Does Anyone Use Diaotomaceous Earth?

**MakeADollarHollar** · 05-05-2010, 09:21 PM

We are in the process of starting our first *real* garden. We are doing raised beds and DH is building quite the set up. 4 beds, 4X12 each, each one irrigated independantly by our choice of either city water, our deep well or gravity fed via rain barrel. The perimeter area around the boxes will also be irrigated the same way for vining/climbing plants. The boxes are built, our soil is getting delivered tomorrow and we will fill in the rest with peat moss and compost.

In the meantime, I've spray painted my Black Thumb with green paint and am keeping my fingers crossed. He built two smaller boxes last fall that I was going to use for an herb garden but never got around to planting anything. I've since planted tomato plants. In addition, I bought a tiny little Pepper plant that I thought wasn't going to make it but has made a miraculous turn around. Until I looked at it today.

My question is this. The Tomatoes had Leaf Miners, so far the only pest we've discovered. I've heard great things about DE for overall pest management so we bought some. Last weekend I sprinkled all the plants with it using a coffee can with holes punched in the bottom. I found it to be quite "dense" (even though I tried to sprinkle lightly and evenly) but was worried about the tomato blossoms.

Is it possible for DE to cake on the flowers preventing pollination? I've noticed several flowers (not buds, just flowers) falling off. We don't have many bees around and any other time we've (specifically DH) has grown tomatoes he pollinated them himself with a paint brush. But these plants are MINE! I need to learn the ropes. Maybe I missed the point of pollination and it's coincindental with the DE.

Like I mentioned, my little Pepper plant has made a huge turn around, about 7-8 itty-bitty little buds on it but something is eating it's leaves. I'm worried about dusting it again (the previous dusting has been washed away with recent rains) for fear of shredding the little buds (that's what DE does...Shreds stuff with it sharp edges) but I want to kill whatever is eating it. As of today, a visual inspection didn't reveal the pest.

I'm curious to know your results with DE and if you have any advice on when to use it. This information could come in super handy when we get the big garden going.

Thanks!

**frugalfranny** · 05-06-2010, 01:13 AM

I don't know much about leaf miners but I have used it for earwigs and I have never used it on my veggies. I use it mainly on my butterfly bushes.

Not sure you should use it where bees are supposed to come in and pollinate as it has sharp pieces in it.............this might help you.

How to Use Diatomaceous Earth in Gardening | eHow.com

Good luck.......keep us updated......as other people might want to know the info too.

**MakeADollarHollar** · 05-06-2010, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

I don't know much about leaf miners but I have used it for earwigs and I have never used it on my veggies. I use it mainly on my butterfly bushes.

Not sure you should use it where bees are supposed to come in and pollinate as it has sharp pieces in it.............this might help you.

How to Use Diatomaceous Earth in Gardening | eHow.com

Good luck.......keep us updated......as other people might want to know the info too.

YES! This is another concern I had and I even mentioned it to DH. I didn't want any bees getting cup up by the DE. If it can cut through the ectoskeleton (sp?) of beatle-type bugs I'm sure it could cut through a soft skinned bee.

Thanks for the link. Will check it out!

**frugalfranny** · 05-06-2010, 12:28 PM

It is also supposed to be good for slugs but I have never used it much for that either.

I really don't like 'applying' it......I have a thing you fill, then you 'puff' it out with a wand part that is has......it blows around so much......and you are not supposed to be inhaling ANY of it....doesn't work too well.

I have a bag that has lasted for YEARS because of that.

**Missy** · 05-06-2010, 01:46 PM

it's safe around humans and animals (even use it in my chickens coops if I am worried about mites, and as a dusting powder on the dogs if we are going hiking in unfamiliar wooded areas if i am worried about ticks and fleas) But just aboiut any bug is at risk from this item...evem worms and bees. I am not sure how you'd get around that problem using the same item. I might forgo using DE in my plants that needed inscect pollination (butterflies too!!) and use a different product. Inscecticidal soap might be a better option as is doesn;t put beneficials at risk as much.

**MakeADollarHollar** · 05-06-2010, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by Missy

But just aboiut any bug is at risk from this item...evem worms and bees. I am not sure how you'd get around that problem using the same item. I might forgo using DE in my plants that needed inscect pollination (butterflies too!!) and use a different product. Inscecticidal soap might be a better option as is doesn;t put beneficials at risk as much.

Missy, I agree. Even though I've heard of the soap mixture it never dawned on me, DUH! Gonna do that tonight. Thanks for helping me see the light!

**MakeADollarHollar** · 05-06-2010, 02:49 PM

Couldn't remember the exact mixture of how to make the soap solution but I had read that it needs to be of a variety that is not Anti-Bacterial. So, I went on a hunt. Several options out there, some even including canola oil but leaving oil on my plant leaves doesn't sound like a good way to start off even though I can see where it might be beneficial. Seems as though the soap spray needs to be applied directly to the bug and I have't found it yet so I'll start with the basic spray first. If I continue to notice my leaves being nibbled on I'll add some oil as it will stick to the leaves and hopefully the little bugger(s) will walk through it. AND I already have the Fels Naptha.

"Shave 1 inch of Fels-Naptha laundry soap into 1 quart of heated water and stir until dissolved. This will be your insecticidal soap concentrate. Put the soap solution into a labeled jar.

To use the soap spray, put 1 teaspoon of concentrate per quart into a sprayer. This insecticidal soap is a contact poison, so spray it directly onto the insects you want to eliminate from your home, garden or orchard. For additional killing power, add one-quarter cup of rubbing alcohol per quart."