Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

I think Diatomaceous Earth is great! It does wonders against all kinds of unwanted pests such as bed bugs, ticks, fleas, ants etc. Just make sure you are using food grade diatomaceous earth. The other grade is used for pool filters. Also use standard precautions when spreading. You can sprinkle it around your home or even rub it in to your pet's fur.

FIL is researching DE and bees. I'll let you know what he finds out... but it's his opinion that anything that effects an insect by hurting the exoskeleton will hurt bees.

shannon1 wrote:It seems there are 2 camps on the web from the research I have done.

My experience, also.

Tril, I would be very interested to hear from your f-i-l.

Sorry guys, my other job is cake decorating instructor, and I'm teaching kids from 7-12 at our local college's kids college this week and next, so I'm not on much. My husband does the bees, I have a healthy respect for them, but due to the fact my parents developed late allergies to them, and the fact I am allergic to wasps I keep my distance from them. I do work around them in the garden, but I stay out of their way.

I'm just not willing to risk DE in the garden due to the fact that beekeepers have said not to use it, I'll take their word first. DE also will leave little scrapes on soft bodied inscets, causing them to not be able to retain water, so in my mind that means bees, and it kills worms inside animals, so I'm trying to understand how it won't kill earth worms, but I'll set that aside for now and leave it to the experts to argue, and just not use it around the bees.

Valerie - Not that this is truth, but on the chicken forum I've been reading, DE may not be effective with internal parasites (worms) because once it gets wet, it loses its "cutting" edge - and the digestive tracts of chickens is, well, moist. It's a debate.

Having said that, about chickens, I have a mean ol Mr. Fox swinging by my place for a snack every day and I'm about to have a nervous breakdown.

If you think about it all digestive systems are wet. When we get more "litter" for our coup, I'll be mixing DE in with it, more for the fly population than anything else. I got the info on backyardchickens.com, you seen that one yet?

Yup, it's my second home.

Can anyone tell me how to use DE in the vegetable garden?

Right now I am at the indoor seedling stage. I live overseas and my desire for green vegetables has me planting a garden- for the first time ever. We have snails and beetles all over the yard, my house is built on former vineyards. Thinking DE will help.

Welcome Tree. I used to travel to Tbilisi about once a month. Stayed at a bed and breakfast that was great. It also included dinner and homemade wine.

As I understand, you just spinkle DE on and around the plants. You might also try to get Neem oil for your plants. Are you trying to follow Mel Mix or do you have to go with just loads of compost? Have you read ALL NEW SQUAREFOOT GARDENING? It is the how to manual used my folks on this forum.

Kay

I have a puffer bottle of "Safer Brand ant and crawling Insect Killer"
it is Omni Listed, active ingredients 77% DE 22% other ?


http://www.saferbrand.com/store/insect-control/5168

after reading everything I am still unsure I can use it on the veggies?

Posted on SFG Foundation FB.
http://www.planetnatural.com/diatomaceous-earth-bees/

Thank you Sanderson, that's a good article. I've used it on Lilly kitty for years to battle fleas. It helps if  I'm consistent. I just sprinkled non-food grade DE around my house yesterday to keep the ants out. I do that every year also. Food grade for the cat, zinnias, marigolds and the veggie garden, non-food grade for the house foundation.  Not sure that if I were a beekeeper that I could use it anywhere near my bees as suggested in the comments.
CC

CapeCoddess wrote:Thank you Sanderson, that's a good article. I've used it on Lilly kitty for years to battle fleas. It helps if  I'm consistent. I just sprinkled non-food grade DE around my house yesterday to keep the ants out. I do that every year also. Food grade for the cat, zinnias, marigolds and the veggie garden, non-food grade for the house foundation.  Not sure that if I were a beekeeper that I could use it anywhere near my bees as suggested in the comments.
CC

Sanderson, thanks for that article.  I liked it too.  CC:  I am very interested in knowing a bit more concerning how you use DE for cat fleas.  Do you put it directly on Lilly Kitty's fur or put it carpets, etc?

Windmere wrote: CC:  I am very interested in knowing a bit more concerning how you use DE for cat fleas.  Do you put it directly on Lilly Kitty's fur or put it carpets, etc?

