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Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden |
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If you own property when crises suddenly happen that leaves one impoverished, there is remaining the responsibility to maintain, as in "when all you have is lemons... make lemonade", we do with what we know, learn, find, are given, have and can do.
Each time I am required to drive even a short distance, I stop by every single place that sells coffee/tea, because that means "free grounds" that would otherwise go to the landfill and be wasted. Most owners/managers are friendly and willing to give them, but a few can't comprehend the importance and seem to be calculating the idea of "selling the grounds" one day. So, while they are free, take advantage of the opportunity, folks.
During the heat wave we recently all experienced, a record over the last 70 yrs., we all but lost our grass, as well while under water restrictions, which remain until our city water supply is replaced by rain. After tending to other essentials and basic needs, we were able to discover a free "fertilizer" which works, and quickly if done correctly.
Wearing gloves, hand spread the free gathered used coffee/tea grounds all over the grass, especially the "dead" places, like you might when fertilizing with chemicals, but as evenly as possible and slightly heavier than with chemicals.
I chose to do this just before an expected rain, because nothing good happens until the grounds are watered in, and because it is another free resource. One application needed watering in on my allotted day to water because weather reports are often unreliable.
The grounds are considered by gardeners for the compost as being "green" material, containing Nitrogen, a much needed nutrient for all green things. It provides great recycling use of a by-product of our coffee drinking and satisfies the grass because it perked up and is responding after only three days!
I plan to watch for any road/swim pool/fence construction and ask for any left over top soil for the huge cracks left by dryness, AND for low places. Should I be able to find an abundance of soil, I will add a top dressing over the coffee grounds.
There is even a use for the heavier used filter paper, other than in the compost: I stuffed them into the cracks around my foundation. The residual grounds seem to repel pests as well, and since most used grounds have a significant number of used filters to dig out, it helps to close the gaps.
If the coffee/tea is still in lumps as it was originally processed or packaged, the lumps need to be mashed before tossing onto the grass.
I have not over used the free grounds, so I believe the secret is to find the proper balance for whatever you apply it to. For my front yard of approximately 40'x90' feet, it takes about 15 gallons of grounds. I have St. Augustine grass where there is live grass.
It takes about 1 hour of making rounds to the places (restaurants, drive-throughs, bakeries, grills, even larger service stations) that sell coffee within two miles of my home, to gather that. I go two-three times/week, so far, and will continue until bad weather while en route to grocery, discount bread store, post office, bill paying, gas stations, neighborhood recycling center, $.50 movie evening, church, charity, curbside-bulk pickup, storing them in an outside receptacle at home until Spring, if any are left over. This way, I am not wasting gasoline.
I apply a little more around the drip line of our evergreen trees/shrubs, NONE around Fall leaf-losers. (I will do that for them in the Spring. )
I worked in a handful of grounds in a 20" pot of a salvaged Scheffera and two days later the leaves were not only perked WAY up but in four days there were new leaves and very glossy, whereas the old leaves were sparse, leggy stemmed, and dull leafed, a likely reason the previous owner tossed it curbside!
I am making a schedule with merchants who sell breakfast, for eggshells, to save them for me, too, although they require a special day for pick-up, and I cannot know for sure that I will have the gas on those days. It's harder to schedule, but if I can figure it out, it is worth it, also for both grass, garden and many container plants. Less impoverished friends/neighbors have proven to be more helpful, admiring how I keep trying to find ways, with God's grace and help to live within my "frugal" means.
God bless our frugal living and Thriftyfun.
By Lynda from TX
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RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
I don't drink coffee, but the people at my workplace do. They were happy to save the grounds for my garden! That way you can help your workplace be "green", as well as your plants.
Cantate
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RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Finally someone like me. Thank you for all your tips. My husband thinks im crazy for asking people for the leftover eggshells and coffee grounds or anything else i might find useable. Thanks again for renewing my faith in mankind to save our planet.
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Request: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
I found some unused bags of ground coffee from several years ago in the back of a cabinet. I don't want to use them for brewed coffee to drink. I know there are many uses for USED coffee grounds, but do they have to be used? Can I use them unbrewed or will it be to acidic for the yard or garden?
Kristen from Austin, TX
Answers:
RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Coffee grounds are useful for absorbing odors as well. For instance, when I had a musty smelling chest of drawers that I had purchased at an auction, I put a dish of coffee grounds in it to absorb the odors. It worked quite well. I have never used coffee grounds in the garden, but my opinion on that is that they would be just fine as they are from the package. I would assume that people don't use fresh ones simply because of the cost. (11/13/2007)
By louel53
RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Put some in the fridge. Works as well as baking soda in absorbing odors. (11/13/2007)
By kinga
RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
I have used them on my rhododendrons (the leftover coffee in the pot) and on my tomatoes and they all did great. I've always used them after I perked the coffee but if you think it is too strong before brewing, maybe you can just soak them in water. Just a thought. Coffee doesn't last that long in my house (and it is only me) so I never have had unused grounds.
LI Roe (11/15/2007)
By LI Roe
RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Probably not too acidic for our Texas soil which is on the alkaline side, but you might consider composting it with other materials to allow the acid to leach out and redistribute more evenly. Yuska in San Antonio (11/15/2007)
By Yuska
RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
I don't know for sure, I've always used already brewed grounds. I would mix them with some soil that can later be put in the garden or a little way out from the plants. Then they can be raked nearer the plants after they have been out a while, they will "brew" so to speak and should be safe to put right on the garden. Also leftover brewed coffee (no sugar or cream, just black) is great for houseplants and garden plants. (11/16/2007)
By ThriftyFun
RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
I don't know for sure, I've always used already brewed grounds. I would mix them with some soil that can later be put in the garden or a little way out from the plants. Then they can be raked nearer the plants after they have been out a while, they will "brew" so to speak and should be safe to put right on the garden. Also leftover brewed coffee (no sugar or cream, just black) is great for houseplants and garden plants.
