If you’re a home gardener, here are three ways coffee grounds can benefit your plants.
Throwing old coffee grounds down the sink can lead to plumbing problems and throwing them in the trash will cause them to end up in a landfill, where they will emit greenhouse gasses, such as methane. And we don't want that. So, what is the best way to dispose of them?
In short, either in your compost or put them on the plants in your garden or window box. Here's why:
Soil Fertiliser: Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper. That means when you add them to your garden, they help nourish the soil. These elements and minerals also improve drainage, water retention, and aeration, providing a perfect environment for microorganisms and plants.
Pest Deterrent: Coffee grounds at deterring pests slugs, rabbits, fire ants, cats, and snails.
Attract Earthworms: The minerals and elements in the coffee help attract these creatures to your garden and are essential to making it thrive. Worms are a gardener’s best friend as they help aerate the soil which makes room for water and air. Their poop - known as vermicastings - also enriches the soil.
Helpful Advice: Before sprinkling coffee grounds over your garden make sure to rinse them first - thus avoiding making your garden too acidic. On top of that, avoid adding coffee grounds at random. Do some research to check which plants can benefit from coffee grounds and which can’t.
If you aren’t into coffee but want to give your garden an extra boost, why not contact a local coffee shop? With all those cups of coffee cafes make every day, they discard a lot of coffee grounds. Many will give them away for free.
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