God help me, I'm trying to get more organic!! That's a shock for those who originally knew me as the Scott's poster boy.

I've been collecting my used grinds all winter and I can swing by the local Dunkin donuts and take away their used coffee grounds.

I thought I remember too much won't hurt, but am concerned about the acid levels.

Do I just fill up my spreader and have at it (walking around as if I was applying Fert) and then watering it in afterwards (sprinkler of by nature)?

I just don't want to over do it and harm the lawn (front was reno in fall 2009, back/ sides were reno fall 2010)

God help me, I'm trying to get more organic!! That's a shock for those who originally knew me as the Scott's poster boy.

I've been collecting my used grinds all winter and I can swing by the local Dunkin donuts and take away their used coffee grounds.

I thought I remember too much won't hurt, but am concerned about the acid levels.

Do I just fill up my spreader and have at it (walking around as if I was applying Fert) and then watering it in afterwards (sprinkler of by nature)?

I just don't want to over do it and harm the lawn (front was reno in fall 2009, back/ sides were reno fall 2010)

Don't worry about the acidity, CT.

andy10917 wrote:Don't worry about the acidity, CT.

Thanks Andy..if the more the better(or at least not harmful) than BOMBS AWAY!!!

+1 Andy. Most of the acidity, being water-soluble, comes out in the coffee. The remaining grounds are pretty close to neutral--close enough not to worry about it, anyway.

More's better, at least until you have a massive smell, or a huge fungal bloom.

I won't over due it..but I'm thinking if I can fill my spreader and drop it like I would fert, than maybe I can do it monthly or bi-monthly

It won't work with a spreader, Dan. Just fill up a bucket with grounds and fling the stuff around as you walk the yard.

Yeah, stuff's kind of sticky and icky unless well-dried. Flinging it around is much better, and you smell like a good cup of java afterward, too.

One word of caution is that you can spread it too thickly. Don't spread it more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. If it's too thick, it can cake up and repel water.

GaryCinChicago wrote:It won't work with a spreader, Dan. Just fill up a bucket with grounds and fling the stuff around as you walk the yard.

Not even a rotary spreader opened wide? Why not (I'm curious)

I have no problems winging it everywhere, just thought a spreader would disperse it more evenly

It'll stick together, gum up, and not hurl around in the spreader (unless you REALLY dry the stuff, we're talking less than 10% moisture remaining, probably requiring a drying unit or a long visit in a 150 degree oven).

It's not worth your time to do that. Just hurl it around.

+million to Gary,Morph and everyone else

The only way I can think of to tell you would be pick up a clump of wet snow. Now try and pick one snow flake out. The coffee grounds kinda do the samething. Your spreader is not going to be able to break apart the clumps as long as they are moist.

You would need to spread them out flat on plastic at least all day to dry out in the hot sun. They your spreader would work. Its just not worth all the time.

Throw it out by hand and spend the rest of the day fishing with Jr.

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I also plan on spreading used coffee grounds this year as i can get quite a bit from work. I did hear about someone (i think on this forum) mixing the coffee grounds with Milorganite and spreading it that way. I do think they dried it first and then used Milorganite as a carrier. I think it turned out well for them.

I plan on doing the fling 'em method when i start to do it. I do have one question though since this was brought up. Is there a bad time to put them out because i believe their a feast for worms, but i don't think worms are active at this time being too chilly out. Maybe someone can elaborate on this.

In addition, does anyone also know how much organic matter this actually adds to the soil as an amendment. I assume leaves is ten times better, but where does used coffee grounds fall into the organic matter category?

Edit: Guess that was two questions..sorry about that.

CG's about 20% OM by weight (once the decay is done, and for the middle-term). Or about the same as any grain or bean product, figure half or so what leaves are.

Worms begin soil activity as soon as the ground unfreezes, and are actually most active up to about fifty degrees ground temperature. They're still active above that, but the drying soil tends to be less congenial, so activity is lower and usually only at night when it's cooler and damper. If memory serves, worm soil activity maximizes in the forties.

I vaguely remember somebody spread coffee grounds in a spreader by mixing them with soybean meal first. I think that was mostly soybean meal with a little coffee grounds.

I would think when mixed with soy, the soy would help soak some of the water out of the coffee grinds.

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Go buy yourself a black tarp and on a nice weekend spread them out on a Saturday on the tarp on your driveway. Worst case scenario they will be dry by Sunday afternoon, but most likely by Saturday evening. A leaf rake makes it easy to spread out thinly and evenly.

You can spread it easily with a spreader by itself, but I always feel mixing it with milorganite makes it flow a little better

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Abyss wrote:Go buy yourself a black tarp and on a nice weekend spread them out on a Saturday on the tarp on your driveway. Worst case scenario they will be dry by Sunday afternoon, but most likely by Saturday evening. A leaf rake makes it easy to spread out thinly and evenly.

I agree, I throw the grounds on the tarp, mow the yard and when I'm done mowing the grounds are dry enough to go through the spreader!

My sister-in-law was working at a coffee place and decided to be nice and saved me coffee grounds in a couple 5 gallon buckets

She brought them over and I subsequently left them in my garage. I finally got aorund to using them and when i took the lid off the smell was unbearable. Garage stunk for days.


Anyways, i put them on a tarp and placed on patio to dry out. Once dried, they spread pretty easily, although i just used them in the flower beds.

I've always wanted to try coffee grounds in my topdresser. Once we thaw out here, I'll get a couple of five gallon pails and try it out. I hope it will work with the filters left in, we'll see.

Lloyd