Best use for coffee grounds

gutties · May 2019

I have access to a decent amount of coffee grounds and wonder what is the best use for them in my garden.

I have a compost heap, but I have lots of grass. I understand that coffee grounds are a "green" in terms of composting, so is adding these not very useful or would it be beneficial to have a green which isn't grass cuttings?

Other than in compost what is the best use for coffee grounds?

I do have slugs. Do they really protect plants from slugs?

Or should I simply scatter them over the ground as I have heavy compact clay soil?

Some assistance would be appreciate here.

Asarum · May 2019

There is an interesting article here:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/oct/23/coffee-grounds-are-not-good-for-plants-its-a-myth

I compost them first.

Lyn · May 2019

We mix them in compost, along with anything else that has ever grown. (Except ground elder, buttercup and dandelion roots)

josusa47 · May 2019

I collect them from a local cafe during the slug season and spread them around plants which are particularly at risk. Seems to work, and doesn't seem to do any harm. Except possibly to the slugs.

gutties · May 2019

So we do think that the coffee grounds ARE a good deterrant against the slugs? Do they not cross the "coffee grounds line"?

I'm interested as my asters are like paper doilies and there'll be delphiniums planted soon.

MrsBeeKeeper · May 2019

I get them free by the bucket load from work, sieve them everywhere and they get put in the compost bin. I would say we have very few slugs and snails in the garden but we have at least 3 hedgehogs visiting each night which probably helps too. I pile them on thick in any gaps in the flower beds too to stop the neighbours cat using it as a toilet. About 3 years I've been doing this with no detriment to the plants IMHO.

steephill · May 2019

It has been tested, coffee grounds are not a good slug deterrent, put them in the compost heap. Caffeine is an effective slug killer but is not licensed for that use. Coffee grounds contain almost no caffeine as it all goes into the coffee. Spraying coffee may be effective against slugs but isn't cost effective.