Q. Is it a good idea to
work coffee grounds into soil in flower beds? Does it help?
A. Yes, coffee grounds are good. They add some, but not
all, nutrients needed by plants and improve soil structure for better water
drainage and air movement to the roots. This, in turn, improves plant growth.
all, nutrients needed by plants and improve soil structure for better water
drainage and air movement to the roots. This, in turn, improves plant growth.
Coffee grounds are better if composted first, but adding
them “raw” is one step in helping improve the soil as well.
them “raw” is one step in helping improve the soil as well.
Don’t rely on coffee grounds alone. For instance, don’t go
to your local Starbucks and add 100 lbs. of coffee grounds to a 4 x 8 planter
or raised bed and call soil preparation done.
to your local Starbucks and add 100 lbs. of coffee grounds to a 4 x 8 planter
or raised bed and call soil preparation done.
Adding only coffee grounds is like eating only corn and
expecting to maintain a healthy diet. You need a variety of different foods to
remain healthy. Your garden also needs a variety of healthy ingredients from
different sources for plants to remain healthy.
expecting to maintain a healthy diet. You need a variety of different foods to
remain healthy. Your garden also needs a variety of healthy ingredients from
different sources for plants to remain healthy.
A variety of minerals are needed by plants. Provide this variety
by decomposing a wide variety of things in your garden soil besides coffee
grounds.
by decomposing a wide variety of things in your garden soil besides coffee
grounds.
A very good article was written by Sunset Magazine about
the nutrients in coffee grounds.
the nutrients in coffee grounds.
https://www.sunset.com/garden/earth-friendly/starbucks-coffee-compost-test
Probably the take-home
lesson from this article about coffee grounds is about available nitrogen.
lesson from this article about coffee grounds is about available nitrogen.
There is plenty of nitrogen in raw coffee grounds but
this nitrogen isn’t yet released or available for plants. Releasing this
nitrogen to plants is done through composting or letting it sit in the soil and
“rot” or decompose. That’s what composting is. It’s “controlled rotting”.
this nitrogen isn’t yet released or available for plants. Releasing this
nitrogen to plants is done through composting or letting it sit in the soil and
“rot” or decompose. That’s what composting is. It’s “controlled rotting”.
Other things to add to flower beds in small quantities that
round out available plant nutrients include wood ashes (not ash from coal or a
petroleum sources), finely ground kitchen scraps (use a blender with a little
bit of water to grind up kitchen scraps to a small size), shredded paper with
black, not colored, ink, shredded cardboard, sawdust from wood but not particle
board, leaves and grass clippings.
round out available plant nutrients include wood ashes (not ash from coal or a
petroleum sources), finely ground kitchen scraps (use a blender with a little
bit of water to grind up kitchen scraps to a small size), shredded paper with
black, not colored, ink, shredded cardboard, sawdust from wood but not particle
board, leaves and grass clippings.
When added to garden soil, all these “rot” over time and
release minerals and nutrients. But make sure they are pulverized. The smaller
the pieces, the faster they “rot”.
release minerals and nutrients. But make sure they are pulverized. The smaller
the pieces, the faster they “rot”.
Stop and think about it. Compost piles are mixtures of a
wide variety of things but lumped together and managed so they “rot” faster.
Finished compost makes a soil amendment with a wide variety of plant nutrients.
wide variety of things but lumped together and managed so they “rot” faster.
Finished compost makes a soil amendment with a wide variety of plant nutrients.
The nutrient almost
always in short supply by plants is nitrogen. Animal manure is added compost
because of its high nitrogen content. Vegans use green plant parts which
provides exactly the same kind of nitrogen.