If you’re a fan of filter coffee, you’re probably in the habit of throwing your coffee grounds in the trash.
However, ground coffee will help you take care of your plants. Before you save your filter coffee grounds for use, keep in mind that you should first let them air dry or put them in a slightly warm oven on a plate. Once dry, put it in a bag and store it in the freezer. It will be ready to use after 3 hours.
Here we show you 10 economic, ecological and practical tips to use ground coffee in your garden.
1. Keep pests away with ground coffee
If your vegetable plants and flower beds are a favorite target for slugs, you can use coffee grounds as a natural repellant. To do this, sprinkle it around your plants. Its strong scent will also repel ants, aphids, nematodes, and flies. Don’t forget to spread it again after heavy rains, and place it around young seedlings to prevent pests from eating them.
2- Use ground coffee to activate the compost
If you have a vermicomposter to break down your organic waste, just add ground coffee to it. This is an ingredient that worms especially like because it facilitates the digestion of the organic matter in the compost. Earthworms are also sensitive to caffeine and break down these plants more quickly when you put coffee grounds at their disposal.
3. To repel cats
To prevent your cat from nibbling on your plants, sprinkle the leaves with ground coffee mixed with a little water, or place some at the foot of your plantings. The smell will be strong enough to repel him, especially if you add a little orange or lemon zest and peel.
4. It is good for enriching the soil with nutrients
Ground coffee is an ideal fertilizer to provide nutrients to your crops and improve soil structure. It acts as a natural fertilizer rich in nitrogen and gives your beautiful plants everything they need to grow. Sprinkle the remains of coffee grounds at the base of your young shoots or incorporate them directly into the soil.
5. Prepare liquid organic compost
To make your own homemade compost, start by taking ground coffee out of the coffee pot filter, then pour 2 liters of water into a large container. Blend for a few seconds and store the mixture for 1-2 days in a cool, dark place. After 48 hours, strain the brew to recover the coffee grounds and pour the remaining solution into a spray bottle. This can be used as a natural fertilizer to water your plants.
6. Ground coffee to attract worms
The coffee grounds residues attract earthworms in charge of transporting them underground. Spreading ground coffee on your soil provides nutrients to your plantations and also serves as food for earthworms. This species of earthworm plays an important role because it promotes soil aeration through its movements.
7. Helps you grow your tomatoes
Many fruits and vegetables do not tolerate ground coffee, but the tomato is one of the plants that benefit from this fertilizer. Sprinkling ground coffee on the roots of this summer vegetable will help you get beautiful red tomatoes thanks to its acidity. You can even add some eggshells to enrich the soil. In addition, it is the ideal alternative to chemical fertilizers.
8. Use it to prevent slipping on driveways during winter
If growing vegetables is not of your interest, this advice is for you. Ground coffee is not only used to optimize plant growth. It is also an excellent ecological substitute for salt to prevent slipping on sidewalks during the winter. In addition to being friendly to the environment, ground coffee acts in the same way as this condiment. On the other hand, it prevents the increase in the salinity rate of water and soil, and therefore the deterioration of ecosystems.
9. Good for growing mushrooms
If you like to have your own garden, you will love this trick. And for good reason, it allows you to grow delicious mushrooms using a natural and inexpensive method. All you need is ground coffee and mycelium (the vegetative part of the fungus). Once you have the ingredients on hand, fill a bag with them and place them in a warm, dark place for 3 weeks. After this time, take the bag outside and start watering it to retain moisture. The first mushrooms should start to appear after about 10 days.
10. Coffee grounds to clean your wooden fences
This ingredient is ideal for easily getting rid of mosquitoes, and they are also an excellent cleaner for wood maintenance, preserving its color and removing small scratches that ruin the surface.
If you have a garden shed or wooden fence that you want to clean naturally, simply mix equal parts white vinegar, water, and coffee grounds in a bowl, and let sit for 1 hour. Then soak a cloth with this mixture and apply directly to the boards. Simply rub for a few minutes to restore its shine.