What to do with coffee grounds?

Anyone know some plants that would benefit from coffee grounds. My husband has been saving them for me, and now I've got coffee grounds galore!

Oh, there's an article, let me find it for you!

This message was edited May 5, 2009 6:19 PM

They are excellent to add to a compost pile, by the way.

They're a nice organic amendment, I think they'd be fine for any of your plants. A lot of people put them around acid-loving plants like azaleas, etc but from what I've read, the brewing process removes most of the acid so the grounds themselves are unlikely to have much effect on your soil pH. So I think you can use them anywhere you need a bit more organic material (which if your garden is anything like mine would be almost everywhere! LOL)

Here:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1501/

Here are some other things to use coffee grounds. Some of you will probably lol, ^_^

Just sprinkle a thin layer of granules over the dirt. Precipitation will release nitrogen from the coffee grounds into the soil. This boosts the plants' ability to develop new growth. For best results, add 2 cups of gounds to soil once a week.

For a tasty marinade, In a bowl, combine 1/3 cup coffee grounds and coarsely ground peper. Coat steaks witholive oli, then rub with the coffee mixture. Refrigerate for 30 mintues before grilling.

Dump 1/2 used grounds down the drain, then follow with 4 cups warm water. Dislodges stuck food and keeps pipes clear.

Marked up wood, steep 2 tbs. coffee grounds in 1/2 cup boiling water for 5 mins. Then dip cotton wab in liquid and apply to nicks.

Keep black clothes looking new, brew 10 cups of strong coffee ( 1/2 cup grounds) then pour into washing machine, add clothes, run through gentle cycle.

"Just sprinkle a thin layer of granules over the dirt. Precipitation will release nitrogen from the coffee grounds into the soil. This boosts the plants' ability to develop new growth. For best results, add 2 cups of gounds to soil once a week."
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What is special about coffee granules that causes them to "release nitrogen" into the soil? If plants aren't getting enough nitrogen, the logical thing to do is add a nitrogen fertilizer. As to adding 2 cups of grounds to soil once a week, does this mean per square inch or per square mile? Where did you hear this advice?

It is an article in a magazine.

I save coffe grounds in a plastic bag. When full, I throw a bit of soil in, close the bag and store outdoors. In the spring I dig it into my garden.

So coffee grounds are organic matter that you add to your garden. Coffee grounds don't have unusual properties that make them a particularly valuable soil additive. Almost any composted plant material would do the same thing that coffee grounds do. If somebody enjoys saving them and so on, then they should do it. It makes just as much sense to save unused lettuce and other vegetables and allow them to decompose and add them to soil. I can't imagine that someone would drink enough coffee to produce enough grounds to make a big issue out of it.

I don't consider it a big issue, geez. I prefer to use things like that instead of buy all those fertilizers and paying big bucks. I even save the water out of my fish pond when I clean it.

I think part of the point of coffee grounds is that they are already practically ready-to-use, as opposed to spreading lettuce leaves on your beds, just spread coffee grounds, and that people (Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, your company coffee machine) are throwing away tons of this ready-to-use, free soil amendment.

Starbucks has a policy of saving grounds for gardeners who ask for them. Around here, I drive past two Dunkin' Donuts on my way to anywhere. Usually they look at me as if I have 2 heads if I ask for the grounds they're about to throw away.

The amount of coffee grounds thrown away is minuscule compared to the amount of plant material thrown away that comes from trimming trees, shrubs and so on, lawn clippings, etc.
If somebody feels good about driving to a Starbucks and carrying out a messy, wet batch of coffee grounds, they should by all means do it. In fact, at a lot of locations a worker will carry the bag to the car for you. You may not want to put the grounds in pot plants on a patio or driveway or near a sidewalk, though, unless you want brown stains everywhere.
I recently did hear about using fish aquarium water! Some gardeners must lie in bed at night coming up with these ideas. Maybe it's in part the "Jerry Baker" effect.

Using organic gardening methods is just a good use of things that would otherwise be thrown away. Some people like organic better than chemical methods. And I expect a lot of folks have laid in their beds while they came up with cures for many diseases. Maybe a bed is the original "think tank," LOL.

