What is Diatomaceous Earth?
This is a question that comes up a lot on the radio show Home & Garden Radio With Michael Crose on Business Talk Radio Network. It  started about fifteen years ago when someone called the show and asked about the use of diatomaceous earth (or DE) as a organic pesticide. I had heard of DE as something we used in our swimming pool filter, but I had no idea what it was made of or what its uses were. This was soon to change.

It did not take long for people from all over the world were sending the radio show about this great mineral. Diatomaceous Earth in its natural state is a soft rock like material consisting of the fossilized remains of dead microscopic single celled plants of fresh and salt water called diatoms. They look like snowflakes in stone. Billions and billions of these delicate, lacy shells form whole mountains of this lightweight, white to golden colored mineral we now call Diatomaceous Earth. The DE that is in use today has been fossilized and preserved for millions of years.

Diatoms live in salt and fresh water, although the DE that is used by many natural gardeners for controlling pests and soil conditioning is the freshwater lake bed mined material. It is a golden or tan color.

DE’s Many Uses
Diatomaceous Earth is used for many things in many parts of the world. In the west near many of the salt bases DE mines it is used in the manufacture of concrete. This salt bases product is also used for the filtering product that many of us use in swimming pools. Before it is sold to the customer it is crushed then heated to very high temperatures. This make the product very fine and fluffy. It is ideal in this state for filtering water and many other liquids. In its natural state the freshwater lake bed mined Diatomaceous Earth has many uses that organic gardeners and others who are more inclined to use natural products enjoy. Soil conditioning is one use that is popular as well as using DE as a natural form of pest control. In both of these uses the preferred product has been crushed into a fine powder but NOT heated. It is hard to find Diatomaceous Earth in this form but it is worth it as its effectiveness cannot be beat.

Diatomaceous Earth As A Soil Conditioner
Diatomaceous Earth is very effective in breaking up hard pan, conditioning heavy clay soils and amending over-worked land.

In addition, DE absorbs up to three times its weight in water. This alone will conserve and better utilize irrigation and require less water.

Diatomaceous Earth As Natural Pest Control
One of the more popular uses of DE is as a natural form of pest control. Because of the many tiny sharp edges on each specimen of DE, when it comes in contact with insects DE absorbs the waxy coating that covers the insect, causing a laceration of the exposed tissue. This is aggravated by the insects writhing. The insect dies from dehydration, usually within a few hours to a couple of days.

Since I first began talking about Diatomaceous Earth coast to coast on my radio show four years ago, it has become a very popular form of natural pest control. As a matter of fact, I learned last year at a pest control trade show that professional pest control operators from all over the country were using DE as an important aspect of their regular service. All people I talked to were very happy with the results they achieved for using this natural product on many insects. Here are some of the tips the professionals are using.

DE Tip #1:
Add Diatomaceous Earth to your potting soil. One of my listeners from Detroit tell me that she mixes one part DE to four parts of her favorite potting soil. She is watering much less. Containing up to 14 minerals, Diatomaceous Earth also activates, fortifies and helps to revitalize the soil, resulting in much healthier plants.

DE Tip #2:
Remove all switch plates in your home. Using a hand duster or a plastic ketchup bottle, shoot a small puff of dust into the wall area. This only needs to be done one time. Puff some DE under your appliances and under the sinks near the pipes. Look for cracks and crevices to apply the dust to. Anywhere roaches may hide is a good place to puff some dust into.

DE Tip #3: Roaches
Dusting your attic is very effective in stopping roaches from entering your house. If you have a crawl space, you will want to dust that area as well. The difference in using DE for this porpoise as opposed to a chemical pesticide is that with DE you can re-enter the area without the fear of coming in contact with a chemical. DE is actually more effective, lasts longer and will not hurt people or pets.

DE Tip #4: Ants
Ants are a problem that we all have to deal with on occasion. A pest control operator from Tampa told me the he applies the dust right on the mound. It takes a day or so to work but it is very effective. On a 12-inch mound he uses about two to three cups of DE, right on top. The nice thing about using this product is that you are not hurting the soil or ground water supply.

DE Tip #5: Snails
The brown garden snail is a destructive and annoying pest to many gardeners through out many parts of the country. Building a half-inch barrier of Diatomaceous Earth around the garden will keep these pests out as well as condition the soil.

DE Tip #6: Tree Borers
Making a paste with DE, water, and any liquid soap, and applying it to the affected areas of the tree is very effective at controlling most borers that affect trees.

DE Tip #7: Bag Worms
I talked to a pest control operator from Texas who sprays trees affected with any caterpillar or worm. He uses a hose attachment sprayer and in the jar attachment he fills it half way with DE, adds 3 oz. of liquid soap and the rest with water. He shakes it up to keep it in suspension and sprays the foliage of the tree or shrub.

DE Tip #8: Aphids
Using the same mix as stated in Tip #7, spray as needed. Usually about 7 to 10 days apart.

DE Tip #9: On Vegetables
Apply as a dust. For liquid form, mix one part DE to three parts water with a small amount of liquid soap and spray. Use only when you have a target pest, as some insects are beneficial.

DE Tip #10: Fleas
On pet bedding and even right on the pet (in small amounts), many people, including myself, have been very happy with the results we have seen. In the home I am sorry to say that Diatomaceous Earth may not be the best thing to use. Tests conducted at the University of Florida’s entomology department have shown that DE is useful on controlling adult fleas, but will not control the larva stage of this insect. If you cannot control the larvae, you cannot control the infestation.

In Conclusion
Let me say that I think Diatomaceous Earth is one of the most innovative, newest “old things” around. It is a simple, back to basic answer for many needs we have in the past used chemicals for. They say that left alone, nature has a way of taking care of itself. I believe that DE is just one of the organic solutions that was blessed on us. Let us take full advantage of it and use the benefits of nature.

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