How To Use Eggshells In The Garden | Cost-Cutting Gardening Hacks

Want ideas on how to use eggshells in the garden other than just for composting? Help yourself to these practical and cost-cutting ways to maximize your eggshells.

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How to Use Eggshells in the Garden in 15 Smart Ways

Amazing Ways to Use Eggshells in the Garden

Can you keep track of the eggs consumed in your household? From cooking the family’s favorite egg omelets and pancakes to baking your delicious deviled eggs, cakes, and pastries, eggs are never absent at home.

It’s no secret eggs are healthy for us, but did you know they’re healthy for the garden too? The eggshells, at least, of which I am in no short supply.

If you happen to be curious as to how to make use of these eggshells that you think don’t serve much purpose once cracked, then lucky you! I’ve been practicing some of these gardening ideas myself.

Find out how to use eggshells in the garden and cut back on gardening costs with this infographic:

1. How to Use Eggshells in the Garden Compost

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Eggshells are organic compost material valued in the garden for its hefty calcium content beneficial to the soil and plants. They are green compost materials that comprise only a third in a healthy and balanced compost.

But don’t throw the rest of the eggshells away because I still have several more great ways to use eggshells in the garden.

To use eggshells for composting:

1. They’re better crushed for a faster breaking down process. Put them in a bag and crush them with anything hard.
2. You can also step on them, in your shoes of course, as eggshells can be sharp.
3. Then spread them over or mix them with the rest of the organic compost materials.

2. Eggshell Pest Deterrent

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Slugs and snails are among the most notable pests in any garden. They like to munch on tender leaves of vegetables and fruits.

To prevent these critters from invading the plants, spread crushed eggshells around them.

The slugs and snails will find the sharp edges of the eggshells such an impenetrable barrier they’ll abandon their quest.

Be careful, though, as the scent of rotten eggs could potentially attract scavengers like rodents instead.

3. Eggshells Seed Starting Pots

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The idea of biodegradable seed-starting planters is truly ingenious. Eggshells are biodegradable, meaning they rot in the soil leaving their nutrients behind.

Instead of plastic seed-starting pots, why not use eggshells where they can just be planted along with the seedling. No more worries over having to disturb the roots of the plants or even destroying them.

If you find this a great plan for your own seed-starting projects, you’ll have to sanitize them first by pouring hot water over the shells. They can also be allowed to dry under the sun to save on utility costs.

Puncture tiny holes at the bottom of the shells for seed-starting. Then you can place them back up in the tray to let them stand.

4. Pretty And Dainty Eggshell Planter Ideas

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Not only do eggshells make great seed-starting pots, but they also make nice planters for ornamental plants. Our favorite mini plants like cacti and succulents will feel at home in these equally cute planters.

Face Emoji Eggshell Planters

For the extra artsy gardeners, eggshells will make a great medium for crafts such as these silly emoji faces. Your imagination is your only limit to making great designs for these tiny planters.

Succulent Eggshell Planters

Succulents are enjoying some kind of popularity in home and garden design with their diversity. Take this succulent design for your indoor garden, with tiny succulents that could fit perfectly in tiny eggshell planters.

5. Eggshells for Your Stock Pot or Bone Broth

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Did you know that adding eggshells to your vegetable stock or bone broth is highly beneficial for your health? Crushed eggshells are known for its calcium content but it also contains other minerals as well:

• zinc
• selenium
• magnesium
• iron
• phosphorus
• fluoride

Worried it will affect the taste of your bone broth? Don’t be. You get all this nutrition and the flavor stays the same.

6. Eggshells On Bird Feeders

Birds are more useful to your garden more than you think. They provide protection to your plants since they are natural prey to some of the most common garden pests.

Some bird species are also pollinators helping fertilize plants and bear fruits. Besides, the sight of them in the garden brings cheer and amusement.

We give back to them by putting up birdbaths and bird feeders.

Go extra further by providing them calcium supplements which they will appreciate. Sterilize and crush the eggs, then mix them with the seeds in the bird feeder.

7. Eggshells Garden Decor

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I’ve seen this garden decor idea before in a Christmas garden decoration with Christmas balls in place of eggshells through the tips of Yucca leaves.

For a more organic approach to this simple design, it’s great to have eggshells in place of plastic balls. But the eggshells could also use a bit of design or painting.

8. Eggshells for Healthy Tomatoes

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To promote healthy growing tomatoes, best to place a handful of coarsely crumbled eggshells under your tomato plants. The amount of extra calcium, minerals, and elements will be extremely beneficial to your tomatoes as they steadily grow throughout the season.

RELATED: Starting A Garden This Spring | Easy Gardening Tips And Tricks

9. Eggshells for pH Balance

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Scatter finely ground eggshells all over your garden to balance out the acidity of your garden soil. The calcium carbonate found in eggshells can neutralize the pH balance of the garden soil if it is too acidic for your crops to grow.

It is important to note that hand crushed eggshells are not sufficient enough to change the pH and add calcium to the soil. Studies prove that the eggshells must be thoroughly ground in order to balance the pH and increase the soil calcium level.

10. Eggshells for Chicken Feed

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Toss a handful of eggshells to your chickens if you want them to lay healthy eggs. The calcium from eggshells is beneficial for a vitamin boost, especially when laying eggs.

All you need to do is:

1. Collect enough eggshells and dry them out at room temperature.
2. Lay them out then crush the eggshells smoothly with a mortar and pestle.
3. Place them on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for ten minutes at 375°F.

11. Eggshells for a Great Coffee Experience

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Did you know that ground eggshells make a fine addition to your coffee? The high heat when making campfire coffee runs the risk of boiling over the coffee grounds.

The eggshells will prevent this from happening. Also, when coffee is brewed long enough to make it very bitter, eggshells help make your coffee less acidic.

One egg’s worth of finely crushed shell is good for four cups of great coffee!

12. Eggshells for the Worm Bin

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Eggshells are also useful in worm composting aside from the regular compost pile. If you’re into vermiculture, the worms will consume the crushed eggshells and convert this nourishment into worm castings.

These castings are highly nutritious and will help increase the pH of your worm bin.

13. Eggshells as Deer Repellent

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Does deer frequently visit your precious garden in the dead of night? If so, scatter crushed eggshells around your garden perimeter to keep those deer from munching on your veggies.

Deer hate the smell of albumen or egg white, which will drive them away from your greens.

14. Extra Calcium for Your Dog

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Crushed eggshells provide an extra source of protein and calcium for dogs. Here’s how:

1. Place clean eggshells on a baking pan and bake for 30 minutes at 250°F.
2. Put the baked eggshells inside a zipper bag then crush until its powder-like.
3. Mix the crushed fine powder eggshells with the dog food for extra calcium that aid in fortifying your pet’s bones and teeth.

15. Eggshells as Garden Mulch

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After using eggs for meals and food preparations, bring the eggshells out and spread them all over your garden. The slowly decomposing eggshells will help supply air to the soil and provide calcium as well.

Note: The finer the eggshells are crushed, the faster they will decompose.

Check this video for more ideas on why and how to use eggshells in the garden:

There you have it smart green thumbs! Practical ideas on how to use eggshells in the garden.

I hope I’ve also enlightened you on why you should use eggshells in the garden and how to cut back on your gardening expense. Isn’t it surprising that what we need for the garden are accessible at home?

How do you use your eggshells in the garden? I’d be delighted to find out about your own ideas in the comments section below.