Robins and other winter birds will flourish in your garden if you follow a key rule and leave coffee grounds on bird tables. While many people help wildlife in their garden during summer, birds still need assistance in winter, when food is scarce as insects die off and fruits and berries vanish. Perennial birds like robins must find food even in the coldest months.
Why coffee grounds deter pests
According to Maria Kincaid, in-house ornithologist for smart bird feeder FeatherSnap, the biggest hurdle birds face in winter is having their food stolen. Squirrels, especially the invasive grey squirrel, will steal food left out on bird tables intended for hungry robins.
Kincaid told the Express: "Deterring pests is always a struggle when it comes to feeding our garden birds. Besides using baffles and regularly cleaning spent shells and spilled seed from underneath your feeder, which should be done regularly, your coffee habit may help! Try spreading a layer of used coffee grounds on the area around the base of your feeder."
The 5-7-9 rule for feeders
She added: "Squirrels and other pests don't like the strong smell of coffee, so it may deter them further away from your feeder, and as a bonus as the coffee grounds break down they'll add beneficial nutrients and organic matter back into your garden soil."
Kincaid also recommended the 5-7-9 rule: "If you've ever filled a bird feeder only to find squirrels treating it like an all-you-can-eat buffet, the 5-7-9 rule might save the day! The 5-7-9 rule with feeders is a way to help avoid those pesky acrobats. Place your feeder 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet from structures like fences or decks they may be able to jump from, and 9 feet from overhanging branches."
Extra garden benefits
Coffee grounds also deter slugs and snails, as molluscs won't cross a barrier of coffee because it kills them if they touch it. However, this should be used as a deterrent rather than actively scattered on slugs, since it is an excruciatingly painful and excessively cruel method of killing them.
