Give your garden a boost with these common kitchen leftovers.
Here, gardening and composting experts offer tips on the best foods to add to your garden.
Eggshells
Eggshellsare a common food item you could toss in your garden.
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To add eggshells to your garden, crush up the shells and sprinkle them over the soil.
you could also use rinsed eggshells as small planters for seeds and seedlings.
While certain types of food waste can enrich soil, notallfoods benefit your garden.
Meat and dairy products add harmful bacteria to the soil and attract pests.
Citrus Peels
Citrus peels are another item you’re free to add to your garden.
Peels from citrus fruits like oranges and lemons add nutrients to the soil.
Orange peels contain a lot of nitrogen, Karapetian says.
Basically, as they decompose, they release their nutrientsso much better than going to a landfill!
The strongly scented peels also offer a natural deterrent against common garden pests like ants and aphids.
Banana Peels
Banana peelsare another kitchen scrap that enriches soil with essential nutrients for plant growth.
Vegetable Scraps
If youre cooking with vegetables, you could use the scraps in your garden.
To add vegetable scraps to your garden, dig a shallow trench and bury the vegetable pieces.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee groundsare another common household item you’re free to toss in your garden.
Coffee is a rich source of nitrogen for plants, both indoor and outdoor, Karapetian says.
