coffee grounds question
Hannah Cbus (5b/6a)
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (23)
Related Discussions
Coffee Grounds Question
Comments (10)You can spread coffee grounds directly on garden soil. Apparently the acid in coffee beans is almost entirely removed when the coffee is made, and the grounds are nearly neutral in pH. One caution: depending on your local rainfall and/or watering habits, it's possible for a thick layer of UCG (3/4" to multiple inches) to dry out. If it does, it can be difficult to re-wet, like any very dry mulch. And the granular nature of UCG can also encourage surface water to flow off instead of sinking in, when very dry. I haven't had this problem in the three years I've added hundreds of pounds of UCG to my gardens but other posters here who garden in drier climates have mentioned it. If you do run into issues with overly dry UCG, topping off a layer of grounds with fall leaves or a wood chip mulch, or mixing the grounds lightly into the top inch of soil, should fix it. Plus the combination of UCG and fall tree leaves or leaf mold can really work well as a mulch. Earthworms love it. Adding kitchen scraps right on top of a garden may cause problems with rodents and other scavengers, depending on the local wildlife in your neighbourhood. I do it, but usually toss a large green garbage bag of wet UCG on top, then cover with a few inches of leaves, paper, and/or cardboard. The combination of coffee and a thick layer of high-carbon materials seems to hide the scent of decomposing produce. Shame about the problem with breathing around compost. Hope it doesn't interfere with your other garden projects. :) All the best, -Patrick...See Morestarbucks coffee grounds
Comments (2)If you apply the grounds directly, don't apply them too thickly, because they can form a crust and repel water. I'm not sure what constitutes "too thickly" but I usually don't put down more than about 1/4 inch. If you have the room to compost them, they're a good source of N, so they'll offset the C from the tree leaves that are so common these days....See MoreAG Pumpkin and Coffee Grounds question
Comments (5)Thanks Pumpkin man. Will do. Any idea on what ratio of coffee grounds is OK ? I'm sure I can get 100 pounds or so. I was also thinking of buying some earthworms and "seeding" my pumpkin mounds during the soil prep stage this month. What do you think ?...See MoreCoffee grounds question
Comments (11)Coffee grounds have worked well for me where I have used them on Proteas and Anigozanthus. I'd suggest that you stick with cultivars of A. flavidus, which are so much more tolerant of both less than ideal drainage, and regular summer irrigation here in California. You will need to groom them to remove leaves with Black Inkspot diseases, which will especially attack plants that do not have full sun and good air circulation. I haven't found A. flavidus cultivars to be particularly intolerant of light fertilizing with general purpose fertilizer that includes phosphorus, but then we are cooler, wetter and have better water quality here in San Francisco Bay Area than southern California, with high salt Colorado River water as the general supply....See Moregumby_ct
6 years agohummersteve
6 years agogumby_ct
6 years agohummersteve
6 years agogumby_ct
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agojosephg2
6 years agogumby_ct
6 years agohummersteve
6 years ago
Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN9 Questions to Ask When Planning a Kitchen Pantry
Avoid blunders and get the storage space and layout you need by asking these questions before you begin
Full Story
DOORS5 Questions to Ask Before Installing a Barn Door
Find out whether that barn door you love is the right solution for your space
Full Story
MOST POPULAR8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer
Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start
Full Story
COFFEE WITH AN ARCHITECTA Quiz for Architects in Question
Should you trade in your T-square for a barista tray? Answer a few simple questions to find out
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESNo Neutral Ground? Why the Color Camps Are So Opinionated
Can't we all just get along when it comes to color versus neutrals?
Full Story
GROUND COVERSGround Force: 10 Top Ground Covers for Your Garden
Protect your soil from weeds and drought this summer with a living mulch of ground covers
Full Story
Today's Question: TV Fireplace Dilemma
Should the TV Go Above the Fireplace — or Not? Have Your Say!
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDES13 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself Before Tackling a Renovation
No one knows you better than yourself, so to get the remodel you truly want, consider these questions first
Full Story
FEEL-GOOD HOMEThe Question That Can Make You Love Your Home More
Change your relationship with your house for the better by focusing on the answer to something designers often ask
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDESConsidering a Fixer-Upper? 15 Questions to Ask First
Learn about the hidden costs and treasures of older homes to avoid budget surprises and accidentally tossing valuable features
Full StorySponsored
Fairfax County's Specialized, Comprehensive Renovations Firm
More Discussions
hummersteve