How to Use Coffee Grounds As Soil Conditioner

You may have seen your local coffee shop giving away used coffee grounds for free to use in your garden. According to www.wholelattelaove.com, "coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, making them a perfect soil conditioner and a great complement to your compost pile." Used coffee grounds are a great way to condition your soil without having to spend any money. Not only will it save you some pennies, it also promotes eco-friendly living by reusing a product that would other wise end up in a landfill.

Things You'll Need

• Used coffee grounds
• Dirt
• Shovel

Instructions

Use Directly in Garden

1. Acquire coffee grounds. Use your own used coffee grounds or go to your local coffee shop and pick up some free used grounds to use in your garden.

2. Sprinkle the used coffee grounds directly on top of the soil. Do not completely cover the top of the dirt with the coffee. Instead sprinkle it so that it is a mix of dirt and coffee exposed to the air.

3. Lightly water the coffee grounds to slowly release nitrogen into the soil. Every time it rains, your soil will be replenished with the minerals and nitrogen from the coffee.

4. Apply used coffee grounds every month to maintain a good supply of nutrients.

Use a Dirt/Coffee Mixture for Planting

1. Mix 1/4 parts of used coffee grounds with 3/4 parts of dirt. Place the coffee grounds on top of the dirt and use a shovel to properly mix the coffee and dirt properly.

2. Dig a hole where you will be planting. Throw a little of the dirt/coffee mixture in the bottom of the hole. Place the plant in the hole and use the dirt/coffee mixture to fill in the hole.

3. Lightly water every other day to allow the new plant to find its rooting and absorb the nutrients from the coffee.

References

• Whole Latte Love: Coffee Grounds
• Seattle Pi
• Starbucks: Compost

Resources

• Sustainable Enterprises