Used coffee grounds questions

10 years ago

I know there are a million posts on this forum about coffee grounds, and I have read most of them over the past few days. I have a couple of question still that I need clarified. Im using them to deter cats from crapping in my garden. I mulch with pine needles which should keep them out, but it doesn't. So Im going to try used coffee grounds and come plastic forks to keep them out. As far as the coffee goes, should I rinse it until it runs clear before I use it? Will it still deter the cats? I want to deter the cats, but not harm the plants by not washing the grounds if I need to. Its a shade/woodland garden so all are acid loving plants. I read that if you wash the grounds before using, it comes out with a pH of 6.5. I know coffee grounds are good for the soil and worms, but I also want to retain the cat deterring factor.

Featured Answer

avgusta_gw

10 years ago

There is much easy way to deter the cats. Just buy a cat toy and put it on your garden. The cats are terrified by that toy and will never come to that place nearby.

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Comments (6)

toxcrusadr
10 years ago
Are you talking about washing already used grounds, or are you going to use fresh coffee for this?

I have no experience with unused coffee, but used grounds will have most of their acid leached out into the coffee pot, and there is no need to rinse them.
Matt F
Original Author
10 years ago
Im talking about used grounds. Already used to brew coffee. Ive got a lot of them from a coffee shop at work, so I wanted to try the free option first for repelling the cat.
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MaryMcP Zone 8b - Phx AZ
10 years ago
Agree with tox, no need to rinse used grounds. Good luck with the cat issue. Check back in and let us know how it's working.
kimmq
10 years ago
Further rinsing of these spent coffee grounds could well remove any of the valuable nutrients and the slight odor that is supposed to be a deterrent to animals using the garden.

The people at Sunset Magazine did an analysis of spent coffee grounds from Starbucks and found that the pH was 6.2, N was 2 percent, P was 0.06 percent, and K was 0.6 percent. Put them out as they come from the brewer.

kimmq is kimmsr
gumby_ct
10 years ago
I'm curious what kind of plants are growing in this spot?

I have used some thorny raspberry canes or rosebush trimmings to deter squirrels from foraging in my garden. Turns out they don't like pain anymore than we do.

I have also used those (not sure what they are called) strips with mini nails used to hold carpets in place - to keep animals out of my compost bin with good luck.

HTH