Where do you put coffee grounds in your garden?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 08, 2026
Using Coffee Grounds as Fertiliser
Which plants do not like coffee grounds?
In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies. Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.
Where should I put coffee grounds in my garden?
Add coffee grounds directly to the soil in your garden. You can scratch it into the top couple inches of soil, or just sprinkle the grounds on top and leave it alone. In smaller amounts, especially when mixed with dry materials, coffee grounds will give up their nitrogen.
Which plants like coffee grounds the most?
The plants that like coffee grounds include roses, blueberries, azaleas, carrots, radishes, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, cabbage, lilies, and hollies. These are all acid-loving plants that grow best in acidic soil. You'll want to avoid using coffee grounds on plants like tomatoes, clovers, and alfalfa.
Can you put coffee grounds straight on the garden?
Adding coffee grounds directly to the soil as a fertiliser can be a good option. Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen. They also have some amount of other nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. Overall, this means that adding coffee grounds to your garden can work fairly well as a fertiliser.
26 related questions foundDo tomatoes like coffee grounds?
Tomato plants grow best in soil that is slightly acidic, so it stands to reason that coffee grounds are great for the health of tomato plants. However, although tomatoes do like acidic soil, it appears coffee grounds are not the way to get there. The average pH of coffee grounds is around 6.5, just below neutral.
Do coffee grounds keep bugs away?
Insect Repellent
Since coffee grounds are very potent, it's a perfect repellent to fight off those pests. According to the EPA, coffee grounds are most potent when they are burned. All you need to do is place the coffee grounds in a bowl on a flat surface outside, and burn the grounds like you would incense.
What vegetables benefit from coffee grounds?
As they decompose, coffee grounds add nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous to the soil so any plants which need a rich source of these vitamins will react well to added coffee grounds. Nitrogen craving vegetable plants include tomatoes, corn, spinach, and any leafy vegetable.
Do roses like coffee grounds?
Roses also love organic material (such as coffee grounds and leaf mulch) added to the soil as this will improve the structure of the soil and feed the ecology of the soil such as earthworms and microbes that break down organic material into a form that is easily taken in by the roses roots.
Are eggshells good for plants?
The calcium from eggshells is also welcome in garden soil, where it moderates soil acidity while providing nutrients for plants. Eggshells contain such an abundance of calcium that they can be used almost like lime, though you would need a lot of eggshells to make a measurable impact.
Can I put used coffee grounds on my lawn?
Used coffee grounds will not burn your grass, instead, they will act as a natural fertilizer. Fresh coffee grounds are slightly acidic, and if used directly, they can dry your grass.
Does coffee help plants grow?
The benefit of using coffee grounds as a fertilizer is that it adds organic material to the soil, which improves drainage, water retention, and aeration in the soil. The used coffee grounds will also help microorganisms beneficial to plant growth thrive as well as attract earthworms.
How do you use coffee powder for plants?
To use coffee grounds as a fertilizer sprinkle them thinly onto your soil, or add them to your compost heap. Despite their color, for the purposes of composting they're a 'green', or nitrogen-rich organic material.
Are coffee grounds good for the garden RHS?
Coffee grounds: provides low levels of nutrients and can either be used in small quantities around plants or composted before adding to the garden. It's effectiveness as a slug deterrent is unclear.
How do I put coffee grounds on my hydrangea?
Start adding coffee grounds to the soil surrounding your hydrangeas in late fall. Sprinkle them around your hydrangeas, but be sure to work them into the soil to help eliminate any off-putting smell. You do not need to do this process often–just two to three times per year should be sufficient.
Do coffee grounds make hydrangeas blue?
Some gardeners report success in turning their hydrangeas blue by applying coffee grounds to the soil. The coffee grounds make the soil more acidic, allowing the hydrangea to more easily absorb aluminum.
How often should you put coffee grounds on roses?
Coffee grounds are good for roses, as long as they are used at the right time of the year and in the correct quantities. A good rule of thumb is half a pound of used coffee grounds to 2 gallons of water per rose. Use coffee grounds for roses when your plants start to grow in spring.
How do you use coffee grounds on tomato plants?
Sprinkle 1 cup of used coffee grounds around the base of your tomato plant and work it into the top 2 to 3 inches of soil with a trowel or claw. This encourages the coffee grounds to begin decomposition and prevents issues with soil compaction.
Do coffee grounds attract rats?
Avoid the eggshells in your compost, but coffee grounds, fruit peels and other leafy material will not attract rodents. Rats are common everywhere people are.
What animals do coffee grounds keep away?
Coffee Grounds to Deter Pests
Coffee grounds are commonly used to keep animals including slugs, snails, rabbits and fire ants from eating plants in the garden, and to keep cats from treating garden beds like litter boxes.
Do used coffee grounds keep squirrels away?
And with squirrels having the sensitive noses that they do, can it be used to repel them? Yes, coffee grounds do keep squirrels away in the majority of cases. Humans love the smell but squirrels find it bitter and off-putting so will avoid areas that smell of coffee.
Does basil like coffee grounds?
Yes, coffee ground fertilizer is safe for basil and other herbs. Again, just use it sparingly. Herbs definitely benefit from the nitrogen boost that coffee grounds provide.
How often should you put coffee grounds on tomato plants?
Instead, you should add grounds a few times a week to your top soil, and the amount will depend on the size of your gardening space. For a general idea, if you have a large pot with two or three tomato plants, you would add in about a scoop and a half to two scoops worth of grounds a week.
How do you use coffee grounds in a vegetable garden?
To use the grounds in your garden, incorporate about 1 inch (2.5 cm.) (up to 35 percent grounds to soil ratio) directly into the soil or spread the grounds directly onto the soil and cover with leaves, compost, or bark mulch. Till the coffee grounds into the soil to a depth of between 6 and 8 inches (15-20 cm.).
What happens if you water your plants with coffee?
' The potential benefit of coffee grounds is that they 'add to the organic matter of the soil, which can improve drainage, soil aeration and retention of water which helps keep your plants happy and healthy. A good rule of thumb for plant feeds is to feed them with these solutions once a week. '