How to use coffee grounds in the garden
You take your daily cup of coffee without probably knowing that you have a fabulous source of organic matter for your plants in your hand. Yes, you read that right! Indeed, the residues of the infusion of black seeds can find many other applications than the face scrub. Garden coffee grounds can make your flowers and garden plants happier, and not just because the caffeinated drink gives you more energy for weeding and pruning. So, don’t throw away the grounds! You can make it work. Read on to learn more about ecological gardening!
Garden coffee grounds: how to get the most of its benefits?
Do you throw the coffee grounds in the trash? It turns out that its usefulness doesn’t necessarily end with the last sip from your cup. We have made a list for you of all the applications of the caffeinated substance in gardening. Simple, practical, and rewarding, discover them and put your used coffee leftovers back to work!
Coffee grounds in the compost
There are two types of compost: green and brown. Coffee grounds are part of the green category because it is a material rich in nitrogen. The other green materials are food scraps and grass clippings. All of these ingredients contain magnesium, calcium, potassium, and other trace elements.
You can throw your coffee grounds and paper filters in your green compost bin, but when it comes time to scatter the organic product in the garden, you should mix it with brown compost. The latter is made up of items such as newspapers and dried leaves. The general rule is to have a 4: 1 ratio between the two types of compost. If you have too much green material, your compost pile will start to smell bad. On the contrary, if you do not have enough, the compost pile will not heat up and the fermentation process will slow down.
Coffee grounds as organic fertilizer for plants
The use of coffee grounds is not limited to compost. Many gardeners choose to place it directly on the ground as a plant fertilizer. The advantage of this method of fertilization is that it adds organic matter to the soil, which improves drainage, water retention, and aeration. Coffee grounds also allow microorganisms beneficial to plant growth to develop and attract worms.
Pour two cups of coffee residue into a 20-liter bucket and let sit for six to twelve hours. Use this liquid fertilizer to water and feed your plants through the leaves. On the other hand, the benefits of foliar feeding are the subject of much debate, but as always, let your plants be the guide. If they don’t seem to be doing well after being fed, stop doing so.
Add coffee grounds directly to the soil in your garden. You can coat it in the first couple of inches or just sprinkle it on and do nothing. In small amounts, especially when mixed with dry materials, it gives off its nitrogen. Be careful not to use too much or stack it. Small particles can clump together and create a water-resistant barrier in your garden.
Coffee grounds and tomato growth
Using coffee grounds to grow healthy tomatoes is a good idea for several reasons. This dark material is an important source of nitrogen, which is essential for the development of strong roots and contributes to the development of plant tissues and the production of chlorophyll.
A creative way to plant carrots
One of the most difficult things about effectively planting carrot seeds is making sure the spacing is correct. This simple trick solves this problem while providing an effective pest deterrent and a source of nutrition for your plants.
So, if you are using coffee grounds, you should let them dry before doing this project. Carrot seeds less than three years old should be relatively viable. Older seeds can still work but perhaps with a lower germination rate. Pour a packet of seeds into a cup containing the coffee grounds. Make sure to mix well. Carrots like to be wet before they sprout. So make sure you soak them well after planting them and moisten them every 12 hours until germination.
Tip: Radish seeds are a great companion to carrots. They grow quickly and will be ready to harvest while the carrot seedlings are still very small. In addition, the early germination of radish sprouts will quickly mark your flower beds.
Garden coffee grounds to grow beautiful acid-loving plants
Acid-loving plants can benefit from the effect of coffee grounds. Add this to the soil (up to a 50/50 mix!) To stimulate their healthy growth. Among the species to be fertilized using this method are:
- Azaleas
- Beeches
- Begonias
- Blueberry
- Caladium
- Dogwood
- Gardenia
- Holly
- Japanese iris
- Magnolia
- Rhododendrons
- Roses
- Trillium
Coffee grounds combined with eggshells and rainwater also make great compost tea. It can be used to fertilize your plants. It works especially well for camellias, hydrangeas, and roses. Not only will you have healthier species, but you will also save money on store-bought fertilizers and know you are doing “green” gardening.
Blueberries, cranberries, and other citrus fruits like to have coffee grounds (and tea) added to their soil because it helps bring it closer to the 3.0 to 5.0 PH that these crops need.
