7 Brilliant Ways To Use Eggshells In Your Garden
Don’t Toss Those Eggshells! 7 Smart Reasons to Keep Them Around
If your household goes through eggs as quickly as mine, you probably end up with a lot of empty shells. While it’s tempting to toss them in the trash, eggshells are surprisingly useful—and not just for composting. Here are 7 clever ways to put those shells to good use around your garden and home.
1. Keep Pests Away Naturally
Slugs and snails be gone!
Crush eggshells and scatter them at the base of your plants. The sharp edges make it uncomfortable for soft-bodied pests like slugs, snails, and worms to cross—keeping your flowers and veggies safe, no chemicals needed.
2. Deter Deer from Your Garden
Living near wooded areas means deer might see your garden as a buffet. Sprinkling eggshells around your plants may help—they dislike the scent of eggshells and are likely to steer clear.
3. Attract Birds (Your Garden’s Best Helpers)
Birds help control garden pests like aphids and caterpillars. Bonus? Many species actually eat crushed eggshells to get extra calcium. Just sterilize the shells in the oven and sprinkle them around the yard to invite your feathered friends.
4. Boost Soil Health
Eggshells are packed with calcium carbonate, a vital nutrient for plant growth. When you break them down and mix them into your garden beds, you’re naturally enriching the soil and promoting stronger roots.
5. Prevent Blossom-End Rot in Veggies
Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are especially prone to blossom-end rot, often caused by calcium deficiency. Burying crushed eggshells beneath these plants helps provide a slow-release calcium source—keeping your harvest healthy.
6. Balance Soil pH
Got overly acidic soil? Eggshells can help regulate it. As they break down, they gently raise the pH level, creating a more hospitable environment for a wide range of plants.
7. Compost Gold
Toss crushed eggshells into your compost bin—they’ll break down over time and add valuable minerals to your compost mix. Just be sure to rinse them first to avoid attracting unwanted critters.
Final Thought:
Next time you’re cracking eggs for breakfast, think twice before tossing those shells. Whether you’re nurturing your garden or enriching your compost pile, these fragile fragments pack a serious punch!
