James Wong article about coffee bean grounds

James Wong has posted an article about coffee bean grounds. He says that they are rich in nitrogen but also acts as a herbicide. Coffee grounds as a herbicide slash the rate of seed germination and stunts growth ( so does tea leaves) he tells us. So is it wise to put it on your plants as a mulch. V

 

Everything in moderate I say........having just emptied the cafetiere on a Hydrangea.

 

I would say small quantities aren't going to do any harm. Larger quantities put through the compost heap or green bin, coffee shop quantities then see https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/mushrooms/mushrooms-in-coffee-grounds.htm
Mine get composted.

 

Just a heads up on the tea leaves point.

If you're like most of us and use tea bags, bear in mind that the bags themselves often contain plastic nowadays. So if you're saving used tea bags for gardening uses, it's best to bust them open and get the tea leaves out and discard the bag.

 

Since the tea bag issue was publicised there has a been a move to fully biodegradable ones, need to check the packaging to be sure.

 

I just use the left over tea for plants, but then I'm a bit odd in using a tea pot these days I presume, I throw the bags in the bin.

 

My workplace onsite Costa hands out used coffee grounds for free.