Using eggshells as organic pest control is inexpensive, and easy! In this post, not only will I show you how to use eggshells in your garden, I will also show you exactly how to prepare eggshells for garden use – including tips for cleaning and drying eggshells, grinding them into powder, and storing eggshells and powder for later use.
The flea beetles have been worse than ever in my garden this summer, and the Japanese beetles are no fun either. On top of that, the slugs have been turning my hostas into Swiss cheese (Ahhh, the joys of gardening). I need all the help I can get fighting these and other bugs in the garden organically.
Using Eggshells As Organic Pest Control
There is a well known organic pesticide called diatomaceous earth, which is basically the fossilized remains of creatures that are ground into a fine powder.
This works as a pesticide because it gets under the shells of beetles and acts like bits of glass to cut them up and kill them. Snails and slugs will also die if they slink across it.
Well guess what, ground eggshells can work the same way. I eat a lot of eggs, so I have plenty of eggshells. Which means I can have the benefits of diatomaceous earth for free – Oh, and I’m all about free pest control!
Eggshells can help to control garden pests like flea beetles
How To Make Eggshell Powder For Your Garden
There are lots of uses for eggshells in the garden. So, whether you want to try using eggshells as organic pest control, or you plan to use it in other ways, the steps for making organic eggshell powder are the same.
Below I will show you how to prepare eggshells for garden use, and give you details of each of the steps. The steps include cleaning and drying eggshells, grinding them into powder, how to use your eggshells as organic pest control, and how to store leftover eggshells or eggshell powder for later use in the garden.
How To Clean Eggshells
I get asked about the steps I use for cleaning eggshells before crushing them all the time. But the truth is, I don’t really fuss too much about this. If there is yolk or a lot of egg whites left in the shells, I will give them a quick rinse with water before drying them.
But if they’re already fairly clean, I don’t bother taking the time to clean them. I’ve never had a problem with my eggshell powder stinking. So, my advice on this would be… if your eggshells are dirty, then definitely rinse them with water before drying and crushing them.
Methods Of Drying Eggshells
You’ll definitely need to allow the eggshells to dry out before crushing them, so don’t skip this step. There are a few methods you could use for drying eggshells. Just as with cleaning the eggshells, my method for drying them isn’t fancy here either. I simply lay them out on a paper towel and leave them sitting on the counter for a few days.
If I have a lot of eggshells to dry and I don’t want to clutter up my counters, then I toss them into a paper bag in the pantry where they dry out in a few days. If you choose to toss them into a paper bag like I do, just make sure you don’t stack the eggshells. Toss each one in there loosely, otherwise they won’t dry as fast, and they might even start to mold or stink (I’ve never had this problem with mine, but some people have).
I’ve also heard of people putting their eggshells into the oven on low and drying them that way. But I’ve never tried this method, so I can’t speak to it.
Air drying eggshells on a paper towel
How To Grind Eggshells Into Powder
Once the eggshells are completely dry they will be very brittle and break easily so you know they’re ready to be ground into powder. To grind eggshells into a powder, you can use a mini food chopper or a coffee grinder.
You’ll probably need to crush the eggshells up a bit before grinding them so you can fit more into the grinder at once. I simply crush mine up in the paper bag or the paper towel quick before putting them into the grinder.
Grinding eggshells with a coffee grinder
In my experience, the best grinder for eggshells is a coffee grinder. The coffee grinder does a great job of grinding the eggshells into a powder. When I used my mini food chopper, I found that the shell pieces were larger than the ones I crushed in the coffee grinder.
The food chopper still grinds the eggshells, but the result isn’t as fine of a powder as you get with the coffee grinder. So, if all you have is a mini food chopper, then you can try using that. Otherwise, I recommend getting yourself an inexpensive coffee grinder to use as your eggshell grinder.
Organic eggshell powder ready to use
How To Use Eggshells In The Garden
After the eggshells are ground into powder, you can take them out to the garden and use them right away. To use eggshells as organic pest control, sprinkle the eggshell powder directly onto the pest insect.
Sprinkle crushed eggshells on Japanese beetles
Here I’m using it on Japanese beetles. They really don’t like it, and will start to squirm and move around. It won’t kill them right away, and sometimes they will fly away, but they’ll die in time.
