USING COFFEE GROUNDS IN THE GARDEN
• When adding coffee grounds into the soil, add a little nitrogen fertilizer as well and keep the soil damp. The coffee grounds encourage the growth of microbes in the soil which are nitrogen users. While microbes are breaking down the grounds, the extra nitrogen will provide a source of nutrients for the plants.
• If spreading the grounds on the soil surface, break up any clumps then cover them with a sprinkling of leaves or bark mulch.
• Add grounds to your compost or mulch pile, ideally layering one part leaves to one part fresh grass clippings to one part coffee grounds, by volume. Turn once a week and use after three to six months.
• Keep in mind that un-composted coffee grounds are NOT a nitrogen fertilizer. Coffee grounds have a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of about 20 to 1, in the same range as animal manure. On their own, they need between 3 – 4 months to break down.
• Small amounts of used coffee grounds can be put in worm farms but make sure the grounds are damp and ideally mix in some other worm friendly waste.
• This all helps keep landfill down and plants healthy!
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