Use Egg Shells and Coffee Grounds In The Garden To Maximize Success & Minimize Waste (2024)

FAQs

Are eggshells and coffee grounds good for your garden? ›

Coffee grounds contain compounds that feed healthy soil but they don't lower pH. Eggshells do not prevent blossom end rot. They add organic material for soil organisms, but you may as well just put them in the compost. Epsom salts can be harmful to soil, plants and water.

More From Delish. The egg's purpose is twofold. First, the alkaline pH of the eggs and their shells balance out the acidic quality of coffee grounds and make for a smoother cup. Secondly, the protein in the eggs coagulate as the coffee boils and collect the free-floating grounds without the need for a coffee filter.

"Eggshells will add some immediate calcium to the soil if ground up to a fine powder," Austin wrote4. He suggests crushing your eggshells and adding them to your compost pile, or choosing fertilizers that already have calcium.

Avoid using coffee grounds on alkaline-loving trees, such as linden, ironwood, red chestnut and arborvitae. Coffee grounds used as mulch or compost inhibit plant growth on geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.

Coffee grounds are packed with nutrients that tomato plants love, like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. They help improve soil structure and promote microbial activity, which can lead to healthier, more robust tomato plants. Plus, they may even help deter certain pests.

Wondering what plants don't like eggshells? It's best to avoid using them on varieties that naturally prefer more acidic soil, such as azaleas and geraniums.

Adding the egg helps clarify the coffee, allowing the grounds to separate from the water easily. The egg white extracts the bitterness from the grounds and enhances the caffeine. The result is a light, clear brew with absolutely no bitterness or acidity and a velvety texture that's easy to drink.

Wash the shells well and crumble them with your hands or grind with a mortar and pestle, food processor, blender, et cetera. Mix it into the garden soil or potting mix.

After all, the last thing you want is a contaminated compost pile in your backyard. Rinsing and sterilizing your eggshells in the oven will kill salmonella and remove any pesky pathogens from your eggshells, rendering them safe and beneficial for your compost pile.

Egg shells are a source of phosphorous and organic material. They, however, take a long time to break down and benefit the soil. Always rinse them thoroughly before adding to the soil. Egg residue can attract rodents to the garden.

How often should I put egg shells in my garden? ›

It is advisable to crush and incorporate eggshells into your garden soil regularly, as they provide valuable calcium and minerals that benefit plant growth. Aim to scatter crushed eggshells around your garden every few weeks or as needed.

Ants especially don't like them - both grounds and the acids damage their exoskeletons. Use spent grounds to keep ants out of the house by laying down a 2 inch wide line around the foundation and entrances. It also works for many kinds of worms, snails, slugs and other insects.

Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen. They also have some amount of other nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. Overall, this means that adding coffee grounds to your garden can work fairly well as a fertiliser. Coffee should be spread in a thin layer, rather than being clumped in one place.

Not only do they repel mosquitoes, but also other insects such as wasps and bees. Coffee grounds are the bee's knees when it comes to staying bug bite free. Most bugs have a very strong sense of smell. Coffee grounds are very potent and even more potent once they are burned.

As for eggshells, LA Compost praises their contribution of calcium, another common ingredient in fertilizer. The added boost is particularly useful for growing plants like tomatoes and peppers, which may suffer from calcium deficiency.

For example, avoid adding any caffeine to plants that are germinating. Freshly seeded areas should be avoided as well. Fresh grounds, and caffeine in general, have allelopathic properties. This can stunt plant growth and do more harm than good.

Not only do they repel mosquitoes, but also other insects such as wasps and bees. Coffee grounds are the bee's knees when it comes to staying bug bite free. Most bugs have a very strong sense of smell. Coffee grounds are very potent and even more potent once they are burned.

Acidic-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and roses will benefit from a sprinkling of coffee grounds around the base of plants. Vegetable crops that may benefit from coffee grounds include carrots, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, and radishes.