Eggshells: Using them as natural fertilizer

Last Updated on: 9th February 2025, 08:14 am

eggshells egg shells in the garden for health plants

Turn your egg shells from food waste to natural fertilizer.

Eggshells are more than just kitchen waste—they’re a natural, cost-effective way to improve your garden’s soil, deter pests, and promote healthier plants. If you’ve been tossing them in the trash, you might want to rethink that. Let’s dig into why eggshells offer so many benefits to your garden.

Eggshells Enrich Your Soil with Calcium Carbonate

One of the biggest benefits of eggshells in the garden is their high calcium content and other essential nutrients. Calcium is essential for plant cell wall development and helps prevent issues like blossom end rot, a common problem in tomatoes, peppers, and squash. When eggshells break down, they slowly release calcium carbonate into the soil, making it a natural soil amendment.

The Easiest Way to Use Leftover Eggshells:

Crush the shells into small pieces and mix them into the soil when planting.
Let them decompose naturally, improving the soil over time.
Add them to your compost heap to boost nutrient content.

How to Grind Fine Powder Egg Shells for the Garden

If you want eggshells to break down faster and release their nutrients more efficiently, turning them into a fine powder is the way to go. Here’s a quick and easy method to grind them before adding to your plants:

Eggshell Powder Recipe

Ingredients & Tools:

12+ eggshells (the more, the better!)
Baking sheet
Oven
Blender, food processor, rolling pin, grinder, or mortar and pestle

Instructions:

Rinse the eggshells thoroughly to remove any egg residue. Let them dry completely.
Bake at 200°F for 10-15 minutes to make them brittle and easier to grind.
Simply crush or grind into eggshell powder using a blender, food processor, coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle.
Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

How to Use:

Sprinkle a tablespoon of egg shells into each planting hole for added calcium and other minerals.
Mix into your compost bin.
Dust over garden beds to improve soil health gradually.

This egg shell powder is faster-acting than crushed shells and is perfect for gardeners looking for an easy boost.

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Natural Pest Control: Eggshells vs. Slugs and Snails

Garden pests like slugs and snails can wreak havoc on your plants, but crushed eggshells are a natural deterrent. Their sharp edges create an uncomfortable barrier that discourages these pests from crossing into your garden beds.

How to Use Egg Shells for Pest Control:

Dry and crush the shells into small, jagged pieces.
Sprinkle them around plants vulnerable to slug damage, like hostas, strawberries, and leafy greens.
Reapply after heavy rain to maintain effectiveness.

Eggshells Improve Soil Drainage and Aeration

Mixing eggshells into heavy or compacted soil helps improve drainage and aeration. This is especially useful if clay, or heavy soil tends to hold water, leading to root rot and other problems.

How to Use Eggs to Improve Drainage:

Work finely crushed eggshells into garden soil to promote better water flow and root development.
Combine with other organic matter, like compost, to maximize soil improvement.
They can contribute to improving soil acidity (although lime is still the best way to counteract acidic soil!)

Composting Eggshells: A Simple Way to Boost Your Compost Pile

If you compost, crushed egg shells are a great addition to balance your compost pile’s nutrition. Eggs – from the egg white to the shells – are considered a “brown” material (high in carbon). That means eggs and egg shells can balance out “green” materials like fruit scraps and grass clippings.

Over time, the nutrients found in egg shells break down and enrich your compost bin with calcium, traces of magnesium, and other nutrients.

Eggshells Can Help Seedlings You Have Fast Growing Plants

Looking for a biodegradable seed-starting container? Eggshells make perfect mini pots for seedlings! They provide a protective environment, and as they break down, they supply nutrients directly to the plant roots.

How to Use:

Rinse eggshells and let them dry.
Fill each half an eggshell with potting mix and plant seeds.
Keep them in a sunny spot and mist them with water.
Once seedlings are strong enough, transplant them into the garden – egg shell and all!

Use Duck or Chicken Egg Shells on Spider Plants Indoors

Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) love eggshells because they provide a gentle, natural calcium boost that supports healthy growth without overwhelming the plant. A common issue with this species is brown leaf tips, often caused by fluoride or chlorine in tap water. Calcium from eggshells helps buffer the soil, reducing fluoride absorption and keeping leaf tips greener. This is true of most plants!

Are Eggshells the Perfect Solution for Your Garden?

Eggshells are a cheap, natural way to boost garden health, deter pests, and promote plant growth. They take time to break down, so they won’t offer instant results, but with regular use, they can improve your garden’s overall health.

So, next time you crack an egg for breakfast, don’t toss the shell—give it back to your garden! Utilize eggshells and start gardening with fewer commercially purchased fertilizers.

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Author Profile

Deborah Tayloe

Deborah Tayloe is the CEO and co-founder of Tayloe's Lawn Care Services, LLC. She has a B.S.Ed and holds certificates in soil and water management and herbology from accredited programs.