Use This Oyster Shell Hack For A Flourishing Garden

Oysters are amazing creatures. They help filter and clean water, create nurseries for many aquatic species, keep oceans calmer after storms, and also make a delicious meal when harvested. Even their shells are useful, both in and out of the water. They're used to help start a new reef, or make a home for another animal. Finely crushed oyster shells are given to chickens to help promote healthy egg-laying. And when used correctly, oyster shells can also improve the growth of your garden.

If your acid-loving plants are struggling, spreading oyster shells around can help give them the nutrients and pH levels they're looking for. With this oyster shell hack, plants like blueberries, beans, broccoli, squash, radishes, rosemary, magnolias, and hydrangeas are just a few of the species that will thrive in your garden. So next time you're at the beach or feasting on delicious oysters, don't ignore the shells. Take them with you to throw in your greenery. Your plants will thank you later.

This hack is a simple one. All you have to do is grab some oyster shells, crush them, and sprinkle them around your garden. If you have access to fresh shells, you can wash them thoroughly and crush them yourself. Consider talking to local seafood shops and restaurants to see if you can get some for a low price, or scan around nearby beaches for some to add to your garden for free.

If you don't have an easy way to get oyster shells, you're not out of luck. You can often find pre-crushed packs in pet stores, especially ones that cater to animals like chickens. As long as there are no additives, they're safe to sprinkle in your garden. Unless the product mentions it's already been washed or treated, it's a good idea to boil or wash the shells to remove any salt that may be in the mix. Too much sodium chloride damages your plants, making this addition more harmful than helpful without proper cleaning. While salt can be used to kill weeds, it can also pull much-needed water from the roots of your plants.

Oyster shells add acidity to soil, but so do many other products, including lime. In fact, oyster shells and lime have very similar benefits, as they're both made of calcium carbonate. However, there's a perk to choosing these shells over other products — unlike lime, they don't irritate the skin, throat, and eyes.

Oysters can be harvested sustainably  and repurpose shells that would otherwise be tossed out. They do more than just add acidity to soil, too. They help speed up decomposition in compost piles and act as a fertilizer, keeping pests like slugs, nematodes, and fungal diseases from your plants. 

Like with lime, if you add too many oyster shells to your lawn, they can turn your grass yellow, or kill off your plants. It's a good idea to ensure your soil actually needs a burst of acidity before applying them. If you do end up with soil that's too acidic, using fireplace ash can help your garden thrive again by reducing the acidity.