To help get gardens off to a healthy start this spring, the coffee shop chain Starbucks is offering customers complimentary spent coffee grounds for their garden. What begins as a great cup of coffee can essentially be a treat for the garden. Reusing coffee grounds in the garden is a great way to avoid disposing of this rich resource from our stores. Starbucks coffee grounds recycling program is a grassroots effort that was started by customers more than six years ago. Spent coffee grounds are complimentary upon request and are available year-round as they are generated.
Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients and beneficial for any backyard compost effort.
Aerating the pile by mixing and turning also encourages the composting process. Compost is ready for the garden when it has fully decomposed into a dark rich soil-like material. A half-inch to an inch of compost on top of the soil feeds plants, prevents plant diseases, suppresses weeds and conserves water. The proper amount of coffee grounds to be used depends on soil condition and what is being grown in a garden. Contact a local gardening expert to learn what's best for your region.