Diatomaceous Earth Guide: What is It & How to Use in Your Garden (2024)

Pesticides are one of the several compounds used to kill insects and other pests living and feeding off your crops. While gardeners and landscapers are familiar with pesticides and even use them frequently, many people are unaware of the various types of pesticides available.

One great non-toxic pesticide that you can use for gardening and crop-growing purposes is diatomaceous earth or DE.

If you’re wondering what diatomaceous earth is, then you’re at the right place. This article will provide a thorough explanation of what diatomaceous earth is, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to use it in your garden.

Diatomaceous Earth: What Is It and How Is It Made?

Diatomaceous earth, also known as kieselgur/kieselguhr, is a soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that crumbles readily into a thin white or cream powder.

Diatomaceous earth is a powder produced from fossilized algal silt found in waterways. Because these algae have a high concentration of a chemical termed silica in their cells, the dried silt created from these fossils has a high concentration of silica as well.

Diatomaceous earth was used by the medieval Greeks to manufacture building materials such as bricks. Later on, it gained popularity in Europe for various industrial purposes.

Plants have been an element of Earth’s ecosystem since ancient times. Diatomite refers to the powdery sediments that diatoms leave behind. The diatoms are extracted and processed into a powder that resembles talcum powder in appearance and feel.

Diatomaceous earth comprises particles ranging in size from less than three micrometers to more than one micrometer. A major portion of diatomaceous earth is made up of granular silicon dioxide, and the first pesticides using this silicon dioxide were approved in 1960 to kill termites and insects.

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What Kinds of Diatomaceous Earth Are There?

Each variety of diatomaceous earth is treated differently, which distinguishes them from one another. The three basic categories are pool grade, food grade, and feed grade.

DE (Pool Grade)

Pool-grade diatomaceous earth is heated to a very high temperature in a treatment known as calcination. This kind of treated diatomaceous earth is not suitable for use in the household, backyard, or garden because of the major changes caused by the heat treatment.

This type of DE is typically used in pools to filter pollutants present in water.

DE (Food Grade)

Food grade diatomaceous earth is not calcined, unlike pool grade DE. It is predominantly made of silicon dioxide and must pass stringent testing. You should use specially formulated diatomaceous earth because it is versatile and may be used in the home, yard, and garden.

Farmers typically apply enormous amounts of food-grade diatomaceous earth to their harvests and cereals to eliminate insects that try to eat the grain. Home gardeners also use DE to eliminate pests such as spider mites and fungus gnats.

Food grade DE is deemed safe for human ingestion on a reasonably regular basis, even though it is not recognized by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). It offers numerous benefits, including weight loss, bone strengthening, and skin health improvement.

Diatomaceous earth is known as the “bug killer you can eat,” but it’s vital to remember that DE labeled for pest management is not safe for human consumption.

DE suitable for consumption has inherent de-worming properties that make it safe to feed pets and cattle. Furthermore, it can be used on household pets to protect them from parasites like ticks and fleas.

DE (Feed-Grade)

Because most people now use food-grade diatomaceous earth on their animals, this grade is no longer widely utilized, but it was previously the “go-to” grade for animal use.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Diatomaceous Earth?

Advantages

Diatomaceous earth is natural and non-toxic, making it great for gardeners and landscapers who prefer to use healthy, organic products over harsh chemicals.

Disadvantages

Diatomaceous earth might be deemed impractical because it requires constant dry conditions to provide effective results. This means that you will have to (almost certainly) reapply it after a hailstorm or rainfall, as rain can soak it into the soil.

DE also doesn’t distinguish between pests and pollinating insects. It can harm ladybugs, green lacewings, dragonflies, bees, and other “good guys” if they come into touch with it. As a result, we advise using DE sparingly on or around plants regularly visited by beneficial insects.

How Does Diatomaceous Earth Keep Pests Out of Your Garden?

Because the silica skeletons are incredibly sharp — like small bits of broken glass — slugs and snails avoid crawling over DE (Slugs and snails also dislike eggshells!). They do this because they will dry if their fragile bodies are cut and eventually die.

DE also works on soft-bodied insects like caterpillars and aphids and hard-shelled insects like beetles, fleas, co*ckroaches, and sometimes even bed bugs. Its particles go into the shells of the insects, causing discomfort and dehydration.

Uses of Diatomaceous Earth in Gardening

It Can Remove Maggots from Compost and Manure

Many different varieties of flies can lay their eggs in manure and compost piles. These eggs infest the compost piles and render them useless for gardening purposes.

If you want to stop this infestation from happening and would like to use an alternative to chemicals in your backyard, diatomaceous earth is the best option for you.

