KEEP THOSE COFFEE GROUNDS – USES AROUND THE HOUSE, GARDEN AND MORE

Even if you’re not a fan of composting, you may find that using your spent coffee grounds in your garden is not only a convenient way to dispose of them, but it can also provide many benefits to your plants and flowers.

But did you know that used coffee grounds have other uses you may never have heard of? Read on and we’ll give you the skinny on how to use coffee grounds in your garden, around the house and other interesting and functional ways.  

SLOW RELEASE FERTILIZER

Did you know that coffee grounds such as Hills Bros.® 100% Colombian are an organic matter? While fresh grounds have more acidity and may make more effective fertilizer for acidity-friendly plants like hydrangeas and azaleas, even the spent grounds can add a dash of nutrients to the soil. Over time, you can actually amend your soil by feeding it organic material like used coffee grounds.

Although you can simply sprinkle the grounds on the soil surrounding your plants, you may find that brewing coffee grounds like tea is even more effective for fertilizing your garden and landscaping. To make this tea, simply add two cups-worth of brewed coffee grounds to a five gallon bucket of water and let the mixture steep for 8-12 hours. Then use it as a liquid fertilizer.

MULCH ADDITIVE

Mulching is a great for your lawn and landscaping because it helps soil retain its moisture and also helps prevent the growth of weeds. Adding used coffee grounds to your mulch mixture can make it even more powerful. Coffee grounds enhance your topsoil by adding nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus while also trapping moisture for your plants.

COMPOST BIN

If you compost, you know the benefit of adding compost to your garden and plants. After you brew a pot of your favorite Chock full o’Nuts coffee, don’t hesitate to add your coffee grounds to the mix. Simply toss them in the bin, where they’ll turn into compost along with other organic matter like egg shells and vegetable scraps, giving you a rich, dense compost that feeds your soil and plantings with a wealth of beneficial nutrients.

ATTRACT WORMS, REPEL BUGS

Did you know that worms are coffee lovers too? Who knew? Many gardeners use coffee grounds to attract helpful worms to their gardens. Adding coffee grounds to the soil attracts earthworms, which help mix, aggregate and enhance the nutrients in the soil. Their movement in the garden allows more oxygen to penetrate the garden soil and enhances soil drainage.

While earthworms are a win in the garden, other bugs are not as welcome, and may be repelled by coffee grounds. Just as certain plant scents can deter pests and mosquitoes, coffee grounds also deliver a strong scent that many bugs will try to avoid, protecting your plant life.

EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN

Coffee grounds, with their abrasive quality, can move from the kitchen to the bath with ease as an effective skin exfoliator. Enjoy your pot of coffee and then simply mix your coffee grounds with water or coconut oil. Then, use the mixture to exfoliate your skin. Additionally, the antioxidants contained in the grounds may provide some benefit for your skin. You can even rub the grounds on your scalp to exfoliate and remove shampoo build-up.

FACE MASK

Consider making yourself a coffee ground face mask. Coffee grounds are known to help reduce dark circles from under eyes. They can exfoliate and brighten your skin, and may even reduce the appearance of cellulite. You can make your mask by mixing coffee grounds with olive oil (use equal parts). Apply to your face and let it sit for roughly 30 minutes before rinsing.

CREATE A MEAT-TENDERIZING RUB

To enjoy a tender cut of meat, you can rub freshly used coffee grounds onto the meat. You can also mix the grounds with other ingredients to form a flavorful rub. As the meat cooks, the grounds and other rub ingredients will cook onto the meat. They’ll help lock in moisture while creating a crisp outer crust that’s dark and rich. Ideally, you should rub the meat with the grounds two hours before cooking. Simply leave it in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.

So, after you’ve had your pot of morning coffee, be sure to give another life to your coffee grounds by collecting them to use in one or any of the ways listed here. It’s just one more way to enhance your garden, and lead a more eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle.