Using eggshells in the garden is possible, read these 8 excellent ideas for more info. Whatâs more, the slugs I have found were out in the open instead of feasting on the plants that are safe inside a lovely ring of sharp eggshell pieces. Eggshells In The Garden Can Deter Some Pests. If slugs are bothering in your garden, then keep these little insects to coarsely crumbled eggshells all around the plant to eat. Other textures that work include coffee grounds, coarse sand, sheepâs wool (itâs scratchy! Apparently you can also use eggâs insides to deter deer. Just check whatever youâre using wonât alter the soil quality. To rid a garden of these pesky critters, some gardeners turn to homemade solutions while others use commercial treatments for more serious infestations. ), and D iatomaceous Earth. 1. The majority of snails act are nocturnal and donât like being exposed to sunlight. But do crushed eggshells really deter hungry snails and slugs? These garden pests are a real pain in the gardener's neck, and cutworms are the worst, killing seedlings by severing the stems at soil level. Though recent studies have debunked the idea that crushed eggshells will deter snails and slugs wherever theyâre sprinkled, eggshells may still provide some benefit as a pest repellent. A Spanish slug laid its eggs under garden fabric. Only water your garden when necessary so as to minimize the damp places in which slugs and snails congregate. Re-apply every time it rains. 6. Use eggshells for garden slug control, the sharp edges prevent slugs from taking over your garden. If you have chickens or ducks, they will help by eating these pests and their eggs. Crushed eggshells works much like diatomaceous earth on these pests. This means that the ground doesnât need to be dug over, especially not in places where eggs arenât to be expected. Using eggshells in the garden is one of the most prominent #GardenMyths I see on social media. See DIY: Homemade Deer Spray. The Good. Use Eggshells for Garden Slug Control. Deer dislike the smell of the albumen and will stay away. Do finely ground eggshells deter slugs? I n my urban garden, a cairn of dog hair at the base of my dahlias successfully fends off nocturnal predators, unless thereâs a wind, obviously. By following the steps below you can eliminate most slug or snail damage and grow a great garden. Crumpled up eggshells can deter snails and slugs. Do not grind the eggshells, but crush them by hand so the shells are in pieces. There are many tools in the battle again garden snails and slugs. However, if the soil is loamy and there are cavities below the surface, snails can hide themselves and their eggs inside the ground. Crushed eggshells are recommended as an excellent deterrent against Japanese beetles. The sharp edges of the eggshells deter snails and slugs by cutting on their sensitive foot. Also, when theyâre added to your garden beds, crushed eggshells have been said to actually prevent deer from grazing ⦠The abrasive, ⦠Place crushed eggshells in the bottom of empty pots before adding soil. The coffee grounds are a natural pesticide against slugs, and crushed eggshells will cut up the undersides of any slug trying to go over it. Because of their soft bodies, snails and slugs cannot cross over a barrier with sharp edges. All have been used with some degree of success and are offered here for you to try. Ducks will gladly dine on slugs, but you canât always allow them in your garden. Her picture shows multiple snails climbing right over the eggshells with no problem. Garden slugs are especially damaging to vegetable and berry crops because they eat both the leaves and the fruit. Use crushed egg shells, pine needles or thorny cuttings to create barriers and recycle unwanted leftovers and foliage. She hopes to run the study again on a different slug population and different soil type at RHS Garden, Harlow Carr in 2019. Sprinkle coarsely crumpled up eggshells around plants that are typically targeted by snail and slugs. The sharp edges of the shells will stop these insects; most of the slugs will easily go out in search of easily available food. Spread Broken Eggshells/Nutshells. 5. Sprinkle the eggshells around your garden to deter pests. The sharp edges of the shells will stop these insects; most of the snails and slugs will easily go out in search of easily available food. A recent RHS study in a garden-realistic scenario however, found no reduction in slug damage from barriers made of copper tape, bark mulch, eggshells, sharp grit or wool pellets Most of these non-chemical control options have very little scientific research into them, but the RHS is hoping to address this knowledge gap and is carrying out a range of scientific studies. The RHS also plans to test alternative control methods, such as beer traps, and is currently working with BASF to investigate ways to combine scientifically proven control methods into pest management strategies. In that case, try roughly crushed eggshells around the base of plants to deter snails and slugs who wish to devour your lovely greens. Eggshells can also be used in the garden to help fight off pests like slugs, snails, cutworms and other crawling pests. Better for you â no toxic chemicals around you, your kids, pets, or the ⦠95% of slugs are underground, nibbling on seeds and roots and laying eggs â they lay 20-100 eggs multiple times every year. Egg shells are composed of more than 95% of minerals. This strongly scented ingredient is known to create the perfect recipe to rid snails and slugs from your garden. If slugs and snails are a problem in your garden, eggshells can help you keep them away. Snails and slugs love dampness so after heavy rainfall you are likely to find more in your garden. All three of these pests have soft undersides, and dislike slithering across anything sharp. To Deter Snails and