Using eggshell powder on Japanese beetles
Be careful though, eggshells will kill any type of garden beetle – even beneficial ones. It’s best to sprinkle the eggshell powder directly on the specific pests you are trying to control. I do not recommend sprinkling it all over your garden, or you could end up killing the good garden bugs by accident.
To use crushed eggshells for slugs, snails and flea beetle control, sprinkle the eggshell powder around the base of the plant. Eggshell powder sprinkled around plants will need to be reapplied after a heavy rain.
Spread eggshells around hostas for organic slug control
Just be careful if you’re wearing dark pants, and don’t wipe your hands on your pants as you are spreading the eggshell powder (oops!). It can be a messy job.
Better yet, avoid the mess of spreading eggshell or diatomaceous earth powder by using a pest mini duster – awesome!
Making a mess with eggshell powder
How To Store Eggshells For Garden Use
As long as they stay dry, you can store eggshells or eggshell powder for later use in the garden. Simply store your unused eggshell powder in a dry location.
I keep mine on a shelf in my garage, it doesn’t matter if it freezes in the winter. You could also keep them in a pantry or even the fridge or freezer if you would rather.
Store unused eggshell powder in dry location
There are many uses for eggshells in the garden. They’re great for the health of your garden, and they add calcium to the soil. Simply toss them into the compost bin, or add the powder directly to your garden beds. Be sure to try using eggshells as organic pest control in your garden too, and see if it works for you! Don’t worry, if you don’t have access to eggshells, you can buy diatomaceous earth for pretty cheap too.
Recommended Reading
More Info About Garden Pest Control
- Organic Garden Pest Control Supplies
- Natural Garden Pest Control Remedies And Recipes
- How To Use Organic Neem Oil Insecticide On Plants
- How To Use Beneficial Nematodes For Garden Pest Control
- How To Use Japanese Beetle Traps
Recommended Products
Have you tried using eggshells as organic pest control in your garden? Share your tips and experience in the comments below.
UNITEDisLIFE says
Awesome tip! Thanks so much. Now where did I put them eggshells? 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
You're welcome! Start saving those eggshells! 🙂
Kathy says
Could I use egg shells to control spiders?
I live by Lake Erie and I’m innendated with them. I don’t like using pesticides to control the problem.
I can’t walk outside, or get into my car without walking through a web!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I would not recommend using eggshells for any type of broad application, because they can kill other beneficial bugs too. You could try sprinkling the eggshell powder directly on the spiders, but it sounds like that would be a lot of work given the amount of spiders you have.
Kathy says
Ok, thank you Amy!
Pat Wells says
Hi Kathy, I just saw a post that if you make a mint solution and spray it around the outside of your house and it’s safe to spray inside your house as well, that it repells spiders, crickets and ants. I haven’t tried it yet, but plan on doing so.
How to: It didn’t really say, but I think you would get some mint leaves and make a slurry with water. You’d have to get the leave really tiny in order to use a spray bottle.
It’s a thought….and mint smells good!
Darlene says
Try peppermint or peppermint oil you can find diy recipes online ..tspiders will stay aeay
Claudia says
I want to try it. Do you rince or wash the eggshells with water?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t usually need to rinse mine. But if yours are really dirty or have a lot of yolk or egg whites in them, then I would recommend rinsing them.
Amy
Jennyp says
Amy,
Thank you for the info. Does it matter if the shells are from hard boiled eggs?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Nope, any type of eggshells will work just fine.
Teri says
I dry mine in the toaster oven on the lowest temp for 10-15 minutes and let it sit in the toaster oven to cool. Grind then sprinkle the eggshell powder from an empty, clean parmesan cheese sprinkle type container.
Carlee McTavish says
Yeah, we do this in our garden, but I never thought to throw the eggshells on the bug itself. We use it around the base of our plants (though this year we've been lacking in keeping up with this).
Amy Andrychowicz says
Cool! I know, it's hard to keep up on all the garden chores. Especially if it rains a lot, and you need to keep reapplying the eggshell powder.
Janet QueenofSeaford says
I think this is brilliant!! We eat eggs a lot too. Think this will be my new pest control. I used to put them into the compost bin, but have a lot of eggshells sticking out.
