• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Recycling Coffee Grounds in Your Garden

Put coffee grounds and filters to work improving your garden’s beauty and productivity. 

Recycle these morning discards in your compost pile or worm bin. Or occasionally sprinkle the grounds on the soil surface of your indoor and outdoor container and in-ground gardens.  In addition, you’ll have fewer slugs since caffeine is reported to repel and even kill slugs.

But moderation is just as important in the garden as it is in your own diet.  Coffee grounds contain allelopathic chemicals that can inhibit the growth of certain plants.  But once the grounds are fully decomposed there is no need for concern. 

And be careful when adding large amounts of coffee grounds.  They can temporarily tie up nutrients in the soil.  So, play it safe and dig them into the garden in fall with shredded leaves and herbicide-free grass clippings, add them to the compost pile or feed them to your worms. 

A bit more information:  And don’t worry about coffee or tea making your soil too acidic.  Organic matter tends to be slightly acidic, but changing your soil pH is difficult.  Always start with a soil test whenever you are concerned about your soil nutrients and pH and want to make changes.

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


April 3, 2024
Garden Trends 

Franklin Public Library, Franklin, WI

April 10, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Container Gardening Throughout the Year
Register now

April 11, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

7 Steps to Managing Water Where it Falls in Your Yard
Register now

April 17, 2024
Landscaping for Birds: 
A Gardener’s Perspective

Glendale, WI 

April 18, 2024
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Golden Rondelle Theater, Racine, WI
Register now

April 20, 2024
Pruning Hydrangeas and Other Shrubs 
Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Lake Bluff, IL

April 27, 2024
Ridges & Rivers Book Festival
Viroqua, WI

April 28, 2024
Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI

May 1, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables
Register now

May 4, 2024
Garden U 2024 

New Richmond, WI
Register now

May 9, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

How to Plant Your Rain Garden
Register now

June 1, 2024

Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Caring for Hydrangeas
Ebert's Greenhouse Village, Ixonia, WI

June 5, 2024
FREE WEBINAR

Under-Appreciated Pollinators
Register now

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win The Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide !

ENTER NOW