Benefits of coffee in the garden
Coffee has many benefits, and it’s not just the famous morning stimulant. Due to the abundance of nutrients, you can also use ground coffee as a garden fertilizer. However, you should always use pure coffee grounds without added sugar, artificial sweeteners or other flavorings. The substances in coffee protect plants from pests and provide them with excellent additional nutrition.
High potassium and nitrogen content
The biggest advantage of coffee is its high potassium content, which regulates water content and transport in the plant. Potassium is also a component of many commonly sold fertilizers. But with homemade fertilizer, you don’t have to worry about using too much. It is always suitable in coffee grounds.
Another important and useful substance is nitrogen. Its slow release into the soil has a similar effect as if you fertilized the soil with a long-term fertilizer. Thanks to it, the soil will be lighter and your plants will grow much faster.
Coffee grounds also contain many other minerals (such as magnesium and phosphorus) that are also essential for healthy plant growth.
Coffee grounds for fertilizing cucumbers
If you want to use coffee grounds as a fertilizer, it is enough to let a large amount of it dry well and then sprinkle it around the plants. However, they should never be poured close to plants. You need to leave enough space to the plant. You can also bury ground coffee in the soil when planting new seedlings, but always at least 10 cm from the roots.
Which plants are suitable for coffee?
Coffee as a fertilizer is not suitable for all plants. Use it especially for those who like more acidic and humus soil. Flowers that like this soil include magnolias, begonias, azaleas, hydrangeas and rhododendrons. From vegetables and fruits – blueberries, strawberries, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes.
Great for pest control
Coffee in the garden can be used not only as a fertilizer, but also as an effective protection against pests. Are you bothered by unwanted visitors like snails and ants? The smell of coffee is guaranteed to repel them!
Snails
Snails can do a lot of damage in the garden or flower beds, but even here regular coffee can help. To get rid of them as quickly as possible, brew strong coffee, let it cool and spray it on the leaves and soil around the plants. Such a spray will quickly repel snails. An alternative can be to pour or unground coffee beans in the places where they usually appear.
Ants
To repel ants, it is enough to sprinkle coffee grounds over all their ant tracks and the anthill itself. Due to their unpleasant smell, they will quickly leave.
Mosquitoes also hate coffee
Summer is one of the most popular seasons, especially since we spend most of our time outside, and long sunny days are associated with delicious summer barbecues, parties or just hanging out with friends.
Unfortunately, mosquitoes also love all this fun, and their buzzing and biting can ruin any joyful evening. If you don’t want to use expensive, chemical, and often ineffective store-bought repellents, you’ll love this tip.
An effective way to protect yourself from mosquitoes
My mother told me about this method 2 years ago and since mosquitoes are very active now, I decided to try it.
All winter I carefully collected coffee grounds and dried them so that I could try this tip on our patio in the summer.
Mosquitoes have many olfactory receptors, thanks to which they search (“sniff”) a source of blood. Therefore, they are more sensitive to certain smells. For example, for smoke and other specific smells.
Therefore, the best way to protect yourself from these annoying insects is to ignite dried coffee grounds, which should be mixed with dried and crushed bay leaves.
First, this mixture emits a strong aroma. Second, it produces smoke.
If you decide to sit outside, on an open terrace or balcony, simply place dry coffee grounds with bay leaves on aluminum foil or a plate and light it.
Such a repellent is, of course, completely harmless to humans. By the way, the aroma helps to get rid of not only mosquitoes, but also flies.
Fertilizers for faster growth and richer flowers
Coffee is rich in nitrogen-rich nutrients, which are needed for better growth and richer flower blooms. The gardener himself must take care of incorporating coffee grounds into the garden soil.
Coffee grounds can be added to compost and then incorporated into the soil with it. Another method is to pour the coffee grounds directly next to the plant. However, for people who have a lot of time and like to plan, it is advisable to prepare a biodegradable coffee grounds compost soil from coffee grounds in the spring and plant the seedlings in it.
What else are coffee grounds good for?
A miracle for hydrangeas
Add dried coffee grounds to the soil where the hydrangeas are growing. Coffee is rich in nutrients, such as potassium, nitrogen or phosphorus, but it also contains antioxidants. Therefore, you can use coffee grounds as a fertilizer for garden and potted plants.
Removes fleas from pet fur
Coffee is also a great remedy for dogs. Simply rub a small amount of coffee into your pet’s fur while bathing them. Fleas and other pests that live in fur do not tolerate the smell of coffee and are more easily removed. Be careful not to get the coffee in the animal’s mouth or eyes.
You can also use it as a fertilizer
Coffee has the effect of a commercial fertilizer – it promotes growth and improves the soil with nutrients, so it is generally a very good and useful fertilizer for plants.
Remove unpleasant odors
Place the dried coffee grounds in a bowl and leave in the refrigerator. It neutralizes unpleasant odors in the refrigerator.
Effective against pests
Sprinkle coffee grounds on the surface of the soil around your flower beds. You will scare away unpleasant and uninvited garden gourmands.
