Some coffee-loving gardeners may not realize that the used coffee grounds leave behind in the pot could be used in the garden with incredible benefits! Coffee has some remarkable properties for use in the garden to help grow, protect from many potential dangers and etc…     Compost – Coffee makes for a wonderful addition to the compost pile or as a soil amendment. soil lab tests showed that the grounds provide generous amounts of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper.     Coffee As Fertilizer – First and foremost, the most important property of coffee when it comes to helping the garden is the plentiful supply of nitrogen retained from the bean. This is a must-have plant nutrient for leafy greens and vegetables. Coffee grounds can contain as much as 2% nitrogen by volume and sometimes have a carbon:nitrogen ratio of 11:1, which is ideal for any home-made fertilizer.     Mulch – Coffee grounds can be used a fine organic mulch, as long as you don’t pile it on too thick, because this can encourage the wrong kind of mold. As mulch it can help controlling weeds, provide moisture protection and guard against heavy erosion. It is worth adding a helping hand in your kitchen garden     Acid Loving Plants – The high acid content of leftover coffee grounds makes them the ideal supplement for tomato plants as well as other acid-loving flowers.The secret formula are: leave the grounds to soak in a decent amount of water overnight, pour the solution into the soil or pot and that’s it! From there the nutrients and goodness of the coffee is free to do its work. Some gardeners also do this with tea but the acid content of coffee is much higher.     Roses Love Coffee – Coffee grounds have been a “secret weapon” contributing to many beautiful roses bushes and blooms. It contains small amounts of nitrogen, pH is neutral to acidic, lighten the soil around, attract worms that aerate and loosen the soil, and help deter some common garden pests and bacteria.     Pest Control – It seems that while the scent of coffee can get us humans out of bed in the morning and put a smile on our faces, it has the opposite effect on some of the creepy crawlies that we wish didn’t inhabit our gardens. Placing some leftover grounds around ant holes and plants that are troubled by slug and snails can work pretty well. Slugs simply do not like crawling over the scratchy surface so a nice, well-maintained ring of grounds around vulnerable plants can be ideal.     Cat Repellent – Cats are not all that welcome because of the damage they can cause, the threat to local wildlife and the mess they leave behind. Coffee grounds on the soil can deter them from digging and can also be used near potentially dangerous plants for the cat’s safety.     Prevent Fungal Disease – On the subject of protecting our plants, it seems that coffee can also be helpful in preventing fungal rots and wilts in some plants because the grounds create their own superior, helpful form of fungus. The science gets a little complicated but the important thing to remember is these particular fungal growth are a gardener’s friend and should be encouraged. These simple actions and neat tricks can turn a mound of unwanted coffee waste into something incredibly useful and versatile to the point where you’ll wonder how your garden managed without it. read more

东方日报原文：//www.orientaldaily.com.my/features/zt20297426 read more

Some Gardening Tips for homeowners who are just about to start planning for their first garden; if you are having problems to decide what plants to include in order to beautify your outdoor space, then perhaps below-mentioned shrubs are your best option.   Some of the plants recommended here produce flowers with a variety of colours while others rely on just their leaves to bring out attractive colours & due to the ruggedness of these plants, there are favourite among gardening enthusiasts. These plants have appealing characteristics and also they are easy to care for.   As a garden beginner, one thing to work on is a disciplined routine of watering and exposing your plants to sunlight. If well-maintained, these plants will thrive well for years to come. Here are a few easy-to-grow plants for you.   ALTHERANTHERA These creeping herbs are seen just about everywhere because of its vibrantly coloured leaves, which range from burgundy to green. It grows well under the sun or indoors as they are heat-tolerant. CUPHEA HYSSOPIFOLIA PURPLE & WHITE This species is native to Central America. The leaves of this plant look much like a fern, but also produce tiny purple and white flowers. It is usually used for ground covers in landscaping.  DRACEANA MARGINATA Another durable plant which is grown because of its colourful foliage. These plants are perfect for a beginner gardener because they are very easy to grow and maintain. IXORA SPECIES As a child, you might remember picking these brightly coloured flowers. This evergreen shrub is found in tropical areas and is suitable for landscapes. LEUCOPHYLLUM FRUTESCENS The leaves on this plant look pale as though they have been covered by dust. These drought-resistant bushes are also called Texas Silverleaf. This plant produces small pink flowers that are attractive from afar. RUELLIA BRITTONIANA Also called Mexican petunia, these shrubs with purple flowers are easy to grow and maintain. You can grow them among other flowering plants in the garden. WEDELIA TRILOBATA Their yellowish-orange flowers look like a miniature version of sunflowers. The creeping attribute of wedelia makes it suitable to be used as ground cover. WRIGHTIA RELIGIOSA Locally known as “Melati” in Malay or “Shu Mei” in Chinese, this plant is also a favourite among Bonsai advocates. With greenish leaves and white flowers, it is also a plant that possesses medicinal benefits. read more