razyrsharpe
South Carolina
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 4:35 pm Post subject: diatamaceous? earth |
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has anyone had experience with this product? it has been highly recommended as a non-toxic bug/pest killer. please let me learn from your experience. thanks!
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carolyn keiper
northern ohio
Posts: 2626
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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I use this in my greenhouse if I see slugs. I think that it helps. Just don't inhale it and make sure you aren't using the product marketed for swimming pools. I bought mine at Lowes last year. It is a yellow bag marketed by safer brand. Try a garden center or farm supply place for prices, also.
edited 5/25:
this can also be "dissolved" in water and sprayed on your plants, underneath the leaves and on top. I sprayed for aphids today. They seem to be particularly bad this year here, along with the flea beetles. 1/4 of a lb in a 5 gallon sprayer and add 1 tea. of flax soap( available at a paint supply place). or insecticidal soap concentrate into 1 qt of warm water add to the 5 gal. container and add enough water to fill. mix well and reapply after a rain.
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Pricklypear
Southern Arizona
Posts: 175
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| Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 4:29 am Post subject: |
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I use it for ants that try to climb up my bell pepper plants. These are harvester ants that will take out a plant in one day.
I sprinkle it heavily around the base of each plant. It kills the ants as they travel through it to climb up or down the plant. Of course then I have to go find the ant hill and take it out. If it isn't next to garden plants, several pours of boiling water works well.
Carolyn is right. The swimming pool stuff won't work. You need the stuff sold at garden centers. You can find it in organic gardening catalogs and websites. Diatomaceous earth is a staple in my garden pest arsenal.
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Tooty2shoes
Denmark, Wis.
Posts: 848
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: diatamaceous? earth |
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| razyrsharpe wrote: | | has anyone had experience with this product? it has been highly recommended as a non-toxic bug/pest killer. please let me learn from your experience. thanks! |
Yup. I have used it for a couple of years. I always buy what is called food grade. That way you can give it to your livestock, dog, cat, chickens, and you as a natural wormer.
I know. We worm everything else but ourselves. That is important to do at least once a year.
You need to mix it with water first before administering. I usually take about a TBL.spoon in a half a glass of water or juice once a month.
You can't OD on the stuff.
Works great also if you have a flea problem in your yard. It is super stuff.
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