We aren’t the only ones who love coffee. As it turns out, your plants and trees can also benefit from this miraculous bean! If you’re looking to find a use for that can of coffee grounds that has been lying untouched inside your kitchen, fear not! In this blog we’ll teach you how to fertilize your plants with coffee grounds.
Coffee grounds offer a rich and natural source of fatty acids and nutrients that, when mixed into your soil, help your plants thrive! They can also help deter pests that are detrimental to your vegetation’s health, including squirrels and rabbits.
However, it’s important to note that this isn’t a blanket solution for all greenery. Coffee grounds are most beneficial to certain types of plants and shrubs, and depending on what you’re applying the grounds to will determine how they are best used.
Know Which Plants Like Coffee Grounds
Some of the plants that can benefit from coffee grounds are:
- Beans
- Corn
- Beets
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Lettuce
- Rhododendrons
- Azaleas
- Camellias
While this list can be heavily expanded, you want to make sure that you’re also educated in plants that do not like coffee grounds. Mixing this natural soil enricher with the wrong plants can inhibit seed germination and even keep your plant from growing. These plants include white clover, inch plants, asparagus ferns, geraniums, Chinese mustard, and alfalfa. Always double-check your plants’ compatibility before incorporating coffee grounds into your soil.
How to Use Coffee Grounds in Landscaping and Gardening
You can use coffee grounds either as a form of mulch or compost! If you intend to use your coffee grounds as a form of mulch, make sure that you measure the ratio properly. Too much coffee grounds can block the aeration of your soil and its water absorption. To prevent this, make sure you use no more than a half inch of coffee grounds topped with another form of organic mulch. Wood chips are an excellent choice.
Compost is another popular option and is an excellent source of nutrients for your plants and shrubs. Combine coffee grounds with grass clippings and raked leaves. The ratio of coffee grounds should be anywhere between 10 to 20 percent for the best results.
Coffee Grounds and Fruit Trees
You can also apply coffee grounds to the base of your fruit tree during its growing season. You just want to make sure you avoid direct contact with the bark. If wet coffee grounds come in contact with the trunk, it can make it more vulnerable to various pests.
Instead, spread about a half-inch layer of old grounds around the base of the tree and mix them into the soil using a sturdy garden rank. The grounds will gradually decompose, releasing beneficial compounds while attracting earthworms and other creatures that will pull the grounds under the soil, promoting aeration and drainage. The odor will also help detract root maggots.
Hire a Professional Team to Help Your Landscape Thrive!
Looking for help gaining and maintaining a healthy, lush, green landscape? Perhaps you’re looking to bring some life to your home or business with a bit of hardscaping? Blue Landscaping and Blue Outdoor Solutions are here to help! Located in Southwest Florida, we currently service Marco Island, Naples, Bonita Springs, and Estero. Simply give us a call at 239-566-BLUE to learn more!