It Can Help Control the Aphid Population

Aphids feed on plant juices by penetrating and sucking the sap from immature plant parts. This can cause plant growth to be stunted and reduce yield. Aphids proliferate quickly and can quickly suffocate the host plant if appropriate action is not taken at the correct time. They can distribute to other plants and destroy your garden beyond repair.

If you wish to avoid using toxic synthetic pesticides in the garden, diatomaceous earth is an effective aphid treatment. Dust the affected plants with DE or combine it with water and spray it on the plants using a sprayer.

It Can Help in Ant Extermination

A couple of ants in the garden are harmless to you and your plants, but large colonies, particularly fire ant mounds, can be a source of concern. Plus, ants might be a pain to get rid of because they are so tenacious. Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic, low-cost approach to getting rid of them. Because diatomaceous earth can penetrate the exoskeleton of the ant, it causes dehydration, killing the insects.

It Can Keep Rodents Out of Your Garden

Rodents such as mice, rats, and rabbits can cause significant damage to your gardening, but if you don’t want to trap or eliminate them, one way to discourage their visits to your backyard.

In fact, certain aromas such as that citrus and peppermint are incredible at repelling these rodents. You can mix a few drops of peppermint oil with some DE soil in tiny containers all over your backyard to eliminate these pesky rodents.

It Can Be Used as a Deodorizer

Did you know that DE can also double up as a natural deodorant in your garden? This organic compound can be sprinkled all over the upper layer of your backyard soil to absorb the smell of manure or the stink of an animal relieving itself in your garden.

Compost piles can smell bad if there are too many wet components in them, such as kitchen garbage or fruit that has fallen off the tree or bush. Deodorize the pile with diatomaceous earth.

It Can Be Used to Enhance Porosity in Pots and Containers

Diatomaceous earth is frequently used as a growing medium for plants, usually combined with other materials. It can store fertilizers and subsequently release them to the roots, even though it doesn’t provide much in the way of nutrition.

In fact, Diatomaceous earth is a superstar in Bonsai culture because of its unmatched ability to store fertilizer and increase the porosity of pots and containers.

To improve drainage and airflow in the root system, combine it with potting soil.

Gardening Using Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth can be used in various ways, depending on what you want to do with it and where you want to use it. Here’s how we think you should use it in your yard or garden:

Step 1

First, identify the area(s) in your yard where the pest infestation is visible. This is usually the source of the problem.

Putting on white knee-high socks and standing in one spot for a few moments is an easy way to discover the contaminated parts of the yard quickly. If the region is plagued with fleas, they will immediately bind to the socks.

The areas of your yard that receive a lot of direct sunshine and/or have a lot of foot traffic are less likely to be invaded by pests. Instead, spaces, where pets rest and/or spend much time, are more likely to be the source of an infestation.

Step 2

Once you’ve determined which areas are contaminated, get ready to apply diatomaceous earth. It’s advisable to wait for a few days of dry weather before starting the application process, as diatomaceous earth works best in dry conditions.

Diatomaceous earth can be administered by scattering handfuls of the powder over the affected area(s) and allowing it to drift down and coat the entire portion organically. However, any form of dust spreader can be used to apply it. These may frequently be found in garden centers.

You can also combine the powder with water and place it on the affected areas of the yard, but this technique will only work if the weather stays dry for at least one week.

Consider the Following

It’s crucial to remember that any dust/powder item can be dangerous if inhaled in significant amounts, and diatomaceous earth is no exception. The jagged edges of the dust have the potential to irritate the throat and lungs’ sensitive tissues. So, we strongly advise you to wear safety goggles and dust-filtering masks.

It’s also vital to remember that diatomaceous earth isn’t a fast-acting pest-eradication remedy because it’s not a severe chemical. Don’t be concerned if you don’t see results right away; it can take several days to notice a difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How Long Does It Take for Diatomaceous Earth to Kill Bugs?

A: It can take anywhere from one to two weeks to kill pests, but it is effective and produces long-lasting improvements.

Q: What Kinds of Insects Does Diatomaceous Earth Kill?

A: It has the potential to kill all bugs; however, it is known for removing pests like ants, bed bugs, and fleas.

Q: Is It Okay to Mix Diatomaceous Earth and Water?

A: Yes, that is okay. You can use a quart container of diatomaceous earth mixed with a gallon of water to spray your pest-infested grass and/or bushes.

Conclusion

Food-grade diatomaceous earth can effectively remedy various diseases on the homestead. While using ground-up sea animals on your lawn may seem unusual, it is worth incorporating into your backyard pest management routine. The powder is easy to use and has proven to be just as beneficial (if not more so) than some of the more toxic synthetic pesticides.

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