:-/
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! I always used to put the eggshells into my compost bin too, but they really stick around a long time. Then I started crushing the eggshells I put into the compost bin. Now I just use them as pest control and add the eggshell powder to the soil of my raised beds directly rather than put them whole into the compost bin. I feel like they are more beneficial this way.
Joy says
I'm definitely going to try this! I always just toss egg shells in the compost and they are so slow to break down. I did effective rid my apple tree of Japanese Beetles with a homemade pepper spray, but that stuff was potent!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, eggshells are very slow to break down when they're whole. Good for you for being diligent enough to rid your apple tree of those pesky beetles using pepper spray. Wow, you must have had to wear a mask for that job. I've touched my eyes after cutting up peppers, and it is very painful!
kate says
Can you share your DIY recipe for the pepper spray?
Andrew says
Seems to work about like diatomaceous earth…
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, exactly!
Heather says
I've used crushed eggshells to deter bugs before. Works great!! Bonus: the birds eat some of the eggshell bits in nesting season, too.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh cool, I didn't know the birds would eat the eggshells too. Another benefit of using eggshells in the garden! I will have to make sure to put extras out this spring for them. 🙂
misty says
Birds eat eggshells to strengthen thier shells 🙂 i raise chickens and we feed them eggshells
Marcia Pummel says
My parents have a cockatiels and my mom always puts an egg shell in the cage for than to peck, they love thet!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Ha, ha, that’s cool! Extra calcium I guess.
Roy Dekoke ( Ausralia ) says
From the local pet shop or even if you live near the ocean you could get shell grit and that is good
Tina says
How long can you keep this stored? I am just starting to build raised garden beds for the spring. We can't plant anything right now with the snow and cold (we live in CO). If I keep these in an airtight container, can I start stocking up now?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Eggshells don't have an expiration date. I save mine though the winter and use them throughout the summer. Just make sure they are completely dry before putting them in a sealed container or they could get moldy.
Amy
Anonymous says
Eggshells also adds calcium to the soil.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, all kinds of benefits for using eggshells in the garden! Love it!
Nichole says
Will this kill honey bees too? I don't want that! 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
As far as I understand, it only harms bugs with a hard outer shell, like Japanese beetles. But, it’s best to only use it directly on the pest insect rather than just sprinkling it everywhere.
Kourtney Parent says
Sweet. This will kill the ticks here in Northern, About, Canada. Hopefully I can get a lot fast…want to spread my yard with them….Would it be okay for people to walk on them or would that run the whole process and be a waste of time? Lots of people saying their kids are biten this year
Kourtney Parent says
Alberta. …i hate auto correct
Amy Andrychowicz says
I wouldn’t recommend spreading them around your whole yard. The eggshells can kill beneficial insect in your yard too. Also, the eggshells would be washed away or pushed down into the soil after a heavy rain, so they don’t have a very long lasting effect. Sorry to hear about your tick problems. Keep your grass mowed low to help prevent ticks in your yard.
Anonymous says
Hello. This looks great. Thanks for the tip. One quick question. How about ladybugs? I don't want to harm them… Need them for my basil! So should I just avoid using on my basil?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, eggshell powder would be harmful to ladybugs, or any other types of beneficial beetle. Definitely don't use it on your basil if you know the ladybugs frequent it.
Renee Music says
Would the egg shells work on water roaches or types cockroaches?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, it will work on any insect that has a hard outer shell.
Amy
Sally says
so – squash bugs? 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you could try using eggshells on squash bugs. Also, here’s a post I wrote specifically about those buggers… How to Control Squash Bugs Organically
Civility118 says
I especially want to know if you have any idea if this would get rid of bedbugs?
Or how about along the baseboards for roach control?
And maybe you do or don’t know about this:
What about on the floors, baseboards or porch for flea or tick control?
Could it be directly applied directly to the fur of pets? Seems like the calcium would be good for dogs and cats, but I haven’t a clue how it would affect their digestive tract.
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Eggshell powder should work on any type of bug that has a hard outer shell. Please make sure to talk to your veterinarian before you use it on your dog though.
DJ says
Trusted websites promoting a natural raw diet for dogs recommend using ground egg shells mixed with the dogs food to obtain the correct amount of phosphorus. Dogs require a high ratio of phosphorus to calcium ratio.
