If you are an avid coffee drinker and you love your garden than this tip is perfect for you. Used coffee grounds can be put to work in your garden in a few really useful ways. They can be sprinkled on your garden to deter pests like snails, slugs and ants. They won't stop a major invasion, but will definitely deter the usual traffic.
“KEEP YOUR REUSABLE CLOTH BAG NEAR YOUR DOOR, YOUR HAND BAG OR SOMEWHERE YOU WILL SEE IT.”
- French marigolds will keep bugs and nematodes away above and below the ground
- A cover crop of nasturtiums can stave off weed infestation and deter pests
- Aubergines can act as a trap crop for destructive beetles
- Horseradish is known to increase potato disease resistance
- Spinach and radishes can be inter-planted with potatoes, as they come to harvest long before the potato and are thought to improve potato flavour too!
- You might consider planting a row of beans between potato rows, as this will add nitrogen to the soil later when you dig everything under and about, and in the meantime the potatoes will ward off bean-loving pests.
Coffee grounds are excellent an soil structure improver. Mix it with your soil to a depth of up to 10cm and to a maximum of 35 percent volume. You can do this in one go when you turn your garden over or simply mix the grounds in as you go.
If you don’t drink coffee but would still love to try using used coffee grounds in your garden, simply ask your local coffee shop if you can have their grounds. Most coffee shops use around 30kg of coffee every week, so there should be plenty on offer.
