Hydrangeas and roses should still be blooming beautifully in September, but the dry weather in late summer can often deplete their soil of nutrients. This can cause these pretty plants to begin to wilt and their leaves to shrink, so they are not storing enough energy in time for the colder months ahead.
However, it turns out there is a very easy way to give both roses and hydrangeas a boost according to one expert at Little Red Coffee, as all you need if the leftovers from your morning coffee. The expert said: “Coffee grounds are high in nitrogen, which is an essential nutrient for plant growth. They also contain other important minerals like potassium and phosphorus, as well as trace elements like calcium, magnesium, and copper.”
They added: “Coffee grounds can be used to fertilise a wide variety of flowering plants, such as roses, hydrangeas, and petunias.”
Why feed hydrangeas and roses coffee grounds?
Soil is often dry and compact after summer, but coffee grounds can help attract earthworms which will break up the ground so more water and nutrients reach the plant roots.
They make the soil slightly acidic, which roses and hydrangeas love. This helps them absorb more nutrients, which in turn leads to these plants growing more abundant flowers.
Coffee grounds also contain many useful nutrients like nitrogen, which is needed for foliage growth, and can help the plant store more energy to prepare for winter.
Leftover coffee also has the nutrient phosphorus, which is responsible for strengthening roots and will also help in the formation of future buds, so you get more flowers next year.
Potassium can also be found in coffee and helps increase a plant’s disease and cold resistance so the plant can withstand changing seasons.
How to feed roses and hydrangeas coffee grounds
Natural feeds like coffee grounds are very potent, so you need to use leftover beans that have already been diluted in water; otherwise, you risk overfertilising your plants.
Once you have collected the leftover grounds, simply put them on a tray near a window so they dry out. Wet coffee beans can encourage mould and harmful bacteria, so make sure they are completely dried out before using them in your garden.
When the coffee grounds are ready to use, use roughly 60g or two tablespoons per plant. Simply mix them into the soil in a thin layer around the base of a hydrangea or rose plant. After adding the coffee grounds to the soil, make sure to water the ground thoroughly, as it helps distribute the nutrients.
Only feed roses and hydrangeas this coffee feed once in autumn. The best time to do it is in early September while the plants are still growing and not preparing to go dormant just yet.
Giving roses and hydrangeas coffee grounds at the right time can help repair their soil after the harsh summer weather so they will grow stronger throughout autumn.
