August can be a really tough time for lawns as the high temperatures can often leave the grass brown and brittle, but it turns out there is a really easy way to help revive them. The gardening experts at Turf Technologies has shared that a really simple way to fertilise a lawn is to use coffee grounds, as they contain the nutrients grass needs to grow a “a thick, green turf.”
They said: “Not only can coffee revitalise us in the morning, it can also revitalise our lawns. For us, it’s the caffeine that does the magic. For your lawn it’s the minerals coffee contains – nitrogen and phosphorus.” Nitrogen is the nutrient needed to grow grass blades, so it helps the lawn stay green and encourages new thick growth if has become patchy.
Phosphorus is the nutrient responsible for root development, and stronger roots will hold more water to help lawns survive during a drought or extremely hot weather.
It is generally not advised to fertilise the lawn with nitrogen in summer as high amounts can burn the grass in hot weather, but natural feeds like coffee release nutrients slowly into the soil.
This nourishes the grass without damaging it and provides a more sustainable source of nutrition compared to synthetic fertilisers, resulting in a stronger and healthier lawn over time.
Using coffee grounds will also release more organic matter into the ground, which will encourage earthworms and help the soil become less compacted.
Coffee grounds are a simple but effective way to give your lawn a boost when it is likely struggling due to the heat, and is a eco-friendly way to cut down on food waste while also helping your garden.
How to use coffee grounds on a lawn in August
All you need to do is dry out any leftover coffee grounds by placing them on a tray and letting them bake in the sun.
Wet coffee grounds are more likely to clump up together in the soil and also become mouldy, so it is incredibly important they are dry before using on your lawn.
However, it should also be noted that coffee is acidic, and while it can help your lawn it is better to use leftover coffee grounds that have already been diluted with water as they will be less potent.
Then, all you need to do is throw a thin layer of coffee grounds onto your lawn. Make sure they are spread out and water your lawn after application to help them reach the soil.
Coffee grounds decompose very slowly, so you only need to feed your lawn them once in early August to help get lush thick grass that will stay greener for longer in autumn.