Top 10 Kitchen Scraps You Should Never Bury in Your Garden
Burying food scraps in the garden can work wonders for soil and plants, but not everything from your kitchen or household belongs underground. Some scraps attract pests, create odors, introduce toxins, or even harm your plants. Here’s a guide to the top ten things you should never bury in your garden soil.
1. Meat and Fish Scraps
These decompose slowly and smell bad fast. They are magnets for rodents, raccoons, dogs, and other unwanted visitors.
Tip: Composting meat is only safe in commercial or specialized hot compost systems.
2. Dairy Products
Butter, cheese, yogurt, and milk products can sour, stink, and attract pests. They also create slimy pockets in soil that block air and water from roots.
Tip: Feed dairy scraps to chickens or use small amounts in a worm bin instead.
3. Oils and Greasy Foods
Vegetable oil, olive oil, or fried leftovers coat soil particles and slow down decomposition. Excess oil can harm microbes and water absorption.
Tip: Reuse or recycle cooking oil instead of burying it.
4. Processed Foods and Junk Food
Bread in small amounts can work, but candy, chips, and heavily salted or sugary items can attract pests and add little to no nutritional value.
Tip: Stick to natural scraps like fruit, vegetables, and eggshells.
5. Citrus Peels in Bulk
While small amounts of citrus are fine, burying a lot can make soil too acidic for sensitive plants.
Tip: Spread peels thinly or chop very small before burying.
6. Onions and Garlic in Large Quantities
These pungent scraps can repel earthworms and slow decomposition if buried in big piles.
Tip: Small amounts in a balanced mix are fine, but avoid trenching an entire row with them.
7. Walnut Shells and Black Walnuts
Walnuts contain juglone, which can inhibit growth of tomatoes, peppers, and other plants.
Tip: Avoid burying these near sensitive plants or in garden beds where you plan to grow edibles.
8. Pet Waste
Dog, cat, and other carnivore waste carry pathogens that can survive in soil and contaminate edible plants.
Tip: Use dedicated pet waste disposal or municipal composting options, never in your vegetable garden.
9. Treated or Glossy Paper Products
Printed papers, glossy magazines, or chemically treated paper don’t break down easily and can leach chemicals into your soil.
Tip: Stick to plain cardboard, newspaper, and paper towels.
10. Diseased Plant Material
Plants infected with fungi, viruses, or pests should not be buried. These pathogens can survive in soil and infect future crops.
Tip: Burn diseased plants or dispose of them in municipal green waste programs.
Extra Tips
- Deep burial: Even scraps that are safe can attract pests if not buried at least 6–8 inches deep.
- Mix variety: Balance nitrogen-rich scraps with carbon-rich materials to avoid smelly soil.
- Rotate spots: Never bury large quantities in one area repeatedly. This prevents nutrient overload and soil imbalance.
- Pet safety: Keep curious pets away from trenches to prevent them from digging up scraps.
- Mark spots: Use sticks or stones to remember buried areas, especially if you avoid planting there immediately.
⚠ Cautions
- Odor control: Improperly buried scraps like meat or dairy can make your garden smell unpleasant.
- Rodent prevention: Always cover scraps well and avoid attracting critters that can damage plants.
- Soil health: Large quantities of unsuitable scraps can disrupt microbial balance, leading to compacted or unhealthy soil.
