In the past, no sooner had I broken eggs I was using, did I throw the shells straight in the trash. In recent months, however, I’ve come to the realisation that’s a pretty silly thing to do.
I’ve learned that eggshells can actually be very useful. By saving them for later use, you might well be helping your garden. That’s right; it’s no small coincidence that eggshells are used by keen gardeners everywhere.
Now that spring is on the horizon, and so more and more people will be spending time in their gardens, I’ve decided to give 9 reasons as to why you should give eggshells a chance. With the following tips, your garden will be flourishing in no time at all. An added bonus is that none of the tips are complicated to put into practise.
Have a look through the list below, and remember to share with your friends afterwards so that they, too, can put their eggshells to good use. They’ll appreciate it!
1. Nutrients for the soil
Eggshells are broken down quickly, and can supply many nutrients to the soil. Amongst other things, the shells contain valuable calcium and other minerals. If you have enough eggshells, you can really enrich your soil.
2. Drainage
Digging holes and placing eggshells below your plants can assist in increasing the drainage capacity and air circulation of the soil. This, in turn, helps plants stay healthy. Just remember that you’re going to have to replace the eggshells as they degrade.
3. Tomatoes
Tomatoes, aubergines and peppers can suffer from calcium deficiency when growing, which causes them to rot. One tip to avoid this is to bury eggshells in the soil. As stated previously, the calcium they contain can be absorbed by the soil and then used by the plants.
4. Keeping snails and worms at bay
A classic garden hack is to scatter broken eggshells around plants, flowers and crops. Apparently the shells are good for keeping snails and worms away, because they don’t like to go over them. All without touching pesticides!
5. Keeping deer away
Alright, not all of you have to worry about deer getting in amongst your plants, but for those that do (the more rural-based readers), deers apparently hate the smell of eggshells.
6. Growing pods
If you’re thinking about planting seeds, eggshells can be perfect as bio-degradable pots. Rinse the shell, place your shells in a carton by the windowsill and fix the soil and shoots. This way, the plants get extra calcium too (as already discussed). When the shoots get too big, simply place the shells in the ground. Of course, it’s a good idea to make a hole in the eggshell for the roots to spread out from.
7. Bird food
Small birds love crushed eggshells because they contain so much calcium. When birds flock to your garden, they offer even more benefits – including their own methods of pest control!
8. pH balance
The pH balance of soil can affect the colour of certain flowers. Take, for example, the hydrangea, which can turn pink or blue depending on the acid/alkali balance in the soil. If your soil is too acidic, using eggshells to balance the pH can be a neat trick.
9. Compost
Eggshells can be a great addition to compost heaps. Remember to crush the shells first to ensure you get the best results!
With these few tips, you can reduce waste and help your garden all at the same time – and it’s so easy to do!
Don’t forget to share these tips with your friends so they can benefit from these hacks involving eggshells.
