Lobster shells in the garden

lobsters.jpgLobster shells add calcium to soil.

   Q: A waitress at Red Lobster told me a customer comes in to get lobster shells that she uses as fertilizer in her garden. Is this a good idea to pursue?

   A: With a few precautions, yes. Lobster shells are an excellent source of calcium -- one of the six most important plant nutrients.

   They're best used when first composted, especially when mixed with a variety of other materials to help them break down and to give you a more complete fertilizer.

   One potential down side is that they can smell. Another is that wild animals -- particularly raccoons -- love them.

   So if you compost them, it's best to cover them in your pile with vegetation or use them in a covered or contained compost bin. They break down fastest when they're chopped or crushed before going into the pile.

   Also, use lobster shells in moderation. You can overdo it with any fertilizer, and in this case, your soil could end up too high in calcium with repeated heavy use of lobster shells.

   But if your soil needs calcium, lobster shells and egg shells are two of the best natural sources. And the compost pile is a good way to recycle waste materials like these.