I have a pepper shaker full next to my recliner.  While she's lying on my lap I separate her fur, sprinkle a little and then run my finger down it and put the fur back together, repeat.  I do it while watching Jeopardy and can cover the right side one night and the left side the next.  She actually knows it's helpful and will sometimes roll over in my lap so I can get neck and belly.

I supposed you could shake it all over like we used to do with flea powder but I prefer to keep her from inhaling it.

And yes, I also use it on furniture crevices and rugs.

CC

CC,  Lucky Lilly.

I have been thinking Sweetie must have fleas, even though I never see one.  I kept getting bit when we sleep or nap.  So I got out the Revolution from the Vet and tried to put it on the back of the neck.  I think I got more on me than her, but at least I don't have any new bites.

Has anyone here used food grade DE in their compost pile(s), to eliminate unwanted pests?

Forgive me if this question has already been asked; I've read through many of the previous comments, but didn't have time to catch them all.

Hey GB, I am NOT an expert on DE, I just started using it myself, with fantastic results so far. I did do some research, about its use.
It will kill hard body, or exoskeleton insects, like beetles. It also kills other organisms. I did not use it near the flowering part of any plants, as there is a concern about bees.
DE will not work after it gets wet, it seems to soften and loose the cutting edge that takes out the beetles. With that thought, if you put it in compost it will become moist.
Another thought, what are you trying to eradicate? I don't know what else you would kill when you put it in the pile, I am not sure if it takes out worms if they hit some dry DE. I hope that helps, I am interested in hearing about other uses for DE. Rock

It kills slugs but not worms. I don't use it in my compost pile. I've never seen anything in there that I'd want to get rid of.
CC

Hmm, maybe I should try it around the butterfly house. Only tiny ants, spiders, etc. can squeeze in, but I don't want anything alive in there except my caterpillars and host plants. It wouldn't get wet during butterfly season, since it won't rain here again until November (I'm trying to tempt Mother Nature into proving me wrong by making this statement).

Wet DE still works on bugs, it is still sharp.  It is less effective because its absorbent properties magnify the desiccating through the micro cuts when it is dry. 
It is often applied as a foliar spray to get a better even application.

bigdogrock wrote:Hey GB, I am NOT an expert on DE, I just started using it myself, with fantastic results so far. I did do some research, about its use.
It will kill hard body, or exoskeleton insects, like beetles. It also kills other organisms. I did not use it near the flowering part of any plants, as there is a concern about bees.
DE will not work after it gets wet, it seems to soften and loose the cutting edge that takes out the beetles. With that thought, if you put it in compost it will become moist.
Another thought, what are you trying to eradicate? I don't know what else you would kill when you put it in the pile, I am not sure if it takes out worms if they hit some dry DE. I hope that helps, I am interested in hearing about other uses for DE. Rock

Thanks Rock.  Several unwanted critters have taken up residence in or otherwise frequent my compost pile, namely carpenter ants, centipedes, and pill bugs.  I'm sure there are more waiting to be discovered.  DE may not be the best remedy; maybe beneficial nematodes are a better choice.

Hey GB, I can be very literal sometimes. I was thinking that you would only add it to your pile. I am not sure how or if it would harm the good critters.  After thinking about it, and what you are trying to eliminate, I don't see a problem if you were to put a DE barrier around your pile. With all I have read about it, it looses its effectiveness after it gets wet. However, I recently was told it still works when wet. So, I know that it worked for me to save my green beans when I put DE around the beans, after the first night I had no problems. I would certainly put a healthy dose around my pile if I had a "bad bug" insect problem.
I am interested in what your decision is and if you do use it, what you get for results. Rock

GB, I'm not sure that centipedes and pill bugs are bad in the compost pile.  you may want to Google that before getting rid of them. I leave them in mine but I don't remember why. As for the carpenter ants, a good turning or two will disturb any nests and they will leave.

Now, pill bugs in my sfg is a whole other matter!

CC

CapeCoddess wrote:GB, I'm not sure that centipedes and pill bugs are bad in the compost pile.  you may want to Google that before getting rid of them. I leave them in mine but I don't remember why. As for the carpenter ants, a good turning or two will disturb any nests and they will leave.

Now, pill bugs in my sfg is a whole other matter!

CC

Hmmm.....

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/centipedes-and-millipedes.htm

I do not like centipedes, but I will let them stay.

Thanks CC!
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addressing flea beetles, squash bugs.