It can even discourage pests in the garden.

Summer has arrived and gardeners everywhere are on the lookout for ways to keep their plants in top condition. The warmer weather can pose a real challenge for gardens, frequently leading to droughts and putting roots under considerable strain.

If your garden is struggling to cope with the heat, one simple ingredient could come to the rescue — and as an added bonus, it doubles up as a pest deterrent too.

Speaking on behalf of Coffee Friend, former royal gardener Jack Stook has revealed one of his favourite kitchen staples that can be repurposed to protect your garden throughout the summer months.

Coffee grounds can be put to use in a number of ways around your garden — and Jack says one of the best is keeping pests at bay.

He said: “Coffee grounds can be sprinkled around the base of bird feeders. The idea is that the smell might deter squirrels. People say that this method can help.”

Bear in mind, though, that less is more — scatter too much and it’ll quickly turn to a soggy mess the moment rain arrives.

Coffee grounds are also brilliant for compost. Jack added: “They [coffee grounds] are great to use in compost, they break down well and add to the mix, so that’s definitely something worth doing.

“You can also add them directly to garden beds. If you’re producing a lot of grounds, they can even act a bit like a mulch and get worked into the soil.”

That said, coffee grounds aren’t a universal solution for every garden. Given that coffee is acidic in nature, not all plants will take kindly to it.

Jack explained: “Specifically, you want to use it around ericaceous plants – things like rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas. These types of plants prefer acidic soil, so they’ll tolerate the coffee grounds well.”

But for the remaining plants in your garden, it’s far from ideal.

“You don’t really want to go overboard using coffee grounds on plants that don’t like acidic conditions.

“Most garden soil can handle small amounts just fine, but if you’re applying large quantities, definitely stick to acid-loving plants.

“Otherwise, you’re better off disposing of the grounds in the compost.”