(free) coffee grounds: for your garden and other uses

Back when my wife and I moved into our home in the spring of 2011 the front garden beds were very dilapidated.  We weren’t expecting much, since it was a foreclosure, but we knew that there was going to be some work involved if we wanted to boost curbside appeal.  So, my grandma was gracious enough to buy us several one gallon pots of Double Knockout Roses from Home Depot!  They’re drought and disease resistant, and produce twice as many buds as normal.

Little did we know just how easy it would be to take care of them in this unforgiving Texas heat!  After 4 short years of feeding them coffee grounds (as well as pruning them and maintaining a healthy mulch around them) they have blossomed into these incredible works of art.

Coffee grounds are acidic, typically below a 5 on the pH scale, and are the perfect material for plants that require acidity in their soil.  This includes azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons, blueberries, corn, spinach, tomatoes, and of course roses.  When grounds decompose they release nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and other minerals that support plant growth.

Starbucks (and other local coffee shops I’m sure – just ask the manager) has a program called Grounds for Your Garden – they go through so many coffee beans in one day that they offer up this black gold for free to anyone who wants it!  Starbucks benefits by having less waste while we get free plant food and compost material.

You may have to sift through your bag to make sure there’s no trash, but look at how much you get from one morning shift – those are two huge trash bags!  The grounds come packed in pellets, so be sure to break these up before you add them to your compost or garden soil.

When adding grounds to your compost pile try to maintain a healthy ratio of other components, such as grass clippings and leaves – it’s recommended that grounds make up 20% or less of the entire batch, so that the soil doesn’t come out too acidic.

What else can used coffee grounds do for your life?  I’m glad you asked!

• Cleaner: use a spoonful to help scour away grease on a dirty pan.
• Deodorizer: place an open bowl of grounds in your fridge to get rid of nasty smells.
• Exfoliant: wash your face and hands to help remove dead skin.
• Pest-deterrent: spread in gardens to keep out squirrels, rabbits, ants, and slugs.

~david