I've never done this before but I picked up some coffee grounds from Starbucks to amend my alkaline clay soil to try to make it more acidic for my acid loving plants (rhododendron and Japanese andromeda). Now, I know you are probably supposed to compost it first, or at least mix it into the soil, but instead I just spread it around the top everywhere... What could go wrong?
![coffee on hand coffee on hand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuzkw3IQLJvNXeooFBwtBcvJW_32UQwhfUsOsArptyP38-2vxRUbuqKqJnHo5RRDlwczPqcqohyNTsRxZfBYaWUHVHIxCuTAjnp-IbQNfkawWTOFXYweZyjNeQxvfoegLwmrwb8QyQQI/s640/coffee+on+hand.JPG) |
It was actually a neat texture and was still slightly warm when I opened the bag. I'm not sure why my hand smelled like cigar paper the whole rest of the day, like burt pulp. |
![grounds for your garden grounds for your garden](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWXEaSkTS9YKJEycyXLRJgNo2QnT3Vst6EXW2HBfw6uARCWx_fDyGh0DrCVNC80vcWa7PW4sZY2_izIzdFvriswZ3xFa9qxGTklMx1WqHpfaePNNWvLxicx-UX4RgygPrnu_pyTE71L4/s640/bag+of+coffee+grounds.JPG) |
It was one of those free "Grounds for your Garden" bags at Starbucks |
![coffee around rhododendron coffee around rhododendron](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4vWM2kup3o8OKnaewVtLrXdy7tgVMEpeBxz-oZXHKRZOl1qhlYpgFdV9F4NAbKd1Dd0T34uyFxEd4vlFG6Lh02UfeSFGX_tmZTNnvRmk_bEIM5kbXkSCb92PkZnpFBzcVLvjkyu78lM/s640/coffee+around+base+of+plant.JPG) |
Rhododendron 'Ramapo' with coffee around the base |
![coffee around japanese andromeda coffee around japanese andromeda](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ69L3uBr2vxOw3VesrnhK5DKLxAViTpEziETRWRfRNII3VZUyNTJfvd0Sjj-RL1ihd9ISVgUsuad1QJraa-2asUwwwTeNGCRf71IS0pM09vgYnC6PXMuqtF0fmuMY00eHMyQ1T5t8YI/s640/coffee+on+mulch+around+plant.JPG) |
Pieris japonica 'Passion' with coffee grounds |
I am a little concerned the coffee will be too acidic for the stem, and in hindsight I should have made a donut around the base. Then again, I SHOULD have worked it into the soil, but the ground is already pretty frozen and it's old out, so why bother, haha! I do think I'll work it in a few inches below the surface before I add new mulch in the Spring.
So far nothing major seems to be happening. All the plants still have their leaves, which is a good sign for December!
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