Updated: May 2018
Crush eggshells into small pieces and sprinkle them on top of the soil. Slugs, cutworms, and other insects are put off by the crunch when they crawl over the sharp edges and will leave for softer pastures. You can also toss the crushed shells into your compost heap. They break down quickly and give your plants a much-needed dose of calcium, which can help with bottom-end rot, a calcium deficiency found in some plants.
The smell of eggs will also deter deer.
Crushing eggshells for pest control is as easy as tossing your empty eggshells into a food processor for a few seconds or just rolling them under a bottle or rolling pin. After the eggshells are crushed, sprinkle them around the areas in your garden where you are having problems with slugs and other crawling pests.
Using eggshells in the garden is a great way to make use of something that would normally just get thrown out. You can put eggshells in compost, in soil or use them as a kind of organic insecticide, which means that not only are you helping reduce trash, but helping your garden too.
How to Prepare Eggshells for Use in the Garden/Tomatoes
Extra tips to reuse eggshells:
Will it harm my beneficial Lady beetle insects?
Not at all! 🙂
If it works like diatomaceous earth, it will harm any hard shell insect that comes in contact with it.
Wow I knew that we could use the in the soil as calcium for my tomatoes….but I am going to try this. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the comment! I have tried it already for my herbs last year and they even lasted longer because of all the protein they provide to the soil as well 🙂
I like this idea. I am going to try it.
Thank you for commenting! Let me know how it goes
this is a good idea for all category of people…. people must use this technique..i will try…..
I’ve already been saving up my eggshells. Can’t wait to give this a try this year.
Can I sprinkle the ground egg shells right on my blooming roses? The Japanese beetles eat holes in the roses and this year was the worst. There are no sprays I have tried everything.
I could not find any website with natural solution for the roses, just hand picking them and drowning them in soapy water. Other than that just as prevention they advice to invest in beetle bag traps.
You could try to sprinkle just on one rose bud to see the reaction, but if you need more useful info, click on this link, may be useful: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/japanese-beetles
Pest command is actually a principal worry on the subject of caring for your property and people who reside in it. Regretably, pests can be exceptionally perseverant with regards to attaining entry into your house and taking up home.
Someone had mentioned “baking ” the shells at 180 degrees for 2 hours to dry them out… Yes>? No> needed>?
I have read that to, I don’t think it makes a difference. Doesn’t harm the calcium unless is very veery hot, but also doesn’t improve anything. Just dry them up and crush them so the soil gets the calcium and still use them as pesticide.
Thank you for reading and for your comment!
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Good to know about egg shells. Saving my egg shells starting now. Thanks
Thank you for passing by Linda! 💚