Slugs. The eggshells will add calcium to the soil in the containers, provide drainage and deter cutworms and slugs. Read more about Eggs are an inexpensive and most effective source of protein you eat, but do you know eggshells are useful too? It will scratch up the bellies of slugs who will want to avoid them. In open areas and inside finely structured soils, most slugs and snails will not lay eggs. Scattering crushed eggshells around your crops may help to repel cutworms, those nasty caterpillars that like to chop the heads off of your delicate little seedlings. Eggshells work reasonably well ⦠Sharp and edgy shells of eggs and nuts are a great remedy for slugs. Again, it is the calcium content that comes into play. Crush the eggshells, and then scatter the eggshells and coffee grounds around the area you want protected against slugs. Yet eggshells are quite useful in adding calcium to homemade fertilizers, or you can simply make calcium water by steeping dried eggshells in water for a couple of days, and then using the strained water for your plants, including houseplants. Add eggshells to the bottom of garden containers and pots. Use recycled eggshells to deter snails and slugs. Slugs love dark and damp, so keeping the garden tidy can reduce places for them to find comfort. Sprinkle the eggshell powder around the plants. Instead they have a horny plate concealed under the mantle or saddle. Be aware, however, that while deer hate the smell of eggs, rodents love it. It is a myth that eggshells deter slugs. Prevent slugs in your garden by getting rid of slug eggs. I ran across this picture, which sums it up nicely. In early spring, make sure to rake your garden to remove leaves, debris and slug eggs⦠You can get rid of them by sprinkling coarse ground eggshells around your garden. Slugs and snails have many natural predators. Crushed eggshells also provide a boost of calcium to the soil making it more fertile. Give your tomatoes a calcium boost. Slugs are icky looking and also like to eat sprouting leaves in your garden. Clean up. Many gardeners prefer natural, non-chemical methods, especially when vegetable gardening. The added benefit in this method is that both eggshells and coffee grounds are a great natural fertilizer for your garden. During this yearâs growing season, I have been using our eggshells in the garden and have seen very few slugs. Your plants will thank you. Soft-bodied critters like slugs or snails donât like crawling over sharp pieces of eggshell. Photo Credit: GrowVeg.com. Another garden use for this type of readily-available food waste is to pile sharp, crushed pieces of shell around the bases of plants as a barrier, to deter certain soft-bodied pests. Crushed eggshells, applied to the soil's surface, may help deter these pests. Non-toxic slug control in the garden The following methods are non-chemical measures for slug control. Garden slug - Arion hortensis - up to 30 mm long, bluish-black with orange underside; Great grey slug - Limax maximus - up to 200 mm long, pale grey with dark spots; Large black slug - Arion ater - up to 150 mm long, jet black or orange with a black head. If you grow them in your garden they will attract the slugs and all you will need to do is pick them up at dusk or put a slug trap nearby. One popular recommendation is to create a slug and snail barrier with crushed eggshells. Use crushed eggshells in the garden to deter pests. The idea here is that if you crush the eggshells slightly (not into a fine powder) and scatter them around your plants, the edges will be too sharp for slugs and snails to crawl over and therefore will deter them from attacking your veggies. 5. Eggshells can Deter Slugs and Snails This is perhaps the most highly-debated benefit of adding eggshells to your garden. That couldnât be further from the truth. 5. 3) Get Rid of Slugs. Plus, there is a lot of calcium in eggshells, so youâre adding natural fertilizer to the garden as well! Snails and slugs hate anything that is sharp or rough, so they will slink away when they get to the shells. Slugs are similar to snails, but they have no shell. 5. A slimy issue It is not, however, possible to offer a guarantee of success, since the effectiveness of each method depends on the location and exactly how it is applied. Some people are grossed out by the idea of using eggshells in the garden, believing that the shells will attract pests as they decompose. Add them to the compost . Above: A coating of crushed eggshells in the garden is said to help deter several pests, both large and small. When crawling pests cross over an area in the garden where crushed eggshells have been spread, the eggshells make several small cuts in the pests. Tips for Using Eggshells in the Garden. Create a slippery barrier. The poster explains that she tried to use eggshells to keep slugs away. ⦠Blossom-end rot is a common tomato problem, but I recently learned that it is actually caused by a calcium deficiency in the plant. To use eggshells to deter snails and slugs: Crush the eggshells in a food processor. Slugs love cool, dark and moist spots under boards, piles of leaves, old nursery pots, weedy areas and low hanging leaves at the base of plants. Use crushed eggshells to deter slugs, snails, and cutworms. Slug control is a matter of changing a few habits, timing our attacks and using a few common tools. Since these crawling creatures find it hard to move over sharp surfaces to reach your plants and fruits, you will soon find them leaving your garden. If slugs and snails are bothering in your garden, then keep these little insects to coarsely crumbled eggshells all around the plant to eat. Plus, damage can happen before you even know there's an infestation, though chewed leaves and slimy trails are telltale signs. I ran a quick experiment to find out. Another great material to use is sharp sand.