Coffee as fertilizer: 6 uses of coffee grounds in the garden
Content:
The benefits of coffee cake
Coffee cake is rich in nitrogen. In addition, it also contains potassium, phosphorus, copper and nitrogen, which are essential for plants. The benefits of coffee cake: enriches the soil with microelements; protects plants from pests; improves soil structure; attracts rainfall, which has a beneficial effect on the soil; saves on chemicals.
But in what form to use coffee: fresh or asleep? For feeding, only sleeping coffee grounds, washed with clean water and dried, are suitable. This powder, unlike freshly ground coffee, does not contain acid, which can change the acidity of the soil.
Ways to use coffee grounds in the garden
As a fertilizer. Of course, coffee cannot be compared with conventional fertilizers, but you can get a beneficial effect from it. With its help, the biological activity of the soil can be increased. Coffee is used as a source of nitrogen, which contains about 2%. However, it is not capable of completely replacing nitrogen-containing fertilizers, since the coffee plant will decompose for a long time, which means that the elements are released slowly.
As compost... After rinsing the coffee grounds in water, it is thrown into the compost heap. Together with it, you can throw out coffee filters made of paper. Once the pile is crumbly, it can be used as compost for plant benefits. It is also best to add other “ingredients” to the compost heap, such as straw, grass cuttings or tree debris. There should be no more than 20% of the coffee plant in the compost, otherwise the heap will not rot.
Mulch. Many gardeners use coffee grounds as mulch. For plants and soil, it is not harmful, but even useful, as it attracts earthworms. But the downside to coffee grounds is that they can grow moldy. To avoid this, the grounds are washed with clean water and dried before use.
To improve soil quality... If the soil is light, poorly permeable to moisture and air, then you need to improve its structure. To do this, you can add coffee grounds to the soil. Then she will breathe better and let water and air pass through.
For growing greenery... If you fill a container with a coffee substrate, then you can try growing greens in it.
How to protect against pests and cats... Sprinkling coffee grounds between the plants will help protect them from slugs and snails. Truth as the main means of fighting pests, coffee is unlikely to help. Often, cats use the beds for their needs. But if they are well seasoned with coffee grounds, then its smell will scare away pets.
Effect of cake on soil acidity
It is believed that coffee can increase the acidity of the soil, which means it is only suitable for those plants that need a lower pH. These include conifers, rhododendrons, heathers, etc. But this is not the case. Coffee will acidify the soil only if it is used fresh. Sleepy ground coffee has a neutral reaction (pH over 6.5).