Are Coffee Grounds Good For Lawns? (Grass Growing Secret? Or Myth?)

Many people want to use environmentally friendly and organic products in their gardens which is great. A waste product that most of us have in our home is coffee grounds which have become popular as a lawn fertilizer. The question is, are they really good for our lawns, or is this a myth?

Coffee grounds are great to add to your lawn; they contain beneficial nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other trace minerals. The grounds are good as they encourage microbial activity and feed the worms in the soil, which encourages soil aeration. It is also environmentally friendly.

Can coffee help stimulate our lawn as much as it helps us in the mornings? Also, what a great way to use up those coffee grounds that we end up throwing in the bin. Many people use coffee grounds in their gardens, but it is important to know when they should be used and how to use them correctly.

Is It Good To Add Coffee Grounds To My Lawn?

Unlike us, it’s not the caffeine in the coffee that boosts our grass but rather the nutrient that it provides. It contains important minerals that grass requires, specifically nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace minerals which are found in synthesized fertilizers which is why we can use them as plant food. You can save up your own coffee grounds, or you could ask your nearest café if they are willing to donate theirs. 

It is very beneficial for the environment if we use our coffee grounds in our gardens rather than throwing them in n the bin as they produce harmful gasses when dumped in landfills. Coffee grounds slowly release their nutrients into the ground when they are wet from rain or when you water your garden; this is helpful as you won’t have to feed your lawn as often.  

Coffee grounds mixed in compost increase the temperature of the soil for a long period which is very beneficial as it kills weeds and enhances the health of your garden. Worms in the soil love coffee grounds; after being nourished from the grounds, they aerate the soil with their castings. This is beneficial for the soil as it breaks it up and improves microbial activity, which stimulates the growth of your lawn. 

Some people say that coffee grounds are very acidic, which is not great for our lawns as they thrive best with soil that has a neutral pH of 6.5 to 7. Fresh unused coffee grounds are very acidic, while used coffee grounds have a neutral pH of 6.5, and so these are great to use for your soil.

How Should I Add Coffee Grounds To My Lawn 

It is important to note that adding coffee grounds incorrectly or adding too much is not recommended. If this is done, it can cause damage to the micro faunas in the soil due to the high caffeine levels, and if a thick layer is applied, it can prevent moisture from entering the soil. It is best to either add coffee grounds very lightly as a fertilizer or add it to fertilizer, compost, or pelletized lime.

Once you have got your coffee grounds, you can spread them evenly on a sheet to dry them out in the sun. Once the top has dried, use a shovel or rake to break the grounds up and leave to dry, do this until the grounds are completely dry; this will take a day or two. This can then be used as you wish. 

Using Coffee Grounds As Fertilizer

Coffee grounds can be used as they are straight onto your lawn as a fertilizer; this is more organic and environmentally friendly compared to using synthetic fertilizer. Applying it as a fertilizer is also beneficial if you plan to aerate your grass. 

If you apply coffee grounds to your lawn as fertilizer, it must be spread as a thin layer to prevent smothering your lawn. You can do this by using a spreader to apply the grounds, or you can use a rake or sweep to help spread it once applied. 

Adding Coffee Grounds To Compost

It is a great idea to add coffee grounds to compost, specifically well-rotted compost, which is good for your lawn or flower beds as it contains lots of nutrients. Compost helps nourish soil, condition it, and helps drain and retain moisture. 

The recipe for nutrient-rich compost should contain about 20% coffee grounds and the rest of leaves and grass clippings. Remember that coffee grounds are classified as green compost material, so you will have to make sure you add extra brown compost material to get the right consistency. 

Adding Coffee Grounds To Nitrogen Fertilizer 

If you want to add nitrogen fertilizer to your lawn instead, then you can still add coffee grounds to this mixture. Coffee grounds can be beneficial when added to fertilizer; just make sure they are damp when applied. The reason they are beneficial in that they boost the growth of healthy microbes in the soil. 

These microbes help break down the coffee grounds encouraging the use of nitrogen, in turn adding more nutrients to the soil that boosts grass growth. 

Add Coffee Grounds To Lime

Lime can be used for acidic lawns; adding coffee grounds to lime is a great way to prevent smothering your lawn with the grounds. You can add 20% coffee grounds to pelletized lime. 

Once you have applied your coffee grounds using the different methods above, you can water your lawn to help get the coffee grounds and additional nutrients into the soil. 

Wrapping Up

Coffee grounds are beneficial for our lawns as they contain necessary nutrients, encourage microbial activity and aeration of the soil. This all promoted the growth of your grass and ensures it stays healthy and green.  

The way the coffee grounds are applied is important; they can either be applied lightly as a fertilizer or added to a fertilizer, compost, or lime pellets for amazing results.