Thanks for all the good advice. I will definitely put them to use in my garden. Hate throwing stuff away!

I'm curious. Do you take magazines or newspapers? Do you get junk mail? Do you buy products in packaging, such as cereal in boxes or ice cream in cartons? Do you never thrown any of that away?

Maybe I should be more clear.....I hate throwing away things that can be composted and beneficial to both my vegetables and flowers. I figure I get a cup of coffee and compost/fertilizer. 2 for the price of 1.

Lynn61--I "recycle" lots of things into my garden too, including coffee grounds, and it really does make the plants happy :-} And actually, those newspapers dp72 mentioned do make good mulch.

I don't think it matters WHAT it is - coffee grounds are merely one example. The total mass of compostable material thrown away per household each week is pretty impressive once you start diverting it to the compost piles. We maintain three 4'x4'x4' bins on our property and every suitable scrap and piece of paper adds to the finished product. We have 51 deciduous trees on the property, so those leaves are our basic raw material, but it doesn't make sense to toss coffee grounds, scrap paper or other good composting material when you need it in the garden - IF you have the means and space to maintain healthy compost areas! Everything is relative, and no one has the "best" answer, much less the only answer!

dp72 Why the sarcasm stated in your post above to Lynn61? I'm glad to read other people composting, whatever it is. You should follow mocatmom actions instead of criticizing what other gardeners do. She is saving her town from more dsposed garbage.

I use kitchen scraps with coffe grounds in my garden also.

blomma, you go ahead and do your thing. I'm behind you all the way. I just wonder if your garden doesn't get stepped on by dogs and cats or racoons and skunks going after those kitchen scraps. I'm sure you have it all worked out, though.
Since you asked, the reason I've stuck with this needlessly long thread is that sometimes a mystique builds up around a soil additive that assumes it has a much more beneficial effect than it actually does. Coffee grounds is one example. More bandwidth has been used extolling its valuable properties than it deserves. Vegetable peelings or watermelon rinds or rotten tomatoes add organic matter that is just as useful as coffee grounds. And how many people brew enough coffee that even if they use every particle in the garden is going to make a great deal of difference? I think the reason the coffee grounds mania got started because somebody started saying on the internet that they add acid to a soil mix. (Depending on your soil analysis, that could be good or bad.) Then that balloon got deflated when scientists said that brewing coffee removes almost all the acid, so the grounds are pretty pH neutral. The myth lives on, however, repeated endlessly on one gardening forum after another, that coffee grounds are a near-magical soil additive, and that's just not true. And even if it WERE true, the average family just doesn't consume enough coffee to produce enough grounds to make any significant difference in their garden anyway.

dp72
blomma, you go ahead and do your thing. I'm behind you all the way. I just wonder if your garden doesn't get stepped on by dogs and cats or racoons and skunks going after those kitchen scraps. I'm sure you have it all worked out, though.

There you go again with sarcasm. I have heard how rude you are. Now I believe it. You sound like a very unhappy person.

Just to relieve your mind, dogs are tied up, no racoons and skunks in middle of town, a stray cat once in awhile, but my stuff isn't on their favorite menu, and it is all contained in a plastic bread bag with a handful of soil and tied closed.

And guess what, my worms love it!

Now go fly a kite


This message was edited May 7, 2009 12:58 AM

dp72 does seem to enjoy nit-picking. I've seen him/her do this in other threads. He/she is apparently one of those who can't "live and let live." For those of us who understand the virtues of composting, lets just enjoy our own gardening methods and dp72 can do whatever makes him/her happy.

No problem with marauding skunks/dogs/cats - there are a large number of methods for closed and open composting, and all of them provide solutions to prevent this from occurring. If you're interested in researching how it's done, there's a forum at DG and millions of references online - very educational.

One huge problem remains unresolved, though - throwing junk mail in the compost pile. I strongly suspect my squirrels have been reading it and are ordering Snugglies and Stairmasters with my discarded credit card offers. I need to start shredding first.....

ROFL on those sneaky little squirrels mocatmom! Can't trust anyone anymore. Next thing you know, they'll be stealing your recycled coffee grounds to make coffee to drink while they're perusing through your junk mail :-}

NatureLover1950 - THANK YOU!!!! Dang - I've been scratching my head trying to figure out what's been happening to all the coffee grounds...those little varmints have been "liberating" them from the compost pile!

I'm tired of spending time on this topic, but I do need to ask exactly what I said that leads you to think I'm against composting. My main point has been that the value of coffee grounds over other organic matter is vastly overrated and that these ideas take on a life of their own and mushroom through forums such as this one. Coffee grounds are a suitable addition to a compost heap. The fact is, however, that there just isn't that much bulk coffee grounds in the U.S. to make a lot of difference. Leaves are just as good and thousands of times more plentiful. Watermelon rinds. Potato peelings. Now I'm talking BIG quantities, not tablespoonsful. To feel self-righteous "I'm saving the planet because I recycle my coffee grounds" is just plain silly.

As high as coffee is here...I'm more than happy to put the grounds in my composte pile!

dp72 If you are tired of this topic, why just not get the heck out of this thread. You just like to nitpick. You are turning a small "issue" into a mountain of issues, which is stupid. Don't you have something better to do, like start a garden. And don't forget to add the coffee grounds.

There should be an "ignore" feature where we can click it and never have to see any posts from that person again...

But you all keep replying, and want the last word, don't you? Turn your criticisms back toward yourself.

Please don't turn this site into 'Every Other Site On The Internet"

I am a new gardener. Practically green...except for my thumb. This is my second season at attempting to grow plants and flowers. There are so many people here that are willing to step in and help me when I ask questions. Simply put...I come here to learn about gardening...not arguing. I already know how to argue...and I think it looks even more childish in a Gardening Forum than it does in an AOL Chat Room!

I garden to relax. Please do not take that away from me.

Lisa

O.K. everyone--the "IGNORE" button has just been hit. This is the last word. Let's get back to our enjoyable conversation about coffee grounds :-}

Hi, NoGreenThumb! Welcome, and I hope you're enjoying gardening - we're all still learning, no matter how many years some of us have been puttering around. I just wanted to make a point that new gardeners with questions don't have to just post and hope for a response - any of the "regulars" in answering questions on the Beginning Gardeners Forum would welcome a D-Mail if you think someone might be able to help you. If they can't answer your question(s), they might know someone else who can.

This is a good group of folks and - believe it or not - we do have a pretty good sense of humor and enjoy trying to help each other. Come on in, the coffee's brewing!

Well said, mocatmom! We hope you'll hang around and get to know us better, NoGreenThumb :-}

Naturelover 1950 Well stated. I too hit the IGNORE button.

I'd like to add to this thread that I started out with very poor soil. When we built our house about 5 years ago, the ground was bulldozed down by approx. 20 feet so I had NO topsoil left to work with. I've been adding all the compost matter I can get my hands on to my veggie garden. I've been adding all of our coffee grounds plus those of some friends to my compost bin and the final product goes into my garden. I've heard earthworms are fond of coffee grounds. This year, for the first time, I've found several earthworms in my garden :-} So it looks like it really does work.

NL1950, Worms like any organic material. They are one of the natures best aireators as they move through the soil. If your soil is compacted you can help by going to a local bait shop and buying a dozen or so night crawlers. Turn them loose in the yard or garden late in the evening they will do the rest in short order. You can also add them to the compost bins and they will speed up the process.

Sitting here with my second cup of coffee for the morning...thinking about coneflowers!

Thanks Ladies...:)

Hi gcorrier,
I appreciate the advice. I had planned to add some worms to my garden this year but we're getting hubby ready for a knee replacement and I just keep forgetting about those worms :-{ I need to run to town tomorrow so, since you reminded me, I think I'll stop somewhere and buy some. This year it's been all I could do to get everything planted before his surgery which, BTW, is coming right up on the 20th of this month.

NoGreen,
LOL, still thinking about those coneflowers? Be careful, you'll be buying more :-}