Use leftover brewed coffee as a mulch
Using mulch in the garden can be beneficial, but many people find the cost too high to turn it into organic matter. Straw and compost can be used as mulch, but few people have tons of it lying around, and compost takes months to create. So it seems that coffee grounds are the perfect solution for gardeners.
When organisms in the soil slowly break down coffee grounds, they release nitrogen and improve the overall structure of the soil. For example, the worms also help push the grounds into the soil, improving its texture. A thin coat of dark powder is not only beneficial but the abrasive and sharp edges and its natural acidity combine to form a good barrier against slugs. However, do not add a thick layer of coffee grounds as it tends to compress and form a solid crust that would not let air or water through. One inch is enough for a good effect.
When you use coffee grounds as a mulch, the pH of the grounds will neutralize as it breaks down, so you don’t have to worry about it lowering the soil’s pH. Mulch is also undoubtedly useful in reducing weed growth and helping the soil retain moisture. So consider adding coffee residue to your existing mulch – but remember not to create a heavy cover around the plants and not to use it around young plants. This is because some specimens may be more sensitive to caffeine, which can prevent their growth.
How do I use coffee grounds in hanging baskets and containers?
Used coffee bean powder is a great slow-release fertilizer for hanging planters. In fact, it’s a secret weapon to keep container plants strong all season long. Add a few tablespoons of coffee grounds to all of your jars and containers every two weeks. To do this, simply sprinkle it on the surface of the earth.
Also, one of the best ways to store natural fertilizer is to put it in a zippered bag in the freezer so that it doesn’t mold.
When the plants are watered, the nutrients from the coffee grounds slowly seep into the soil. As they are absorbed by the roots of the plant, the magic happens.
Use of the organic product in flower beds
As with vegetables in the kitchen garden, coffee grounds can be used when it comes to annual plants in flower beds. A few tablespoons in each planting hole helps to feed the species. And this contributes to the improvement of the soil and its structure every year. Besides the trace elements provided, coffee compost is important for good drainage and to provide air channels in which water and nutrients can circulate.
Additionally, coffee grounds can also be added around the base of each plant as a slow-release fertilizer just like container plants. Then again, every time you water or it rains, the nutrients runoff into the soil.
How to use coffee grounds for perennials, shrubs, and trees?
In fact, coffee grounds can also help you grow healthy perennials, shrubs, and trees. Adding a few tablespoons when planting helps provide nutrients and structure the soil for long-term growth. For larger varieties, just add a few coffee filters and grounds all at once around the planting hole. The filters are biodegradable. As the marc breaks down, it gives beneficial substances to the roots.
How to make lawns grow quickly with garden coffee grounds?
Conventional synthetic fertilizers are great for making your lawn appear extremely quickly, and in the hands of a certified professional, they are acceptable when used under the right circumstances and in a limited way. However, there is a greener alternative and that is coffee grounds. This natural fertilizer provides your lawn with macro-nutrients that, when applied, are immediately accessible and are perfect for a newly seeded lawn.
Repel slugs and snails from the vegetable garden
Create a barrier against slugs and snails. Because coffee grounds are abrasive, an obstacle placed near pest-prone plants can save them from these garden pests. While the reason isn’t obvious, whether it’s the texture of the leftover coffee or the caffeine in it, slimy creatures tend to avoid it at all costs. The same is believed to be true for ants, but there isn’t really any scientific evidence to back it up.
Coffee grounds to feed the worms
Indeed, you can use the coffee grounds as food for the worms if you have a vermicomposter. The worms are very fond of it.
Add coffee residue to your worm container regularly. However, don’t add too much at once, or the acidity could interfere with your worms. One cup of grounds per week for a small bin is the perfect amount.
Coffee grounds also attract beneficial creatures to garden beds. Earthworms perform many functions, turning organic matter into food for plants and increasing the amount of oxygen and water in the soil.
Brown powder against mildew
Coffee grounds also fight downy mildew, a fungal disease that covers tomato plants with lesions before destroying the fruit. This disease is usually combated with fungicides, but leftover coffee is a natural and non-toxic alternative.
Keep cats away from your flower beds
Many creatures are repelled by the smell of coffee, including cats. Scatter coffee grounds around your garden to prevent them from using them as litter.
Warning: Large doses could be harmful to dogs, however, and since it’s hard to tell what the right amount is, it’s best to avoid sprinkling it around your yard if your furry friend likes to chew and eat anything that isn’t. is not nailed.