Using eggshells in your garden as organic pest control is inexpensive and easy. In this post, I’ll tell you how to do it.
I will also show you exactly how to prepare them – including tips for cleaning and drying them, grinding them into powder, and storing them for later use.
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 to kill bugs because it gets under the shells of beetles and acts like bits of glass to cut them up and kill them.
Soft-bodied insects will also die if they slink across it. Well guess what, ground eggshell powder can work the same way.
Related Post: How To Control Garden Pests Naturally
How To Make Eggshell Powder For Your Garden
Whether you want to try using eggshells as organic pest control in your garden, or you plan to use it in other ways, the steps for making them into powder are the same.
Below I’ll walk you through how to clean, dry, and grind them, give you tips for using the powder in your garden, and properly storing the leftovers for later.
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 wash them. I’ve never had a problem with my eggshell powder getting stinky.
If yours are really dirty, then I recommend rinsing them before you dry and crush them. You can simply use your fingers to scrub them, or soak them for a little while to soften up the residue and make it easier to clean it off.
Related Post: How To Get Rid Of Slugs In Your Garden Naturally
Methods Of Drying Eggshells
You should definitely let the eggshells dry out completely before crushing them, so don’t skip this step. To do this, I simply lay them out on a paper towel and leave them sitting on the counter.
But if I don’t want to clutter up my counters, then I’ll toss them into a paper bag and put them in my pantry, where they dry out in a few days.
Either way, just make sure you don’t stack the eggshells, otherwise they won’t dry as fast, and they might even start to mold or stink.
How To Grind Eggshells Into Powder
Once the eggshells are completely dry they will be very brittle and break easily. To make them into a powder, you can use a mini food processor or a coffee grinder.
In my experience, a coffee grinder works best for making a fine powder. If you use a food chopper instead, the shell pieces will be slightly larger, but you can still use them in your garden.
You’ll probably need to crush them up a bit first, so you can fit more into the grinder at once. I simply smash mine by hand in the paper towel or bag. Don’t use your bare hands though, because they are sharp.
Related Post: How To Control Flea Beetles In Your Garden
How To Use Eggshells In The Garden
To use your DIY eggshell powder as organic pest control, you’ll need to sprinkle it directly onto the bugs.
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.
I do not recommend sprinkling it all over your garden, or you could end up killing the good bugs by accident. It’s best to only sprinkle it directly on the specific insect you are trying to control.
Related Post: How To Control Japanese Beetles Organically
Just be careful if you’re wearing dark pants, and don’t wipe your hands on them as you’re spreading the eggshell powder. It can be a messy job.
Yes, I made a mess with it the first time I used it, and got the white powder all over my pants (oops!). But I learned that a mini powder duster works great to avoid the mess – awesome!
How To Store Eggshells For Garden Use
You can easily store your leftover eggshell powder for later, which means you can keep making it all winter to stock up for the busy gardening season. Simply put it into any container that you have, and keep it in a dry location.
I store mine on a shelf in my garage, it doesn’t matter if it freezes in the winter. But you could put yours in a pantry or even the fridge or freezer if you would rather.
Related Post: Grapevine Beetle Information & Organic Control Tips
Eggshells are 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.
Have you tried using eggshells as organic pest control in your garden? Share your tips and experience in the comments below.
Jo Ann says
If egg shell powder kills slugs and snails, if it’s mixed in the soil for the purpose of adding calcium, would it also the helpful earthworms?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, crushed eggshells are beneficial to earthworms.
Florida gardener says
Will it kill biting ants? I have a terrible problem with them. They swarm your feet before you know they are there, then all bite at once. Ouch!!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never tried the eggshell powder on ants before, but it’s worth a shot.
Kay says
Corn meal is great for getting rid of ants. They are attracted to the sweetness eat it and even take it back to their nest. They can’t digest it and basically explodes their digestive system.
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’ve heard the same thing about corn meal with slugs, but it’s a debatable topic. It’s certainly worth a try. But just know that it may not actually work.
Chickeni says
Borax and sugar water soaked cotton balls. Place one where the ants are they eat it take it back to the ant hole. Ants gone!
Becky says
I too have that problem! I hate ants!
Annie says
I have been using the eggshells dried in the oven and crushed around my plants and it has been very successful. I put them in a paper bag and crush with a rolling pin, this keeps bugs away but also feeds them too. They are particularly good for keeping slugs at bay.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, glad to hear that the crushed eggshells are helping keep the bugs at bay!
Laura says
DE – will kill plants if sprinkles on leaves , that’s important to note. I turned beautiful plants yellow and dried out the leaves not knowing this. I just sprinkle it on soil around plants . 🙂
Amy Andrychowicz says
Good to know. What types of plants were you sprinkling it on? I have sprinkled DE on several of my garden plants, and have never had problems with it turning them yellow.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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?
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.
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! 😉
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.
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.