Get the Secrets to a lush Garden ~ Garden Tips — My Soulful Home (2024)

FAQs

Are egg shells and banana peels good for plants? ›

Yes, they're all free, natural ways to boost your soil's fertility.

Diversifying Plant Selection

Taller plants can be placed on the outer edges of a garden, with a gradation to shorter plants towards the center. This creates a sense of depth and fullness. Ground covers can fill empty soil spaces and add to the lushness of the garden.

The idea here is that blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency, so adding calcium-rich eggshells to the soil could provide calcium to your tomatoes (or other plants that suffer from blossom end rot). It's true that blossom end rot is a sign of calcium deficiency in fruits (tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, etc).

You may want to crush and recycle the shells in your compost pile and sprinkle the more attractive coffee grounds on the soil of vegetables, flowers and other plantings.

Wondering what plants don't like eggshells? It's best to avoid using them on varieties that naturally prefer more acidic soil, such as azaleas and geraniums.

What plants are good to have in a fairy garden? Go for "string of" succulent selections and plants that have tiny flowers. Low-growing, small-leaf plants, such as groundcovers, also work well to create the sense of scale you need.

When applied to plant leaves and stems, baking soda does slow or stop the growth of fungi. However, the benefits are fleeting at best. Studies have shown that while baking soda impacts the growth of fungal spores, the spores and actively growing fungi are not killed.

Coffee grounds can most certainly be added to your compost and also directly to your soil. Instead of simply tossing them out though, you may wish to incorporate them a bit more thoroughly by digging them in.

Avoid using coffee grounds on alkaline-loving trees, such as linden, ironwood, red chestnut and arborvitae. Coffee grounds used as mulch or compost inhibit plant growth on geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass. Definitely don't use coffee grounds with these plants.

Can you put too many eggshells in your garden? ›

Deer hate the smell of albumin, also known as egg whites, so the shells keep them from snacking and stomping on your growing garden. It's important to note that too many eggshells for too long might attract smaller rodents, such as raccoons and mice.

Can I Just Sprinkle Epsom Salt on Plants? Never apply Epsom salt straight from the package. Always dilute the granules in water first, and either drench your plants' roots or spray it on the foliage. Don't spray on hot or sunny days, however, to avoid scorching the foliage.

Coffee grounds can repel mice effectively in a home environment to some extent. While they may not be a foolproof solution, the strong scent can mask the smell of food and other attractants, reducing the likelihood of mice entering the treated areas.

While plants need nitrogen (remember the NPK on fertilizers), too much nitrogen will create lots of green leaves but few berries or fruits. This means potassium-rich banana peels are excellent for plants like tomatoes, peppers or flowers. Banana peels also contain calcium, which prevents blossom end rot in tomatoes.

Banana peels can be placed directly onto pot plant soil, or around the base of your garden as mulch. As they decompose, they will release nutrients into the soil to feed plants. If using banana peels in your garden, place a single layer straight on top of the soil, being sure not to let them touch the plant stem.

However, the peels will break down so slowly that they likely won't provide adequate nutrients when your plants need them. Another downside to banana peels as fertilizer is that rotting organic matter can attract pests such as fruit flies, fungus gnats, and even co*ckroaches.

It is beneficial to use egg shells when growing your own vegetables like tomato, pepper and aubergine or plants such as roses, hydrangeas, spider plants, ferns and ivy. Another way to add this homemade fertiliser to your plants is through a calcium solution.