Sara says
When you dry out your eggshells, do you rinse them out first and then lay them out to dry?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I used to do that, but now I just toss them into a paper bag (not plastic). That way, I can just leave the bag in the pantry, and don’t have eggshells drying on the counter all the time. As long as they’re not stacked together, they will dry quickly. If they’re stacked or crushed while they’re wet, they could mold.
sherry guitard says
I have been using broken up eggshells in my garden for years now. I don’t have the beetles, just slugs and earwigs, so I don’t need to ground them up. The eggshells work wonderfully. I haven’t had a bug problem since I started using the shells.
Amy Andrychowicz says
That’s fantastic Sherry, thanks for sharing your experience with using eggshells as organic pest control in your garden!
Keesha Loraine says
I have a major problem with earwigs in my mulch. I’ve tried wet newspaper to no avail. Sherry and/or Amy, how should I use eggshells? Whole or crushed? Should I put them on top of the mulch or underneath? The earwigs are mostly living and multiplying in the mulch under my apple trees.SO many and SO gross!! Will the eggshells harm the trees? Are the earwigs harming anything or just giving me a bad case of the heeby-geebies? :/
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yuck, sounds nasty! Earwigs can be both beneficial and pest insects. They are beneficial in orchards, as they eat aphids and other small insects. You can sprinkle the eggshells right over the top of the mulch where you see the earwigs. Also, try to allow your mulch to dry out a bit if you can, and only water that area in the morning. Earwigs love it moist and they feed at night. So watering at night will only help them thrive. And no, the eggshells won’t harm your trees, they are actually really good for the soil. Here’s a really great post that I found about how to control earwigs… How To Control Earwigs
Mindy says
Can this be used in vegetable gardens as well? Or around fruit plants such as strawberries?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, absolutely.
Jasmine says
I had read that you can cook the egg shells at about 325 degrees for 3-5 minutes to kill off any bacteria. I use the shells as added calcium for my plants as well! Hadn’t thought of using a coffee grinder, thanks for the tip!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You are welcome!
Shelia says
My cats love egg shell water!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wow, how funny!
Laura says
I used eggshells to enrich the soil of my raised bed gardens, but didn’t think of the pest control factor. I know what I’ll be adding to my organic pest control regimen this growing season. Awesome information and you cannot beat free organic pest control.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Woohoo! Free and organic, I love that!
Deebi27 says
Thank you amy for this article. I have read about using egg shells before planting tomatoes…so the egg shell collection has started. Thanks for the FYI about grinding them for pest control. I all loving all these FYI I find, as my birthday present this year are the raised beds that I have been asking for, for years!!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome! Congrats on finally getting your raised beds, that’s SO exciting!! 🙂
Deb says
Just wondering if this will work on ants?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have not tried eggshell powder on ants (I’m going to now though!). But I have read that diatomaceous earth will work on ants… so the eggshells should too. Doesn’t hurt to try.
Tess says
I sprinkled grits right from the container around my ant problems (tree, etc), and it took care of the ants!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, good to know. Thanks for sharing the tip!
Pam says
Put your ground egg shells in recycled spice jars and just sprinkle where you need it. Less mess on your hands and clothes.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Good idea Pam! Thanks for sharing!
Kay says
FYI…The green lid off of the top of Parmesean cheese fits on top of a mason jar. You can put your crushed shells in a mason jar fitted with one of those lids and it works great for a printing things. Then you can screw the outer lid back on for storage.
Kay says
Darn auto correct…sprinkling things.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome idea, thanks so much for sharing!!
Christi Casciaro says
I have been using crushed egg shells for a couple of years now but I have been removing the inner film first. I was told to do that. Do you do that or even think it is nessessary? I also just crushed them using a mortor. Do you find grinding them better?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t remove the inner film (I don’t even rinse them out). I don’t think it’s necessary, and it sounds like a lot of extra work. I’ve never tried crushing eggshells with a mortar, so I’m not sure how fine they get. I like the coffee grinder the best because it grinds the eggshells into a powder. Also, it seems like less work than manually crushing them.
Jeremiah says
I’ve used a mortar and pestle for grinding egg shells on the farm. Works well. As mentioned, more labor than a grinder. But it isn’t hard work and I find it is a relaxing moment, almost meditative. Worms in the garden benefit from the egg shells for reproduction, I find grinding them first speeds up the usability.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Good to know! Thanks for sharing your experience, and for that added benefit of using eggshells in the garden too!
lntan Baharuddin says
Wow..great tips!!! Thanks. l’m using eggshells pieces to keep snails away but, l didn’t know abt beetle. l have beetle flies problems on my Passion fruits. Will it work on them?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, if you’re talking about flea beetles, eggshells should work on them too.
