Club Benefits
May marks the arrival of spring and the time when hydrangeas burst into life, covered in buds and ready to bloom for the summer season.
Hydrangeas are a popular choice for instantly adding color to a backyard or porch plant. Trouble is, hydrangeas are prone to easily wilting or not thriving at all in hot weather if not properly fed or cared for — especially this month.
Luckily, gardening experts are recommending a natural (yet surprisingly effective) way to help your hydrangeas beat the heat and thrive. What’s more, this involves a common kitchen scrap that most people throw out every day. It won’t break the bank, either, so it's a win-win!
Perk up your hydrangeas with coffee grounds
It seems we’re not the only ones who need a boost throughout the day. Used coffee grounds, a previously ditched item, have proven to be a surprisingly secret weapon in the gardening world, and a great hack to perk up plants.
This is all thanks to its slightly acidic quality and high carbon content — which are beneficial to plants — contributing organic matter to the soil. This makes a great homemade fertilizer for acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, and even roses.
In addition, they also contain nitrogen, which is essential in the spring for promoting bigger flowers and strong stems. This is why gardeners are being urged to use old coffee grounds to feed hydrangeas now, just in time for the summer.
In fact, there are so many ways that you can repurpose your old coffee grounds to help your yard thrive. From decreasing soil pH and enriching compost to repelling slugs and other pests. Who knew that the answer to reviving plants is in our kitchen cupboards?
How to feed hydrangeas with coffee grounds
It’s always advised to dilute coffee grounds, as any organic matter is typically more potent than commercial feeds.
Simply add around a tablespoon of coffee grounds into a spray bottle or watering can to make a weak ‘tea’. Then water your hydrangeas with the weak brew once a month until summer arrives. This coffee-ground ‘tea’ should give your plants a nutrient boost to give them the head start needed for sunnier, warmer temperatures.
Simply add around a tablespoon of coffee grounds into a spray bottle or watering can to make a weak ‘tea’.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle a thin layer of coffee grounds around the base of your hydrangeas just before watering.
It’s best to start with a small amount and use only leftover coffee grounds from your usual brew. Fresh coffee beans are much stronger and significantly increase the risk of over-fertilizing your plants.
So after you make your morning coffee, don’t ditch your used coffee grounds — your hydrangeas might need them more.
For more top tips, check out how to grow hydrangeas from cuttings and avoid these hydrangea pruning mistakes. Knowing how to prune hydrangeas can keep this beautiful plant in check for spring and future seasons.
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