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1. Mulch
Shells from all sorts of nuts can be an effective organic mulch
Covering your garden beds with a generous layer of mulch is not only aesthetically-pleasing, it also helps keep the soil moist, boost fertility, and suppress weeds.
Save up your pistachio shells and mix them with wood chip, bark, leaves, or other organic mulch before scattering it over the garden.
Whole pistachio shells are fairly tough and hard and will take ages to fully break down. As they do, they will slowly release carbon, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to feed the earth.
2. Potted Plant Filler
Those really deep decorative planters require a whole lot of soil to fill completely. It’s often a waste of good potting soil too, since the plant’s root system rarely needs that much space to grow.
Lessen the need for copious amounts of soil by filling the bottom potion of the container with pistachio shells.
Allow for enough room at the top for potting soil. The planting depth should be matched to the mature size of the cultivar. Herbs, lettuce, and other smaller plants need only 12 inches of soil while tomatoes and other larger specimens would be better off with 24 to 36 inches of soil.
As an added bonus, pistachio shells will assist with drainage so the plant’s root system is never sitting in water.
3. Potted Plant Drainage
Pistachio shells can be used in place of drainage pebbles at the base of potted plants.
Speaking of drainage, using pistachio shells to line the bottom of any potted plant will prevent them from becoming waterlogged.
This trick is especially useful when the pot lacks a proper hole for drainage.
With an empty container, add an inch or so layer of pistachio shells along the bottom. Top the container up with soil and add plants.
Water that isn’t taken up by the plant will drain into this pistachio shell layer – keeping the root system up and way from excess moisture.
Though the classic drainage materials are small rocks and pebbles, the advantage of pistachio shells is they will eventually biodegrade, so you’ll never have to fish them out of the soil when re-potting your plants.
4. Pest Deterrent
Pistachio shells can be used in the same way as eggshells to create a physical barrier around plants often damaged by slugs and snails.
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