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 them – including tips for cleaning and drying them, grinding them into powder, and storing the 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 destructive 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!
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.
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.
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.
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 powder directly onto the pest insect.
Here I’m using it on the destructive 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.
Related Post: Grapevine Beetle Information & Organic Control Tips
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, ants, 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.
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!
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.
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
- Bug-Free Organic Gardening: Controlling Pest Insects without Chemicals
- The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control
- The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook
More Info About Garden Pest Control
- Natural Garden Pest Control Remedies And Recipes
- How To Use Japanese Beetle Traps
- All About Ladybugs & Why They’re Good For Your Garden
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.