Gardening advice: Risks of using fresh coffee grounds on seeds

Using fresh coffee grounds in a garden can inadvertently prevent seeds from germinating. While coffee grounds contain nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, applying them incorrectly can create an impermeable crust that blocks water and oxygen from reaching seeds.

Furthermore, the decomposition process of fresh grounds can trigger a nitrogen deficiency, depriving young roots of essential nutrients. To use coffee grounds safely, they should be dried first and incorporated in thin layers into compost, or reserved for well-established acidophilic plants.