sea shells

[Davyburns]

After renewing my addiction with "Moulles Mariniere" I began to wonder if mussel shells have anything to offer the gardener.

Anyone know?

[Jelliebabe]

Don't some people use them a bit like crushed egg shells, ie to deter slugs???

[Davyburns]

Thats what worried me, I know farmers feed hens crushed sea shells to help in the formation of egg shells, and I thought maybe snails could use them the same way to help their shells

[Flummery]

Cor, that's all we need! Super-charged snails!

[Patchninja]

I've seen garden paths covered with crushed mussel shells. Looks very nice. Just make sure you wash them well or wait for a wet spell or the smell.....

[Two_Sheds]

I thought maybe snails could use them the same way to help their shells

Nah, snails can only eat soft food

[Nicos]

If you bake them first and then crush them, they can be used reduce the acidity in soil....
.... don't put them anywhere near blueberries, cranberries etc when using as a mulch.

(UV sunlight will break them down more slowy than baking in the oven.)

[SueA]

I stuck a load of them on a mirror frame in the bathroom...oops that's nothing to do with gardening!
I think they'd make a good mulch in the tops of pots to protect plants, I didn't know that about them reducing acidity Nicos, thanks for the tip!

[womble]

Thats what worried me, I know farmers feed hens crushed sea shells to help in the formation of egg shells, and I thought maybe snails could use them the same way to help their shells

Funny I was wondering if the snails got a boost from the crushed shells I put out for my chooks to eat.
Many of my snails also have a thin shell problem, not sure what's going on there, I always thought I must have a deficiency in the soil.