Using eggshells for plants can make a great contribution to your home or yard’s health and productivity.
Eggs are one of nature’s wonder foods, packing delicious flavor into a convenient parcel of goodness. But their value doesn’t end once the breakfast dishes have been tidied away. The empty shells can provide a second life in your garden.
Here are five ways to use eggshells in your garden to improve the soil quality, water retention and health of your plants :
1. Eggshells for Natural Soil Improvement
Eggshells are rich in calcium, and this makes them a common ingredient of commercial organic fertilizers. But there’s no need to pay for the nutrients these products could bring to your soil. Simply crumble the empty eggshells roughly, then scatter them over your flower and vegetable beds.
Dig eggshells carefully into the earth, and they’ll release their calcium and other minerals as they degrade. At the same time, they’ll improve the soil’s texture, aeration and drainage.
2. Deter Slugs and Snails with Eggshells
Using crushed eggshells to
deter slugs and snails is actually
a source of controversy among gardeners. The
theory is that the sharp, brittle edges of a crumbled eggshell aren’t a comfortable
surface for slugs and snails to slime their way over. By scattering broken
shells around the base of your seedlings it is thought that you can build a
physical barrier to discourage slugs and snails from making a meal of your
tender plants.
deter slugs and snails is actually
a source of controversy among gardeners. The
theory is that the sharp, brittle edges of a crumbled eggshell aren’t a comfortable
surface for slugs and snails to slime their way over. By scattering broken
shells around the base of your seedlings it is thought that you can build a
physical barrier to discourage slugs and snails from making a meal of your
tender plants.
Given that eggshells are a natural (free) byproduct of cooking, and
because they add minerals and help condition soil, it wouldn’t hurt to give this a try, but
it’s probably best to consider broken eggshells as just one tool among your arsenal
for controlling slugs
– given that its effectiveness is questionable.
because they add minerals and help condition soil, it wouldn’t hurt to give this a try, but
it’s probably best to consider broken eggshells as just one tool among your arsenal
for controlling slugs
– given that its effectiveness is questionable.
3. Fertilize Outdoor and Indoor Potted Plants with Eggshells
Just like in the garden, finely crushed eggshells provide an organic source of nutrition for houseplants, patio pots and hanging planters. Sprinkle the pulverized shells on the soil surface and they will break down over time whether you are using eggshells for houseplants or outdoor containers.
4. Eggshells Provide Natural Drainage for Container Plants
You can add roughly crumbled eggshells to the bottom of containers to increase drainage. This is perfect for calcium-hungry plants such as tomatoes, as the mineral is delivered directly to the roots as they grow. Tomato plants that develop a calcium deficiency are more susceptible to a common tomato disease called “blossom end rot.”
5. Eggshells are Great Food for Garden Birds
Crumbled eggshells are valued as a food supplement by garden birds, who need the base mineral content to produce their own eggs. Crush the shells and mix them into your regular bird feed, or place whole shells on the bird table to be pecked at. The grateful avian diners will repay your thoughtfulness by helping keep slugs, aphids and other garden pests in check.
Here’s a list of different techniques to easily crush eggshells to use in your garden:
- Rolling pin
- Mortar and pedestal
- Hammer or mallet
- Heavy object such as rock, brick or can
- Place in a heavy plastic bag and crush with hands or step on (wearing shoes)
- Coffee grinder (you could invest in a grinder just for crushing eggshells)
Whether you’re an egg enthusiast or an occasional eater, don’t waste the natural resource that egg shells provide for your garden. Either take them into your yard immediately or give them a quick wash and store them until you’ve collected enough to use. Or, our Guide to Direct Composting explains how easy it is to compost eggshells and other kitchen scraps straight into your soil.
Very Useful Information about Egg Shell. What a great wonderful Fertilizer it is.. Thanks a lot.
Thank you, we’re glad you found this information helpful!
Great advice but can you tell me how to keep rodents chipmunk and cats out of my garden???
Hi Christine,
It’s difficult to keep animals out of large outdoor spaces but there are deterrents you can try. Have a look at our article, Keep Chipmunks Out of Your Garden, for tips on how to discourage chipmunks from your yard.
There is a lot of information on the internet regarding ways to keep cats out of your yard and a browser search may return many ideas for you. For example, BH&G has a nice summary of tips on keeping cats out of your yard. The New Zealand Cat Foundation has an interesting list of homemade cat repellents you could try. Natural repellents provide an option that is safe around plants and animals and may also repel small rodents that might find some of these ingredients unpleasant as well.
I collect our egg shells in a container till I have enough,,I keep banana skins and add water to the whole mixture. After leaving the container that I have the egg shells and banana peeling in for sometimes a couple weeks, I put everything in a blender and liquefy it. Did up a bit of the soil around my potted plants with a fork..pour the mixture around, put the soil back in place..done.
Hi Jan,
There seems to be some debate in the gardening world about whether banana peels are effective as a fertilizer. They break down so slowly that it could take a long time for the nutrients to become available. If a plant is in a state of nutrient deficiency, it would benefit more from a fertilizer that can be absorbed more quickly. Whether whole or blended, rotting banana peels could also attract insect pests such as fruit flies or roaches. Having said that, the same is true for egg shells; they should be washed before use, and they can also take a long time to release their nutrients into the soil. We appreciate your tip for those seeking organic solutions!
Does the inner membrane of an egg shell need to be removed before adding shells to garden?
Hi Lois,
It is best to remove the membranes from eggshells as the protein-rich membrane can provide a food source for rodents. We found a video that demonstrates how easy it is to remove the membrane from an eggshell (click here). Don’t forget to crush the shells thoroughly so they break down faster in the soil, making the nutrients available to your plants more quickly. The more crushed the better, a fine powder would be ideal.
Thanks for this very valuable information. My question is;
Can one mix eggshell powder and aspirin for cucumber plants
Hi Abdul,
It shouldn’t hurt anything to put both on your plant. The eggshells will add calcium to the soil. Whether or not the application of aspirin is of any benefit remains uncertain. There are reports that aspirin can benefit the growth and development of cucumber plants, or help prevent disease, but we could not find any scientific studies to support those claims.
Are eggshells from hard-boiled eggs as good for the soil as shells from fresh uncooked eggs?
Hi Claire,
An interesting question! Boiling the eggshells does release some calcium from the shell but the shells are so calcium-rich, they’ll still have plenty of nourishment remaining to add to soil. You can use the (cooled) water from boiling your eggs to water potted plants or pour it in your garden.