A gardener has shared a coffee shop freebie which could help your garden and plants thrive.
Coffee shops are an essential feature on many high streets and while they offer an ideal spot for a caffeine fix, or respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life, they’re also home to a helpful gardening tool – and many give it away for free.
Gardener and writer Simon Akeroyd took to TikTok to share the benefits of coffee grounds with his 781K followers. Coffee grounds are the solid waste which is left behind after brewing coffee.
The waste product can be reused in a manner of different ways, including as a fertiliser, insect repellent, mulch and more. In coffee shops, there’s – understandably – no shortage of coffee grounds, and Simon was keen to share his tactic.
In the popular clip, Simon is seen holding a takeaway coffee cup before venturing to a coffee shop and being handed a large box of coffee grounds. He then grabs a handful, crumbles it between his fingers and adds it to a watering can before venturing into his garden.
Simon also mixes it into his compost and potting mixes, and shows how to repurpose used coffee cups as cute, makeshift plant pots. Over the top of the footage, he added text to further explain his thinking.
Simon penned: “Did you know this about coffee shops? Next time you visit your favourite coffee shop, ask if you can have their used coffee grounds – which they’ll usually give away for free as it saves them having to throw them away.
“These spent coffee grounds can be used in your garden as free plant feed. They are rich in plant nutrients, so add a handful when watering, or mix into your compost, or add to your potting mixes.
“You can also recycle your coffee cups as plant pots – carefully make drainage holes in the bottom, rinse and then fill with peat-free compost, and plant with herbs, houseplants or even veggies. I’ve sown some colourful succulents in mine. Enjoy recycling your coffee.”
In the caption accompanying the video, Simon elaborated: “Coffee grounds are full of plant nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium and many more. These are all nutrients needed for plants to grow. So use coffee grounds as an occasional plant feed. Don’t do it too often though as they can make the soil slightly acidic”.
People were keen to share their thoughts in the comments section. One person said: “They also repel moles! I have used coffee grounds to stop them coming into my garden from the neighbouring field.”
Another shared: “Thank you again. I’ve used coffee grounds before but without a clue. Now I have info I can use cheers”.
A third commented: “After watching one of your other videos I now always use my husband’s leftover morning Cafetiere coffee grounds to water the pots on my steps”.
Someone else warned: “Don’t spread it in a way an animal can consume it. Very toxic to most mammals”. And another added: “Awesome thank you for your tips”.