If you are a fellow gardener who likes to start their day with a cup of coffee, save those used coffee grounds instead of throwing them away. They can help your plants grow better, especially strawberries!
When I first started growing strawberries, I couldn’t get them to thrive no matter what I did. Then my sister, (who sometimes talks complete nonsense) suggested using coffee grounds. Honestly, I was pretty skeptical, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try.
So, I sprinkled some around my struggling strawberry plants, and guess what? They perked right up and started thriving! Who knew my sister’s wild advice would actually work?
This works because coffee grounds are full of nutrients like nitrogen and carbon that help plants grow strong. They can also help keep diseases away by reducing bad microbes in the soil.
So, save your coffee grounds and learn how they can make your strawberry patch even better!
Compost Coffee Grounds Or Simply Sprinkle Some Around Your Strawberries
The best way to add coffee grounds to your strawberries is to compost them first. Composting lets all those nutrients break down so that your plants can soak them up right away.
But hey, not everyone has a fancy compost bin or worms ready to help.
If you want to skip the composting step, you can sprinkle the coffee grounds straight onto the soil. Just remember, less is more!
I made the mistake of putting too many coffee grounds on top so they created a barrier, which made it tough for water to reach the strawberry roots (don’t be silly like I was).
Aim for a layer that’s less than half an inch thick and don’t forget to water your plants right after! And if you are having issues with skunks in your yard, these grounds can help to deter them!
Also read: Add Coffee Grounds To Your Blueberry Bushes To Get Healthier Plants And More Fruits
You Can Also Make A Liquid Coffee Ground Fertilizer
Or you can take your gardening game to the next level by making a liquid coffee ground fertilizer!
It’s super simple – all you have to do is mix two cups of used coffee grounds with five gallons of water, let it steep overnight, and then pour it over your strawberries. They’ll enjoy that caffeine boost just like we do!
And if you have some leftover dry coffee grounds, don’t throw them in the garbage just yet!
You can actually burn them to keep annoying mosquitoes away while you’re gardening (you get happy strawberries and a bug-free garden!).
So, next time you’re brewing your morning coffee, remember that your strawberries could use a little boost too!