Mary Picklesimer, Ohio says
Using some eggshells, about a tablespoon, before you plant tomatoes, eggplants or peppers will keep them from getting “bottom end rot”. Been doing this for years with hugh success.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Good to know you’ve had great success with it Mary! I tried this last year, but still have some bottom end rot on a few peppers. Maybe I’ll have to try using more eggshells in the holes this year.
Teri Garden says
I have done this for several years, but this year raccoons must have smelled them, and dug up the plants looking for the eggs! I will rinse and sterilize the ones I put around the plants! I’ll compost the rest!
Correen says
Not only do our gals bless us with their eggs, NOW the shells are going to help keep pests away in our garden! Super post, thanks for this valuable tip.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome Correen. I’m jealous of your chickens. I’ve been thinking about getting some myself. Maybe some day… we’ll see. 🙂
Eugene says
My, I need to save the shells from cooking eggs. Thanks for this post!
It’s awesome how this mundane object could be effective in keeping unwanted insects at bay. I can’t imagine paying for pest control services when they’re in my kitchen all along!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, they are great!
MsBlueRose says
I have been using eggshells for so much anyway, but I had no idea you can do this much stuff with them. I just read another post about how you can use the skin as a band aid, use the shells for planter (to keep as a decorative piece, or use a planter) cups you don’t have to remove before planting either – the whole thing gets planted. You can use them for decorative pieces, too. I my self mix them in to every potter I set up for healthy soil; it does so much for the soil and plant alike. You can even use them for Easter decorations and Christmas ornaments! Eggs are the by far the most repurpose-able item in our kitchens; yet so many get thrown out in to the garbage. I am glad more people are starting to use them for other things. They are little miracles! Enjoy your eggs everyone! <3
Amy Andrychowicz says
I know what you mean, there are so many wonderful uses for eggshells. I used to throw them away too, now I shutter at the thought.
Cyndy says
I didn’t know that you should grind them into a powder; I have been crushing them by hand for snails. I mostly pick off snails, but that is time consuming. Thanks for this post!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You don’t have to grid your eggshells into the powder, crushing them up the way you’ve been doing works for snails too. But the powder will get into their shells easier and stick to their soft bodies.
Daisey Fish says
Can one use cooked egg shells as long as they are cleaned?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes.
Mrs Armstrong says
Does it matter if the egg shells are white or brown?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Nope, you can use any color of eggshells.
Cookie Sandridge says
I use egg shell tea to water my plants.
Just plop them in water, let them sit a few days and water your plants inside or out. Works wonders.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Interesting, thanks for the tip. So, does the calcium from the eggshells leach into the water then? Is that how this is beneficial to the plants? I’ll have to try it sometime.
Rose Seemuth says
thanks for the tip. The Japanese beetles in north Georgia are getting more difficult to trap. Hopefully the egg shells will work this year.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Your welcome. Japanese beetles are getting worse every year here in MN too, ugh! Good luck with it!
kathy says
I can’t wait and try this with the egg shells will start today have time live in nh
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, hope it works for you!
shana vaughn says
Thanks for the tip! We are starting a garden this spring and I want it to be completely organic and pesticide free!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Jennifer says
I can’t wait to try this! I’ve heard about it possibly used in chicken coop dusting eggshell powder to keep mites and pests away, and as long as they’re ground up, how are the ladies to know, eh?? 😉 Regardless of results w/ chickens, I’m starting a bag right now for the garden!!!! Thanks!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Cool, thanks for adding that tip!
