Want some eggcellent tips on garden care? We've got em'.
Here at Evergreen, we know that “going green” doesn’t just pertain to what you put in and on your body. To us it includes how you treat your environment and all your resources, including those you dispose of. So in order to showcase just how resourceful and green you can be, we decided to share some really unique, valuable ways to use eggshells in your garden!
Before we get started, it’s important to know exactly why eggshells are so powerful. Each eggshell is made up of 96% calcium carbonate crystals, which are bound together by proteins. This means that each eggshell is made up almost entirely of the very thing that creates the plant cell structure, making it an invaluable component of growth in your garden.
Fertilizer
Eggshells present a great, unique way to introduce the calcium mineral into your soil through fertilization. You wash them and till them into the soil as is, or you may choose to grind them up to encourage the decomposing process. They’re also extremely powerful at the bottom of a new hole, and mixed with other organic matter, to help new plants come to life.
Deer Deterrent
This one requires much less work—in fact you don’t even have to wash the eggshells! Deer hate the smell of albumin, also known as egg whites, so the shells keep them from snacking and stomping on your growing garden. It’s important to note that too many eggshells for too long might attract smaller rodents, such as raccoons and mice.
Pest Repellant
If you’re battling an infestation of snails or slugs in your garden, the safest method of repellant is ground up eggshells. Crumble the shells up into small, coarse pieces and sprinkle them around the plants that attract the most pests, and they’ll disappear in no time. That’s because the soft, sensitive feet of these unwanted visitors make navigating sharp eggshells challenging and dangerous.
So before you toss your eggshells down the garbage disposal, think about some of these unique, innovative ways for reducing, reusing, and recycling them. And when you’re ready to discover more fresh ways to transform your yard, check out everything our Evergreen experts have to offer!
