[AG-EQ] How Eggshells Can Improve Your Garden

[dogwood farm]

How Eggshells Can Improve Your Garden
Written by Erin Huffstetler

If you eat a lot of eggs, you naturally end up with an abundance of
eggshells. Instead of throwing them in the trash or down the disposal,
you can make good use of them in your garden.[1] Rinse them out and
allow them to dry, then crush or powder them, and use them for a
variety of purposes. They become a no-cost fertilizer, pest deterrent,
cat deterrent, pots for seeds, or chicken feed supplement. And
eggshells make a great addition to the compost pile.

01 of 06  Fertilizer
 Prevent blossom end rot by fertilizing your tomatoes, peppers, and
eggplants with eggshells. The plants absorb the calcium from the
eggshells and grow mostly problem-free. For maximum effect, sprinkle
eggshells into each hole before planting. Then sprinkle additional
shells around the base of your plants every two weeks.

02 of 06  Garden Pest Deterrent
Slugs, snails, and cutworms can do serious damage to your garden. You
can protect your plants from these pests by spreading crushed
eggshells around your garden. The jagged edges will do a number on the
soft bodies of these pests if they try to cross them.

03 of 06  Cat Deterrent
If a neighborhood cat thinks your garden is his own personal litter
box, you need to engage in a little dissuasion. Cats have an aversion
to eggshells, and they will keep any wandering kitties out of your
garden beds. Just scatter eggshells in the areas that the cats
frequent, and after stepping on those shells a few times, they'll
decide some other garden is preferable to yours.

04 of 06  Compost
Eggshells are the perfect candidate for composting. They break down
quickly, and they add a nice dose of calcium to the soil. Just make
sure the shells are dry before you add them to the pile so you don't
attract any unwanted critters. If you have a worm compost bin, adding
eggshells is a great way to maintain the proper pH level.

05 of 06  Seed Pots
You don't need to spend money on small pots to start seeds in the
spring. Just fill half an eggshell with a tiny bit of potting soil,
drop a seed in, and sprinkle with water. If you save your egg cartons,
you'll have the perfect container to hold your seed starts until
they're ready to plant.

06 of 06  Chicken Feed Supplement
If you're one of the many homeowners who keep chickens in their
backyard, you want to keep your hens healthy. Hens need plenty of
calcium to lay thick-shelled eggs. Add crushed or powdered eggshells
to their regular feed to help them get the nutrients that they need.
Just don't feed them whole shells; that might make them develop a
taste for the ones in their nesting boxes.

Susan