Barb says
I’ve been using egg shells in the garden for the past two years. I keep an empty #10 can in the warming oven of my wood cookstove and throw all my eggshells into the can as I use them. They dry quickly in the warming oven, then I grind them to a powder in the blender. I put a Tbsp of the powder at the base of tomato, eggplant, and pepper plants and water it in. It’s amazing! The plants grow big and tall and I’ve not had any problem with blossom-end rot since I started this. I haven’t tried the powder on pests, though, but I certainly will this year! Thanks for the information.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! I do the same thing with my tomatoes and peppers. You’re welcome, I hope the eggshells work as pest control for you as well.
m.holloway says
I have been using ground fine eggshells to feed back to my chickens for 3 years now. Not only does it strengthen the eggshells, but it stops the hens from eating the eggs. Also I have noticed that when a hen has chicks, they encourage the chicks to eat the powdered shells. I am so happy to learn that I can use them as an insecticide. And that it stops blossom end rot on tomatoes and peppers. I am planning to do as advised for them this year and also to do it for my melons. I have a hard time getting my melons to reach maturity due to blossom end rot. fingers crossed! m
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh wow, that is very interesting about the chickens! Eggshells are beneficial in so many ways! I hope the added calcium will help with your melons too. Also, make sure to water the melon plants consistently. Inconsistent watering is another factor in blossom end rot. Good luck!
Virginia says
I have been told that this may work for scorpions in Arizona. Does it work or is it because it kills the beetles that the scorpions feed off of?Thanks for the info.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It works because it gets under their hard outer shell and cuts them up and kills them. Sounds really nasty, but it’s effective. I’ve never tried using eggshells for killing scorpions though, we don’t have scorpions here in MN. Would be worth a try though.
Susie Richardson says
Sooooo happy to be putting together natural solutions for my garden. I hate using chemical pesticides and fertilizers. I don’t have the time to mix…compute instructions on how to convert to which container to dispense, and then deal with the potential hazards chemicals can cause. Appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks for your contribution about using eggshells instead.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Cindy Thompson says
Is this harmful to pets? I have two yorkies…I would like to use the powdered eggs around my host garden!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Not that I know of. I’ve had people tell me they use it to kill fleas on their pets. But, I am not a Veterinarian so I would definitely recommend you check with your pets vet before using eggshells in your garden if you’re concerned your dogs will get into it.
Burro says
We have Chihuahuas, did you find out if the eggshells are okay with tiny dog paws?
Melissa says
is this safe for butterflies, earthworms and bees?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Eggshells are actually good for earthworms and the soil. Definitely be careful using it around bees and butterflies though. It’s best to use it only on the pest insect you’re targeting.
Linda Lockyer says
I have been having quite a time with aphids and ants destroying my scarlet runner bean blossoms and have been saving eggshells for composting. I had heard eggshells could be ground up to repel insects, so today I ground them fine in a coffee grinder, and I powdered it on those nasty ants & aphids. The ants went into a tizzy! Thanks for the great information. I’m going to put it at the base of my tomato and zucchini plants, too.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great! It’s not the ants that are destroying the flowers, it’s the aphids. Ants are known to bring aphids to plants so that they can feed off the sweet dew that’s created as a bi-product of the aphids feeding on plants. The eggshells won’t harm the aphids, unfortunately. But soapy water works great. Here’s more information about getting rid of aphids… How To Get Rid Of Aphids On Plants
Robin says
I wonder if eggshell powder would deter tomato hornworms? those things give me the creeps, and they can do so much damage so fast.
meanwhile, I have a dozen shells to pull out of the top of my compost, to dry and crush…my tomatoes and peppers will be happy. (all my veggies, really)
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’ve never tried it on tomato hornworms, but it might work. I say try sprinkling the eggshell powder directly on the hornworms and see if it works. 🙂
Carolyn says
I also use egg shells in my garden. When I get a bowl of egg shells I pop them into the microwave for a minute or two and then crush them. That way I dont have to wait for all of them to dry enough to be crushed.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great tip about drying eggshells, thanks for sharing!
June says
Will the crushed shells work for squash bugs…they are disgusting and quick. Just planted my tomatoes, peppers and zucchini. I will crush the shells I have and use around these new plants to give them a boost.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes! Here’s a post I wrote about all the ways I fight squash bugs in my garden… How to Control Squash Bugs Organically
Michelle Vincent says
I have been adding crushed up egg shells to my raised bed vegetable garden for years. This year I got six chickens and have been crushing the shells with a mortar and pestle and putting the tiny pieces into the vegetables I now feed for added treats instead of putting them into my compost pile. After I crack an egg for people consumption I place the shells on my kitchen counter for three days and then put them into a quart sized canning jar. As the jar fills I smash the egg shells down with a knife or the handle of a hammer and I continue adding more shells until the jar is full of coarsley ground shells. When the quart jar gets full of crushed egg shells, I take my mortar and pestle and crush them finer, but not to a powder. I put these finer ground shells into a clean parmesan container with holes in the lid. I always have ground up shells available for the garden and for adding to the feed of the chickens. When I have used all the DE that I bought for mite and flea control for the chickens I will try the egg shells instead. But, will I have enough egg shells for all of the new and old uses? Thanks for all of your gardening tips.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, thanks for sharing all the ways you use eggshells in your garden! So many great uses!
