Eggshells are a super useful kitchen scrap that are often simply thrown in the compost – but they can be used to transform the health, look and feel of your lawn
This simple kitchen waste item could completely revamp your garden, so hold off on tossing it into the compost bin for now. As we gear up for the balmy summer months, everyone’s keen to get their gardens looking tip-top.
For many, the lawn is the star of their outdoor space, but it does need a bit of TLC to stay in peak condition. Whether you’re planning garden parties this summer or just fancy lounging with a good book, this savvy gardening trick using cheap kitchen leftovers can help cultivate thick, lush grass – and it’s super eco-friendly to boot.
Garden Olive Firewood experts reveal that all you need to turn a lacklustre lawn into a verdant oasis is a common kitchen waste item we often toss into the compost: eggshells.
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Dan McCarthy, who runs the sustainable firewood firm, explains there are several reasons why eggshells make great garden fertilisers – not only do they work wonders on your lawn, but they can also give a major boost to any border plants or potted flowers you have.
Eggshells are a potent fertiliser, says McCarthy, as they balance soil pH, enrich it with calcium, release nutrients into the soil, and generally enhance your soil structure. Plus, they can even ward off certain pests – so there are plenty of benefits to adopting this expert-endorsed hack in your garden upkeep.
There are a couple of nifty tricks to make the most out of your eggshells in the garden, and it’s simpler than you might think. For starters, crushing your eggshells into a fine powder can speed up their integration into the soil.
“Collect clean, dry eggshells and crush them into small pieces or powder,” the gardening guru suggests. They recommend using a mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or food processor for effective crushing.
“You can use a mortar and pestle, a rolling pin, or a food processor to crush them effectively. The finer the eggshells are crushed, the faster they will decompose and release nutrients into the soil.”
Next up, you’ll want to blend those crushed shells into your soil or compost, depending on where in your garden needs a boost. “Once you have crushed the eggshells, mix them into your compost pile or directly into the soil in your garden. Incorporating crushed eggshells into compost will help enrich it with calcium and other minerals, improving the overall nutrient content of the compost.”
And if you’re not keen on getting your hands dirty with eggshell crushing, there’s an alternative: eggshell tea. This concoction is perfect for promoting healthy soil and plant growth.
“You can make a nutrient-rich compost tea using crushed eggshells. Simply steep crushed eggshells in water for a few days to extract the calcium and other minerals. Then, strain the mixture and use the resulting compost tea to water your plants,” advises McCarthy.
When sprucing up your garden this spring and getting your hands dirty with new planting, don’t forget to toss some of your crushed eggshells into the planting holes. “This will provide a slow-release source of calcium for the roots of the plants as they grow.”
That’s not all; you can also boost potted plant life by layering the bottom of the pots with these crushed shells, creating a plush, nutrient-dense environment for any seeds you’re nurturing.
And if you’ve already got a green family growing, add those eggshells straight to the base as an effective mulch.
