Many Uses for Spent Coffee Grounds (2024)

FAQs

Many Uses for Spent Coffee Grounds? ›

Acidic-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and roses will benefit from a sprinkling of coffee grounds around the base of plants. Vegetable crops that may benefit from coffee grounds include carrots, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, and radishes.

Acidic-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and roses will benefit from a sprinkling of coffee grounds around the base of plants. Vegetable crops that may benefit from coffee grounds include carrots, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, and radishes.

Luckily there's a natural way to keep them out with used coffee grounds. The grounds work as a deterrent for all sorts of bugs including slugs, snails, mosquitoes, fruit flies, beetles, bees, and hornets.

Since coffee grounds have such a pungent and intense smell, mosquitoes do not like to come near it. Mosquitoes are repulsed by all types of coffee, whether it is fresh, used, or burnt. The most effective way to use coffee grounds for mosquito control is by burning them, as it creates a stronger aroma.

Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen. They also have some amount of other nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. Overall, this means that adding coffee grounds to your garden can work fairly well as a fertiliser. Coffee should be spread in a thin layer, rather than being clumped in one place.

Salts: Coffee grounds can contain salts, which can build up in the soil over time and become toxic to plants. Mold: Wet coffee grounds can attract mold, which can be harmful to plants. Caffeine: While caffeine is not toxic to plants in small quantities, it can be harmful if used in large amounts.

Keep Bugs at Bay

It also works for many kinds of worms, snails, slugs and other insects. Put the same kind of line around plants, or mix grounds with hot water, and pour over anthills. This also happens to get rid of fleas, too - though your dog or cat might be offended if you pour coffee all over him!

While coffee grounds are effective at repelling these insects, they do not kill them. That's just a lingering tale from a long time ago. Coffee grounds can drive ants away from their current nest and migrate elsewhere.

Can I put coffee grounds on my lawn? ›

Applying coffee grounds to your lawn is a simple and effective way to give your grass a boost of nitrogen. This can help promote healthy growth and give your lawn a richer, greener color. Just be sure to use coffee grounds properly so that you don't end up with burnt grass.

Coffee grounds have a pungent smell that squirrels hate. Instead of pitching them, you can use your grounds in several ways. You can sprinkle them around your yard, in trees, or in other areas where squirrels are active.

Coffee beans, grounds and brewed coffee contain caffeine, a very dangerous and toxic chemical to cats and dogs. Ingestion can be life threatening. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, a moderate amount of coffee can easily cause death in small dogs or cats.

Coffee grounds can repel mice effectively in a home environment to some extent. While they may not be a foolproof solution, the strong scent can mask the smell of food and other attractants, reducing the likelihood of mice entering the treated areas.

Compost your coffee grounds

This is perhaps the easiest way to avoid putting your coffee grounds in the general waste bin. Used coffee grounds are great for compost as they add nitrogen that helps organic materials break down into mulch and, eventually, nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Tomatoes thrive in loamy soils with good drainage and high organic matter content. Adding composted coffee grounds to planting beds is a great way to build healthy soil for tomato planting but won't provide all the required nutrients.

Are Coffee Grounds Good for Plants? Coffee grounds contain several key nutrients needed by plants, including nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals. These are all nutrients that plants need to grow. The grounds are particularly rich in nitrogen, making them a great addition to compost.

The solution is to mix coffee grounds with other organic matter such as compost or leafmold before using it as a mulch. Alternatively, rake your coffee grounds into the top layer of soil so that they can't clump together. Variable particle sizes is key to good soil structure.

Some gardeners report success in turning their hydrangeas blue by applying coffee grounds to the soil. The coffee grounds make the soil more acidic, allowing the hydrangea to more easily absorb aluminum. In addition, fruit peels, lawn clippings, peat moss and pine needles, are thought to have a similar effect.