own Mulch.
As with any fertilizer, you will need to reapply the soil to the garden soil every few months. However, always assess the soil first so you don't mess up the texture.
Compost coffee grounds
If you want to put your fresh coffee grounds in a full compost heap, we have a complete guide here. Coffee grounds are considered green compost material and must therefore be combated with brown compost material. You also have the option of composting unbrewed coffee grounds for the green category, although you need to be aware of the added caffeine. It's beneficial for some acid-loving plants, but some ornamental and vegetable plants don't appreciate the stimulant in their soil.
Caffeine or not, worms love coffee grounds, so they are a great addition to a garden Worm box. Lastly, if you're using coffee grounds as green compost material, you can throw in the paper coffee filters with that! A paper filter is usually a brown compost material, so it perfectly complements the soil in the compost heap.
frequently asked Questions
It can be beneficial to deplete your free resources like coffee grounds. Source: Marcy Leigh
Q: What plants like coffee grounds?
A: Using coffee grounds that have not been brewed works well with the most extreme, acid-loving plants. Used coffee grounds, on the other hand, are pH-neutral and do not have the same effect on the soil. For this reason, they can also be used on other plants that prefer a neutral, balanced fertilizer.
Q: Which plants don't like coffee grounds?
A: Used coffee grounds are a benefit in increasing soil moisture, so garden plants that grow in drier conditions will not tolerate them well. These include orchids, succulents, and drought tolerant species.
Q: is it good to put coffee grounds in your garden?
A: Yes, as long as you use scalded soil and only apply a thin layer or mix into the topsoil. Or you can use coffee grounds as the green material in your compost or worm bin. Your garden plants will appreciate the essential nutrients!
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