The kitchen scrap can help lavender plants thrive in spring.
Shania King-Soyza, Katherine McPhillips and Nicola Roy Multimedia content creator
04:29, 08 Apr 2026
Lavender plants will be ‘bigger and healthier’ if fed kitchen scrap (Image: Getty)
Lavender may appear low-maintenance, but it’s a plant that can deteriorate rapidly if basic care isn’t understood. Numerous gardeners have made basic mistakes, leading to stunted growth and reduced flowering. Some mistakenly believe that excessive feeding will yield more blooms, yet this approach often proves counterproductive.
The fragrant purple flower actually thrives in nutrient-poor soil, and excessive fertiliser promotes foliage at the cost of those distinctive blooms. Nevertheless, you can provide an additional boost this spring by incorporating one natural ingredient into the soil.
Jean, a gardening enthusiast and creator of Green Jeane, mistakenly used inappropriate sandy compost in her herb container.
However, she was delighted to discover her lavender thriving, notwithstanding the error. The key to the lavender’s impressive performance was eggshells, which Jean had incorporated into the compost.
Eggshells help plants grow stronger and help improve the soil(Image: Getty)
She said: “The lavender also had some of that old sandy mix, but also lots of eggshells mixed in, so it was doing much better, and I didn’t bother to remove the sand when repotting it. I’m amazed at how much bigger and healthier the lavender looks!”
While it may seem peculiar, eggshells contain abundant calcium, which fortifies plants and enhances soil drainage, safeguarding lavender against waterlogging.
Lavender performs optimally in neutral to mildly alkaline soil, making eggshells, which can reduce soil acidity, a perfect supplement.
Jean suggested using eggs as a straightforward, natural approach to feeding lavenders and improving their soil, though she cautioned that collecting enough eggshells can take some time.
She said: “My favourite amendment to lighten soil is simply dried and crushed eggshells. I like using Perlite, but it’s very dusty, and of course, you have to buy it.”
Lavender may appear low-maintenance(Image: Getty)
Jean added: “The only downside to using eggshells is that you have to be patient and save up a lot (or eat lots of eggs!), but I don’t repot that often, so I usually have just enough. “
How to use eggshells as a natural lavender feed
Start by rinsing the eggshells thoroughly after cooking to wash away any remaining yolk, as leftover food can produce unpleasant odours and draw in pests.
Jean said: “If you’re going to use eggshells, be sure to rinse them first and dry thoroughly (a day or two) before crushing. Sticky membranes and yolk reside left inside the shell will make it clump together and have an odour.”
Once you’ve gathered sufficient eggshells, spread them across a baking tray and place them in the oven at 200°C for 10 to 15 minutes. Afterwards, use a rolling pin or other heavy object to crush the eggshells into small pieces.
Bear in mind that natural fertilisers should be used sparingly(Image: Getty)
Drying and crushing eggshells is vital as it accelerates their decomposition, enabling the lavender to absorb nutrients far more readily.
The jagged, crushed eggshell pieces can also discourage numerous garden pests, such as slugs, snails, and other insects, from coming near your lavender plants, protecting them from harm.
You’ll need no more than one to two tablespoons of crushed eggshells per lavender plant, and this homemade mixture only needs to be applied twice — once in spring and once again in summer.
Bear in mind that natural fertilisers should be used sparingly, as an excess of nutrients in the soil can result in over-fertilisation and potentially scorch the plant’s roots.
Putting in a little effort to dry and crush eggshells can make a remarkable difference to the health of your lavender plants, boosting the soil quality and warding off certain pests, keeping your blooms flourishing throughout spring.
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