10 Surprising Things You Should Bury in Your Garden to Boost Growth and Soil Health
If you’re looking to make your garden thrive without spending hours laboring in the soil, you might be overlooking one of the simplest and most effective strategies: burying natural boosters in your garden. While most gardeners know about compost and fertilizer, there are a surprising number of everyday items you can add to your soil that improve plant growth, enrich the soil, and even fend off pests.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 surprising things you should bury in your garden to promote lush growth and healthy, fertile soil. These tips aren’t just about making your garden beautiful—they’re about working with nature to create a thriving ecosystem.
1. Coffee Grounds – Nature’s Nitrogen Booster
If you’re a coffee lover, don’t toss those grounds in the trash. Coffee grounds are a rich source of nitrogen, which is essential for leafy plants like lettuce, spinach, and kale. Nitrogen is a key nutrient that helps plants build strong stems and vibrant leaves.
How to use:
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Sprinkle used coffee grounds directly around the base of your plants.
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For a slow-release option, bury a thin layer about 2–3 inches below the surface.
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Mix with compost to balance acidity and prevent clumping.
Extra benefit: Coffee grounds also attract earthworms, which naturally aerate the soil and enhance nutrient cycling.
2. Crushed Eggshells – Nature’s Calcium Supplement
Eggshells are more than just kitchen waste—they’re a fantastic source of calcium, which is vital for preventing blossom-end rot in tomatoes, peppers, and other fruiting plants. Calcium strengthens cell walls, leading to sturdier plants and better fruit development.
How to use:
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Rinse and crush the shells into small pieces.
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Bury them in the soil near the roots of calcium-loving plants.
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Over time, they slowly break down, releasing calcium gradually.
Extra benefit: Crushed eggshells can help deter slugs and snails naturally.
3. Banana Peels – Potassium Power
Banana peels are a hidden powerhouse of potassium, an essential nutrient for flowering and fruiting plants. Potassium helps plants regulate water, resist disease, and produce bigger blooms and fruits.
How to use:
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Chop banana peels into small pieces to speed up decomposition.
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Bury them a few inches deep near the roots of fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
Extra benefit: Banana peels also attract beneficial microbes, which improve soil fertility.
4. Wood Ash – A Soil pH Balancer
If you have a fireplace or burn wood in your backyard, don’t discard the ashes—they can be a valuable soil amendment. Wood ash contains potassium, calcium, and trace minerals, and it can help raise the pH of acidic soils, making nutrients more available to plants.
How to use:
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Sprinkle a thin layer of cooled, fine wood ash around plants.
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Work it gently into the soil to prevent it from blowing away.
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Avoid overuse, as too much ash can make the soil overly alkaline.
Extra benefit: Wood ash can deter certain pests, including slugs and snails.
5. Seaweed – Ocean Minerals for Your Garden
If you live near the coast, seaweed is a gardener’s secret weapon. Seaweed is loaded with micronutrients, potassium, and natural growth hormones that stimulate root development and improve plant resilience.
How to use:
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Rinse seaweed thoroughly to remove excess salt.
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Chop it up and bury it in garden beds or around the base of plants.
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Alternatively, make a seaweed tea by soaking it in water and watering your plants with it.
Extra benefit: Seaweed improves soil structure, helping sandy soils retain moisture and clay soils drain better.
6. Crushed Shells or Oyster Shells – Slow-Release Minerals
Like eggshells, crushed shells and oyster shells add calcium and trace minerals to your garden soil. They break down slowly, providing nutrients over time.
How to use:
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Crush shells into small pieces or grind into powder.
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Mix with soil before planting or sprinkle around established plants.
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Particularly beneficial for vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
Extra benefit: The rough texture can help deter soft-bodied pests.
7. Grass Clippings – Quick Nitrogen Boost
Grass clippings are often seen as yard waste, but they’re a rich source of nitrogen and organic matter. When buried in the garden, they decompose quickly, feeding the soil and encouraging healthy plant growth.
How to use:
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Chop clippings into small pieces to prevent matting.
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Bury under a thin layer of soil or compost to speed decomposition.
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Avoid clippings from lawns treated with herbicides or pesticides.
Extra benefit: Grass clippings help retain soil moisture and improve soil structure over time.
8. Coffee Filters or Paper – Organic Carbon Source
Used coffee filters, shredded newspaper, or other untreated paper can add carbon, which balances the nitrogen in compost piles and enriches soil when buried directly. Carbon helps microbes thrive, creating a fertile environment for plants.
How to use:
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Shred paper to accelerate decomposition.
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Mix with compost or bury in planting beds.
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Avoid glossy or colored paper with inks, which may contain harmful chemicals.
Extra benefit: Adds bulk to soil, improving aeration and water retention.
9. Kitchen Vegetable Scraps – Multi-Nutrient Boost
Vegetable scraps from the kitchen—like carrot tops, onion skins, and potato peels—are a goldmine of essential nutrients for your garden. When buried, they slowly release nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals.
How to use:
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Chop scraps into small pieces to speed up decomposition.
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Bury them directly in garden beds or dig small holes around plants.
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Rotate the spots to prevent attracting pests.
Extra benefit: Adds organic matter, which improves soil structure and water retention.
10. Coffee Grounds Mixed with Eggshells – The Ultimate Duo
Combining coffee grounds and eggshells creates a balanced soil amendment. The coffee provides nitrogen while the eggshells provide calcium, giving plants both growth energy and structural support.
How to use:
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Mix equal parts of crushed eggshells and coffee grounds.
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Sprinkle around plants or bury a few inches below the surface.
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Reapply every few months for continuous benefits.
Extra benefit: Helps maintain soil fertility naturally and sustainably.
Bonus Tips for Burying Materials in Your Garden
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Chop or crush items whenever possible – Smaller pieces break down faster.
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Mix with soil or compost – Prevents odors and attracts beneficial microbes.
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Avoid toxic materials – Never bury meat, dairy, or treated wood, as these can attract pests or release harmful chemicals.
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Rotate locations – Prevents nutrient hotspots and promotes even soil fertility.
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Observe your plants – Adjust what you bury based on how your garden responds.
Conclusion
Gardening smarter doesn’t mean working harder—it means understanding what your soil and plants truly need. By burying everyday kitchen and yard materials like coffee grounds, eggshells, banana peels, and seaweed, you can naturally boost growth, improve soil health, and create a thriving garden ecosystem.
These methods are sustainable, budget-friendly, and surprisingly effective. Next time you enjoy your morning coffee or peel a banana, think of it as a gift to your garden. With just a little effort, your garden can flourish, and you can enjoy the satisfaction of growing smarter—not harder.
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