Sprinkling lawns with coffee grounds can promote healthier, greener grass (Image: Getty)
After what felt like a never-ending winter, meteorological spring has finally arrived which means milder, brighter weather is on the way.
The start of spring is when gardens begin to wake up from their dormant state after the long winter, so there’s plenty of gardening jobs to be getting on with to welcome the season – including tending to lawns. Grass typically starts growing again after winter in early to mid-March, once soil temperatures consistently hit around 5C to 6C, and should begin to green-up as the warmer spring days set in. March marks the first month of the year for mowing lawns, with gardening experts recommending a light mow on a high setting to keep grass fairly long so it can lock in moisture.
Mowing should only be required every couple of weeks over the next couple of months and this will encourage strong growth, but keeping your grass green and healthy requires regular upkeep – which includes regular feeding. Fertilising lawns every few weeks will help to promote strong, healthy grass, but instead of relying on expensive garden fertilisers which often contain chemicals, you can get your grass looking lusciously green with one common ingredent from your kitchen instead: coffee grounds.
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According to experts, sprinkling coffee grounds on your lawn can help to stimulate healthier and greener grass as they are rich in nitrogen which is essential for healthy plant growth, and they also contain other important nutrients like potassium and phosphorus, which can improve the overall health of your lawn.
Not only are they nutrient-rich, coffee grounds can also improve soil structure and water retention to give you stronger turf, and can be effective in keeping garden pests like snails, slugs and cats at bay.
Explaining the benefits of coffee grounds, experts at Turf Technologies said: “Being small/fine and dark brown in colour they’re unnoticeable once spread amongst the grass.
“They’re a slow release fertiliser, the opposite of most synthetic products. This allows your lawn to benefit from the nutrients for a longer period of time, ensuring stronger turf for longer.
“Unlike synthetic fertiliser, where incorrect application can have disastrous effects like burning the lawn or contaminating water via run off, coffee grounds have no such adverse effects.
“Worms like them. Earthworms eat the coffee grounds and in return aerate your lawn and encourage beneficial microbial activity. Coffee grounds are an eco friendly, no-waste lawn product.”
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Coffee grounds need to be dry before they are applied to lawns, so if you’re using used grounds then you’ll need to allow them to dry out first.
Once they’ve dried, sprinkle the grounds across your grass evenly to avoid clumping and then lightly rake them into the soil to help them integrate. Reapply the coffee grounds every month or two and this will help promote a thick, green turf.
Plus, coffee grounds have the added benefit of preventing weeds spreading across your lawn as they contain natural chemicals that can stunt the growth of some plants, which can lead to weed suppression.
The grounds also create a thin layer on your lawn which acts as a physical barrier, helping to block sunlight to further hinder any weed growth, and this can also help deter garden pests like snails and slugs.
Experts say coffee grounds need to be dry before they are applied to lawns, so if you’re using used grounds then you’ll need to allow them to dry out first. Once they’ve dried, sprinkle the grounds across your grass evenly to avoid clumping and then lightly rake them into the soil to help them integrate.
Lilydale Instant Lawns said: “Coffee grounds are an excellent, eco-friendly way to give your lawn a nutrient boost. They are rich in nitrogen, which is a crucial element for grass growth. Applying coffee grounds to your lawn is straightforward, but it’s important to do it correctly to avoid any potential issues.
Collect and Dry: Collect used coffee grounds and let them dry out.Sprinkle Evenly: Sprinkle coffee grounds on lawn areas evenly, avoiding clumping.Rake In: Lightly rake the grounds into the soil to help them integrate.”
The experts added: “By incorporating coffee grounds into your lawn care routine, you can enjoy a greener, healthier lawn while also recycling waste.”
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