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Gardeners should sprinkle coffee grounds this autumn for one important reason
Mirror | October 9, 2025 2:39 AM CST

Roses remain particularly susceptible during autumn as many continue producing blooms, and they risk becoming damaged or failing to develop correctly if slugs aren't dealt with promptly.

Slugs pose a significant threat in autumn as they flourish in wet conditions and fallen foliage provides them with additional hiding spots throughout a garden.

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Tackling any slugsfeasting on roses is essential as these pests can slice open the shoots, preventing them from hardening and entering dormancy during winter.

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This heightens the likelihood of frost damage, potentially weakening the plant and causing difficulties with flowering come spring.

Fortunately, Angelo, a specialist from Deep Green Permaculture, has revealed it's remarkably straightforward to keep slugs at bay, as you merely need to scatter used coffee grounds around your garden, reports the Express.

Angelo explained: "Since caffeine is toxic to slugs and snails, it can be used as a barrier can deter them from crossing treated areas, and as a means of eliminating them after they come in contact with it."

Coffee grounds possess acidic and abrasive properties, which can repel slugs by irritating their bodies and dehydrating them, making them far less inclined to traverse over it.

Caffeine is also recognised for affecting slugs' nervous systems if absorbed through their skin, and can harm or even prove fatal to them in elevated concentrations. However, roses adore coffee grounds as they can serve as a natural fertiliser, providing a small nitrogen boost that helps maintain healthy foliage as it readies for winter dormancy.

It also lures earthworms that aerate the soil, aiding in keeping roots healthy during the chillier weather.

Utilising coffee grounds is a straightforward yet highly effective method to deter slugs from your garden and fortify roses so they produce larger flowers come next spring.

How to use coffee grounds to prevent slugs from devouring roses.

All you need to do is gather coffee grounds from your morning brew, or check if any local coffee shops offer them to gardeners for free in your area.

It's crucial to only use leftover coffee grounds as they are quite potent, and must be diluted in water before use otherwise they can overfertilise the soil.

Then, simply blend one part coffee grounds with three parts water. Allow the solution to sit for at least 24 hours.

If you prefer, you can then strain the coffee grounds out of the liquid as you just need the water to repel slugs.

Pour the coffee-infused water into a watering can and then water the soil around the rose plant or where you have seen roses in the past. Apply after it has rained or every few weeks, and slugs should cease feasting on your roses for the remainder of the year.


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