Don't apply in a thickness sufficient to cover all the soil. If used coffee grounds (UCG's) are applied as a solid surface and they are allowed to dry out, they become hydrophobic and repel water. So just scatter them around as you see fit, but rather thinly. Or scratch them into the soil well. Since they are relatively neutral afa pH is concerned, you do not need to limit their application to only acid lovers (like some suspect websites suggest). Consider them as a low grade N source primarily..... they do contain other nutes but in very low concentrations.

If you have more than you can use just by scattering, they are an excellent addition to the compost pile!

My soil is mostly red clay (high in iron), so I'm always trying to add nutrients OTHER than iron! LOL

I've only recently started composting leaves (of which I have WAY too much), but the quantity of coffee grounds I could get is a little scary... probably 25-30 gallon containers each week.

"My soil is mostly red clay (high in iron), so I'm always trying to add nutrients OTHER than iron! LOL"

Unless you know it is deficient in other nutrients - and clay tends not to be - there is not much reason to add specifically with that intent :-) Nitrogen is likely the only thing which maybe lacking and that's because it is consumed in the highest volume, is the least stable and most mobile and almost always could use some supplementation.

What clay soils really need is the application or incorporation of organic matter and UCG's can certainly help with that!

You could just sprinkle your daily grounds directly as you produce them. There’s no reason to store or refrigerate them.

As gal said, avoid making a mat of them and you’ll be fine. I would think with 30 gallons a week for an acre you could start at one end and by the time it was covered you could go back and start again.

tj

I can’t believe that coffee shop doesn’t already have several people trying to get their UCGs for composting!!!

Ten years ago I worked in a lab that had a small cafeteria/coffee shop…. the owner was thrilled when I asked for his UCGs. :) He asked me to bring him the containers to put them in, and to pick them up every day. It was a long walk to the parking lot, so I only took 1-2 gallons a day, for a few months (summer). Small yard, gardens, and compost piles, and it was the perfect amount. It was working out great until I got transferred to a different location. :p

Jason, my leaves and climate may be different from yours, but I’ve had very good luck breaking down large piles of leaves quickly by adding what I call ”compost activator”…I pour either watered-down urine, or something sweet like soda or fruit juice over the pile. :) I have a lot of oak leaves from the neighbor’s trees, which are leathery and slow to compost otherwise.