Three Household Items to Enrich Your Garden

Garden solutions don't have to be expensive. Use these simple household items.

Did you know you can use household waste items to enhance your garden? “Wait,” you may be thinking, “I don’t have a compost pile.” No worries! Even without a compost pile, here are 3 household items you can easily use in your garden.

Please note that there is a lot of disagreement on the internet as to best practices for gardening. Some sources say these ideas are great and others say these don’t work at all. We personally have had good results with them, and thus, we are sharing them here with you. Nevertheless, be sure to do your own research and do what you think is best for your own garden.

Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds can be used as a soil enhancer. They are particularly good for plants that thrive on acidic soil. We mix them in with the top soil or simply sprinkle them on top of the soil in between waterings.

Banana peels

Bananas are high in potassium and as such, their peels can be used to make a plant fertilizer. Simply cut up a banana peel, soak in water for five to seven days, and remove the peel. We added about a cup and a half to a watering can that was nearly full and watered our tomatoes with it. Some sources claim you can spray the water directly on the leaves or the soil. If you try this method, be sure to do so in the evening to lessen evaporation.

Egg shells

Egg shells can be used in more than one way in your garden.

Calcium supplement.

My husband’s aunt makes a calcium supplement for her tomatoes and cucumbers simply by soaking eggshells in a bucket of water and using the eggshell water to water her plants.

You can also dry the shells (see instructions below) and grind them into a powder. Sprinkle this powder in the bottom of the hole in which you plant your tomato, cucumber, or other calcium-loving plant.

Slug deterrent.

Crushed egg shells make a great deterrent for slugs. The sharp edges are harsh on their soft bodies and keep them from crawling over the shells. As an extra benefit, the shells slowly release calcium into the soil throughout the season. To use as a slug deterrent, simply wash your egg shells, dry them on low in the oven for 20 minutes (this will help to kill any unwanted bacteria and will ensure they are dry enough to not mold), crush them, and sprinkle the shards around your plants.