I've been down the coffee grounds path too, and yeah, mold city after just a couple rainy days. But don't let it discourage you—gardening is all trial and error anyway. Eggshells could definitely be worth a shot; I've had good luck with them in my own beds. Just make sure to rinse them out first and let them dry completely, then crush them up into smaller bits before sprinkling around your plants. That way they break down more evenly and don't attract unwanted visitors.
If you're looking for another alternative, banana peels are surprisingly effective too. I usually cut mine into small pieces and bury them lightly under the soil surface—just enough that they're covered but not too deep. They decompose fairly quickly, especially if you have earthworms in your garden, plus they add potassium which plants seem to love. And I've never noticed any mold issues with those.
One other small tip: whenever you're experimenting with new compost materials, try starting in a less visible corner of your garden first. If something doesn't work out, at least the mess isn't front-and-center in your cozy new outdoor space.
Anyway, sounds like you're making awesome progress on your yard—it's always satisfying to see things come together after putting in the effort. Keep at it and don't worry about a few missteps along the way... we've all been there!
Your space sounds like it's really shaping up nicely! Totally relate to the coffee grounds situation—been there and learned that lesson the hard way myself. Moldy mess after a damp week, not exactly the cozy vibe I was aiming for either.
"banana peels are surprisingly effective too. I usually cut mine into small pieces and bury them lightly under the soil surface"
Funny you mention banana peels, because I started doing that last summer when my roses were looking kinda sad and droopy. A neighbor swore by bananas for roses, so I figured why not give it a shot. Cut them up small just like you said, buried them shallowly around the base of each plant, and within a couple weeks those roses perked right up. Could've been coincidence, but honestly, I'm convinced. Plus, no moldy drama to deal with.
Another thing I've tried is tea leaves (after brewing loose-leaf tea). They seem to break down pretty quickly without attracting mold or pests. Just sprinkle them lightly around the plants—nothing fancy—and they add some nutrients back into the soil without any fuss. Might be worth experimenting with if you're a tea drinker.
And speaking of trial and error, I once got overly ambitious with composting citrus peels—total rookie mistake. Turns out citrus can mess with the soil pH if you overdo it, and my hydrangeas let me know loud and clear by turning an unhappy shade of yellowish-green. Lesson learned: moderation is key!
Anyway, your yard sounds like it's becoming a really inviting place to hang out. Gardening is definitely one of those things where you learn as you go, mistakes included...but that's half the fun of it, right?
Banana peels never really worked for me, weirdly enough. Maybe my soil's just stubborn, but they sat there forever without breaking down much. Tea leaves though...that's interesting, might give that a try next time I brew loose-leaf.
"Banana peels never really worked for me, weirdly enough. Maybe my soil's just stubborn, but they sat there forever without breaking down much."
Haha, stubborn soil—I can relate! If banana peels are just lounging around and refusing to break down, try chopping them finely or even blending them with a bit of water before mixing into the compost or directly into the soil. Smaller pieces break down faster and help speed things along. Tea leaves are fantastic too; I've had good luck mixing them with coffee grounds...my garden seems to appreciate the caffeine boost even more than I do.
Haha, glad I'm not alone with stubborn soil. Banana peels never really did much for me either, even chopped up. Honestly, I've found eggshells crushed up finely work wonders—my roses perked right up after I started mixing them in. Coffee grounds are great too, but careful not to overdo it...too much caffeine and your plants might get jittery (kidding, but moderation helps). Anyway, your cozy outdoor space sounds lovely; gardening's always trial and error, isn't it?