You could mix the grounds up with a lot of water, then water the garden with them. (11/16/2007)
By ThriftyFun
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RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
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Post By kim (Guest Post)
(12/14/2006)
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I'm doing a science project on how coffee grounds will make a plant grow better or if a leading brand name such as MiracleGrow will work better. I was also wondering if I should use an example of grass or a rose and which would make better results. So if you just make an even layer of used coffee grounds around the plant and use some soil to cover it up, will i have results? Or do i need water? I hope this works!
Editor's Note: Here's a good link about using coffee grounds from Starbucks: http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/compost.asp
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RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Question.... are we talking about coffee ground unsused... or they already been used to make coffee.... then recycle in the garden???
I just notice Wifezilla post... that answers my question... used coffee grounds .... thank you
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RE: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
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Post By Lynda (Guest Post)
(09/26/2006)
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Y E S !!! IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, COFFEE GROUNDS HAVE TRULY BLESSED MY GRASS, MY TREES/SHRUBS/ROSES/HOLLIES/CHERRY LAUREL/CHINESE PRIVET/BOXWOOD/CLEYERA/JUNIPER/LIROPE/JASMINE/PALMS/EVERGREEN OAKS/SCHEFFLERA/CORN PLANT (not the vegetable, but house plant)/ GARDEN COMPOST...B U T .....I understand C L E A R L Y that they aren't for ALL plants, because many prefer
ordinary or sandy soil. I am just SO-o-o-o amazed
at how much they perked/greened up out of gratitude? LOL. Keep in mind that the coffee grounds are considered NITROGEN, which stimulates growth, so don't forget to add compost or reg. fertilizer to your plants occasionally, also. Watch the plant. I plan to have an emergency "back-up water"
of BATH SOAP to "neutralize" any root system that
might get over acidic. However, there is so much
alkalinic Chlorine added to our city water and so little rain water here, that our poor plants seem to be starving for a drink of acidic COFFEE!!! LOL Sound
familiar? I don't drink coffee much, only decaf, because I know the addiction I had when I did. Now
I am MUCH more careful so I don't get that coffee
caffeine headache like I used to have. Someone said the grounds will mold if you store wet grounds
too long, so just take what you can use and get what you need along the way from stores. Coffee won't be
going out of favor anytime soon. Thank you, God, for such a wonderful free additive for our gardens and for giving us YOUR wisdom as to how best to use it!! God bless you all in your watchfulness over His Creation.
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Request: Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
I have several small flower beds around my home. I also use a Lot of coffee. Are there any suggestions for using the grounds from coffee to nourish my dirt, other than building a compost pile? Small yard/ close neighbors leaves no room for smelly leftovers.
Answers:
Roses and Azaleas
You can sprinkle coffee grounds around roses or azaleas and gently work into top of soil. Coffee grounds are great for any acid loving plants, BUT be sure the plants DOES benefit from added acid.
- Dani (03/05/2003)
By ThriftyFun
Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
When I was working at a local hospital I noticed that the coffee shop at the main entrance would toss out their leftover coffee (not just the grounds) on the roses outside when they were closing for the evening. The plants were always in good health and had a plethora of blooms. (03/05/2003)
By O-mama
For Beautiful Roses
Save your coffee grounds. I save my coffee grounds and place them around my rose bushes. Ashes from your fireplace, also works wonderfully for beautiful roses.
By slacroix (03/12/2005)
By ThriftyFun
Evergreen Bushes
Coffee grounds are great for any type of evergreen bushes. I always take my leftover coffee and grounds and pour the liquid and bury the grounds around the base of the trees. (03/13/2005)
By SueBee
Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Coffee grounds can be used just to improve the garden soil. Also if you dig in leaves in the garden, add the coffee grounds with the leaves. Can also be sprinkled on lawn. I've never had a problem with too much acid. (03/14/2005)
By gardenway
Acid Loving Plants
I use coffee grounds around acid loving plants holly, evergreens azaleas. I put banana peels around roses. (06/15/2005)
By bjwebb
Free Coffee Grounds
Wow, banana peels huh? Amazing! I have been scattering my home brewed coffee grounds around plants. All seem to be doing well. Last week I realized for the first time that a local starbucks had free bags of grounds. Since last friday I have now taken 5 bags! I am putting them all over my garden, even just to darken the soil and give it that rich look! I do have an 'earth machine' (composter) which I am starting to use again. I have my own mulching machine, so I mulch just about everything and recycle into my own yard. I have some of the best blooms and plants on the block! I am hoping the coffee grounds will benefit my purchased baby redwood tree from Northern California. I lost several already. Only one remains! (08/03/2005)
By chris g/burbank ca
Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
I took an old biscotti jar and placed it next to the coffee maker. We dump the grounds in to it every day and take it to the garden when it is full.
Where I used to work this girl drank black coffee and used to dump her "dregs" into this plant at the end of the day. It was the healthiest plant in the office. Then she switch to herbal tea. That poor plant was never the same. (09/15/2005)
By Wifezilla
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