Carol Davis Allen says
l have very sandy soil ( about 90% sand and 10% dirt) will the egg shells kill ants in your garden, l can’t really find any thing that works to kill the ands.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I haven’t tried using eggshells on ants before, but you could give it a try. Ants aren’t a bad bug to have in your garden, but can become pests when there are a ton of them. Are they causing issues in your garden?
Nicole @ The Professional Mom Project says
Great tip thank you! I tried using eggshells on my veggie garden last year but didn’t realize I had to grind them up so they weren’t that effective. Now I know and I’ll try it again this year. What do you use to keep squirrels away from your veggies?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great! I have tried using a product called squirrel stopper with some success. It keeps them off the bird feeders, but you have to keep reapplying. Knock on wood, but I’ve only had problems with them digging in my dirt, so I haven’t had to worry about them in the garden yet. If they’re bugging a specific plant of yours, you could surround it with chicken wire. Not pretty, but that’s what I do to keep the rabbits from destroying some of my plants.
Emily says
I usually have trouble with Japanese beetles devouring my roses, and I also eat a lot of eggs, so I am definitely going to try this! I’ve got some eggshells waiting to go into my compost now; looks like I’ll be turning them into powder instead 😉
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! Good luck, hope it works for you!
Mark Welborn says
Amy, after I saw this tip last year to use powdered egg shells to combat Japanese Beetles, I saved every single egg shell from ever single egg my family ate. I rinse them out briefly so they dry faster, place them on a paper towel, and slide the paper towel over the glass cook top burner (still warm but not hot enough to burn the paper towel) I just used to cook the eggs. They dry in a few minutes and then get tossed into a recycled ice cream plastic tub. a few minutes in the oven would work as well, but set a timer! Burned egg shells woud ruin the house! When the tub is full I put the shells into the food processor to grind them to a powder. I used to use a small electric coffee grinder, but it only ground up a few shells at a time. The food processor can handle much, much more. I store them in ziplock bags, ready to dust the garden.
I have several pounds of ground egg shells for my annual effort. So far this year I have used them on my tomato and potato plants (these were destroyed last year, but are strong and healthy this year). This evening I wet down my small apple trees and dusted them as well. The Japanese Beetles LOVE apple tree leaves! Wetting down the plants helps the shell dust to stick to the plant. Light rain does not seem to remove the egg shell dust, but heavy rain certainly does. The egg shells keep the slugs away from my potato plants as well.
Another resource for egg shells might be your local diner or breakfast place. My local eatery said they just throw them out, but if I pick them up at the end of the day, they will save them for me. They go through dozens of eggs a day. I could probably double my annual effort in just a week or two. I’m going to try this out this coming week. I’m going to drop off some sealed containers to make their job easier.
Mark
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, thanks so much for sharing your experience and tips for preparing your eggshells and using them in the garden!! I also love your tip about how to get free eggshells. I knew that coffee shops would save used coffee grounds with you, but never thought to ask restaurants to save eggshells! Brilliant!
Laurie says
This sounds like a great idea. The Japanese beetles destroy my grape vines and hydrangea blooms every year. The only concern I have is salmonella. Is the salmonella harmful in any way (i.e. the dust from grinding)?
Thanks so much,
Laurie
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t know the answer to that, sorry. I know there are some people who bake or microwave the eggshells before grinding them, so you could do that if you’re concerned. Or you could boil them to get them hot enough to kill any salmonella.
Ken Petzold says
Do the eggshells need to be organic?
Lots of great info here. Thanks to all.
Amy Andrychowicz says
The eggshells don’t have to be organic in order to use them for garden pest control. But, if you want to make sure to keep everything in your garden totally organic, then I suppose you should also use the shells from certified organic eggs.
