Gardening 101: Reusing Coffee Grounds in the Garden
How to Use Coffee Grounds in your Garden
Delicious when brewed with water over ice or served hot, the grounds left behind will inevitably end up in the trash. But what if there was a more useful way to dispose of your used coffee grounds? Turns out, if you’re a gardener (novice or experienced) there are many ways you can put coffee grounds to good use! Coffee grounds are a great source of organic matter that not only helps your garden grow but can ward off harmful pests and much more! Fiorentino’s Farm Market in Hammonton, NJ provides 6 useful ways you can repurpose and reuse coffee grounds in your home garden.
6 Useful Ways to Repurpose Coffee Grounds in your Garden
Fertilizer: Add the grounds directly to the soil as a slow-releasing fertilizer. Brewed coffee grounds have a very low acidity level, so you don’t have to worry about it altering the soil’s pH level.
If you’re worried about clumping, make a ground coffee “tea” for a liquid fertilizer. Simply add 2 cups of used coffee grounds to a 5-gallon bucket with water. Let the mixture seep overnight, pour into a bottle and spray it directly onto the soil, leaves and stems.
Feed the Worms: Whether you have a worm bin or you rely on the earthworms in your soil, they love coffee grounds! Using the grounds will make your garden more attractive to these essential insects.
Keep Pest Bugs Away: Use the coffee grounds to create a barrier against slugs and snails. Since the grounds are abrasive, the barricade can protect your slug-prone plants.
Mix with Existing Mulch: Mulch helps to reduce weed growth and retain moisture in the soil. Adding coffee grounds can help to further lock in soil’s moisture and create a barrier to prevent weeds. Be sure not to create a thick blanket, which can create an unhealthy water-resistant barrier.
Compost Companion: Grounds are a nitrogen-rich green material in the same category of food scraps and grass clippings.
Repels Animals: Cats are actually repelled by coffee! Scatter the grounds in your garden to prevent them from using it as their personal litter box.
As a local farmers market, Fiorentino’s Farm Market is dedicating to promoting eco-friendly ways to reuse and recycle scraps and food including Christmas Trees and Halloween Pumpkins. For more ways to lessen your impact on the earth, learn easy ways to reduce food waste in your home or fresh herb storage & preservation guide.