If the grounds are cold, they'll probably freeze or at least decompose slowly, but if they're above freezing, they'll probably start to decompose. When I've kept grounds for a few weeks or maybe a month, they tend to get moldy more than stinky/slimy, even in the summer. However, my summers are pretty hot and dry, so they may dry out enough that they don't stink.

If I were you, I'd go ahead and spread them on the lawn or mix them with the leaves even if they do start to smell. They'll be ok in a short amount of time.

Unless you were to dump all 10 gallons of those coffee grounds in one big pile the soil bacteria should digest them quickly so there will be little to no odor of concern, unless the smell of freshly brewed coffee is objectionable. I've not seen even a 1/2 inch thick layer of coffee grounds stay visible very long, even on soils that do not have much of a Soil Food Web.

I just save my coffee grounds in an empty coffee can until it's full. Since I don't compost in cold weather (can't even get out the back door now because of treacherous ice). I just go onto my front porch and fling them out on top of the snow. They seem to seep into the ground with the melting snow and ice and disappear.

This is a much smaller amout than you are talking about, but I'm sure you could do the same.

Karen

No, they won't smell. I once filled two galvanized trash cans with coffee grounds and held them for months. No offensive odor.

Thanks for all responses. It looks like my UCG stockpile (which is about 2 ft thick at the moment) won't offend the neighbors before I get a chance to spread them out. After last year's fiasco (in which I learned that a little humanure goes a long way!) I can't afford to have another nasty pile...

Cheers,

Tim

I collect 10 gallons of UCGs a week, wow 10 per day! That's a lot.

Since we've had nearly continuous snow cover since December 2nd, I'm just piling them in one spot over the winter. It's a little inconvenient, but I can't tell exactly where to dump them! Next year maybe I'll spread cardboard in the fall and mark it with stakes or something so I know where to dump the grounds even if there's snow on the ground.

I'll find out what happens to a pile of UCG's when it comes time to spread this one during the Spring. Took this picture last week when rain had washed about half the snow cover away. But then we got 10 more inches of snow last Friday!

{{gwi:267191}}