Ken Petzold says
Thanks much Amy.
Karen "DirtLady" Mason says
Amy, I am so glad that I came across your website! I love gardening and have been doing so for almost three years. (Yep, I’m still new at this). I find that I want to plant many different varieties of vegetables and so far so good. I am learning rather quickly what to plant, spacing, getting more than one harvest from some vegetables. I’m having fun and I truly enjoy growing my own!!! I am so glad that I ordered your ebook on controlling pesky bugs (grrr I hate them!) I have bookmarked your web page as a reference and I thank you for helping all of us that want to grow a healthy and abundant garden year after year with fresh produce. They taste so good! I’ve even dehydrated vegetables and herbs and took up canning as well to preserve and use at a later date. My family loves it!
When I read about using the eggshells I almost fell over in my chair! Why? Because I started using eggshells as a deterrent to control slugs, but I never thought that they could control other garden pests (Japanese Beetles….boy did they have a field day with some of my plants) I was so mad. The one thing I didn’t do is make the egg shells into a fine powder. Also, do I just let the egg shells just dry out? I’ve been letting them dry out on a low temp in my oven. Maybe I should stop doing that. I save ALL my egg shells and crush them up, put them in empty plastic coffee cans and wait until it’s time for my garden. I thank you so much! I will continue to read, learn, take notes from you, including “building” my own trellis…I am interested in vertical gardening for more space so my plants can breathe…..you’re awesome! THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hi Karen! So glad to hear that I’ve been able to help you in so many ways, awesome!! As far as drying your eggshells… you can keep doing what you’re doing if that works well for you. I just leave mine sitting on the counter or toss them into a paper bag for a few days to dry them. But either way works fine. So excited to hear you’re getting into vertical gardening! Keep your eyes peeled, because I have a TON of information planned next year all about vertical gardening, starting in late winter/early spring. It’s going to be EPIC! 😉
Allison says
Wouldn’t the eggs draw ants though? My garden has troubles with ants.
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, I’m not sure why eggshells would attract ants. If you’re concerned, just be sure to rinse them well before crushing them.
Juan C Aguilar says
Buenos dia me pueden ayudar puedo poner cascara molida de huevo harededor de mi arbol de fruta ….. Si la repuesta es si cuato le pongo y cuantas veces al ano ….les pongo gracias por su ayuda ….
Amy Andrychowicz says
What is the reason you want to put the eggshells around your fruit tree? Is it for pest control?
Cheryl Moroff says
Great detail. I learned a lot.
I get my diatomaceous earth at pool supply stores. So much cheaper!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks for the tip!
Cheryl Moroff says
Also be careful to NOT BREATHE the powder. It can cause breathing problems for you and your pets.
The powder isn’t toxic but can also irritate eyes and lungs.
Dorlis L Grote says
Must be I am the only one bothered by racoons and possum. I put eggshells in soil in my pots and they dug the plants up looking for the eggs.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Interesting that they would be going after the eggshells. If you decide to try using them again, I would be sure to wash your eggshells well before drying and grinding them.
Burro Ambulante says
Can I ue my mortar and pestle to grind the egg shells? Or will it be too fine?
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, your mortar and pestle should work just fine to grind the eggshells. It will take longer than using an electric grinder of course, but will work just as well.
Vini says
Hi , I have been using egg shells for my outdoor plants. They really work good. I recently got couple of indoor plants and getting gnats around them. Can I sprinkle egg shell powder on my indoor plants ?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I haven’t tried using the eggshell powder on fungus gnats, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try it. I suspect that adding a thick layer of eggshell powder over the soil may just do the trick. Otherwise, here’s a post about getting rid of them… How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats In Houseplants Soil.
Beth says
Thanks for the info on eggshells, but does it works on ants too? Never noticed if they have hard shells or not. I’m also going to use it in my soil for plants and tomatoes.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never tried using the eggshell powder on ants, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.
Kevin Lee says
I have a problem with green caterpillars i heard if i put whole eggshells around my plants the pests will lay their eggs in the eggshells instesd of my plants do you know if this works
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never heard of that before. If those green caterpillars are cabbage worms, then here’s details about how to get rid of them… How To Get Rid Of Cabbage Worms (the tips in that post will work for pretty much any type of caterpillar).