What is Diatomaceous Earth (DE)?

Diatomaceous Earth is a porous, powdery, soft, and silica-rich mineral that is usually found in fossilized deposits near bodies of water that have dried off.

Peter Kasten first discovered Diatomaceous Earth while he was drilling a well. Alfred Nobel eventually used it as an ingredient for making dynamite. 

Diatomaceous Earth is made from fossilized remains of algae called diatoms. These aquatic organisms have cells that have a high silica content, and when they dry up, they produce fossils that are very high in silica. 

Food Grade 

Food grade DE is used as an insecticide and anti-caking agent in the food and agriculture business. It contains around 0.5 to 2% crystalline silica and is approved for use by the FDA, USDA, and EPA. They are most often in amorphous form. 

If used as correctly and as instructed, they are safe for humans. They are low in crystalline silica and relatively safe for people.

They are often used for insect control and animal feeds.

Food grade diatomaceous earth is now a becoming popular food supplement whit claimed health benefits such as improving bone health, cleansing the digestive tract, lower cholesterol levels, and cardiovascular health. 

Filter Grade 

Filter Grade DE is toxic to mammals and is typically used for industrial uses. They are often used for water filtration to filter heavy metals and in the production of dynamite.

They contain about 60% crystalline silica and are non-food grade. Since Filter Grade DE is high in crystalline silicon, it can be toxic to humans.

So you have to be careful in reading the labels and use only a food-grade DE. 

Diatomaceous Earth as a Natural Pesticide

Diatomaceous Earth is often used for pest control. There are around 150 registered products for gardens, farms, pet kennels, and outside buildings. 

Some of these products are being used against common pests such as common flea, ticks, bed bugs, cockroaches. In the garden, they are often used to remove beetles, worms, ants, slugs, and other garden plant pests. 

When diatomaceous earth gets in contact with an insect its silica removes the insect’s outer waxy coating. Insects will not be able to retain water if this outer coating is removed and therefore becomes dehydrated and dies. 

Diatomaceous Earth is easy to use and inexpensive. They are relatively safe If you used them correctly.

Other Uses of Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth is a natural product used for many applications after its discovery. They were so robust that the Ancient Greeks used them to make building materials for their ancient structures. It, later on, became also popular in Europe for many industrial uses. 

People also used Diatomaceous Earths in their skin or teeth.

For example, it is used as an ingredient for skin care products used to remove dead skin cells. It is also an ingredient for toothpaste that is used for brushing the teeth.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is also a popular filler to prevent lumping in foods, paints, plastics, and medicine.

They are also used for indoor pest control. 

Diatomaceous Earth is also used in water filters to remove metals from water and clean up spills. They also are used for insulation for many industries.

Is DE Safe For Your Garden?

Cover your nose and mouth when using the product since if you inhale too much, it can cause cough and shortness of bread. It can also cause some skin irritation. 

Your lungs rapidly eliminate amorphous diatomaceous earth after inhalation. But, crystalline diatomaceous earth may accumulate in the lymph nodes and lung tissue since they are smaller.  

Extended exposure to crystalline diatomaceous earth was found to cause chronic bronchitis, silicosis, and other respiratory ailments. 

There were also animal studies that exposed mice to 1 hour a day of breathing diatomaceous earth for a year and noted an increase in lung cancer.

Please do note that most adverse effects are from crystalline and not from the amorphous diatomaceous earth. Only low amounts of crystalline diatomaceous earth are found in pesticide products.

How Do You Apply Diatomaceous Earth Safely?

Diatomaceous earth can be used as a natural garden pest control. Before placing Diatomaceous earth make sure you are using the food-grade type DE which is safe for humans and animals. This will ensure that people and pets around you are not adversely affected.

Food-grade type DE has been tested to be relatively safe for humans if used properly. Check the label for proper instructions and to check whether you are using food-grade DE. 

Wear Proper Gear

Food grade diatomaceous earth is safe for humans. However, it can still irritate the eyes, skin, nasal passages, and lung tissue, so you have to wear proper attire. 

One of the critical actions of diatomaceous earth is to dehydrate insects to get rid of unwanted pests. However, it can also dry out your skin. Always remember to wear gloves when you are handling PE to prevent dryness, especially on exposed parts of your hands. 

Wear a breathable mask so you can avoid inhaling it, especially when you’re sprinkling it. Wear safety goggles or glasses to prevent them from going to your eyes. 

Do not apply when there are kids and elderly, and make sure the area is cleared of people and pets. 

How to Properly Apply Diatomaceous Earth

When you are purchasing diatomaceous earth, make sure you read the instructions on the label. It would be a great idea to talk to the store where you bought it and ask for tips on how to use it properly.

Diatomaceous earth used for pest protection can be applied using an approved dust applicator. When you’re dusting, make sure to apply it on both the top and underside of the foliage. 

There are two major ways of applying Diatomaceous earth: the dry application and the wet application method. 

Dry Application Method

The dry application method is the most common way of applying Diatomaceous earth. But make sure you apply it when it’s dry outside since rain or sprinklers will wash it away. You can use a common kitchen item such as a flour sifter to help apply diatomaceous earth to your garden plants.

Sprinkle the powder using your hands or flour sifter onto the stems and leaves of plants to protect and kill pests. If you see the bugs, you can directly sprinkle on them.

You can also spread the DE around the base of your plant to control snails, slugs, beetles, and other bugs that can damage your plants.

Sprinkle DE on the paths and garden entrance to prevent crawling pests from going to your plants. 

You have to reapply the diatomaceous earth powder when it rains or when there is heavy dew in the morning because they will wash out your powder. 

Be careful not to kill beneficial insects such as bees. You can cover your treated plants for few days to avoid contact with bees. Wash your plants after a few days so that they will not kill beneficial insects. 

Wet Application Method

The Wet Application Method is a good alternative to using a dry powder. This method works well if you want to spread diatomaceous earth to tight and usually locations such as cracks, and other nooks and crannies. 

• Mix four tables spoon of Diatomaceous earth for every gallon of water. You can add a small amount of dishwashing liquid to help it stick more to the leaves. 
• Mix well until all the powder is dissolved in water
• Using a hand spray apply it to the affected areas of your garden.

Wet application is effective because it helps it adhere to the leaves of the plants. However, wet diatomaceous earth will not kill the insects. It still needs to dry up before it becomes effective. 

Other Safe Ways To Help Control Pests In Your Garden

It’s inevitable, and your garden will attract many types of pests from beetles, worms, beetles, slugs, and other insects. Using pesticides chemical can harm you and the environment. So it’s best to find a safer way to control garden pests.

Prevention is key, but when they are already in your garden and causing havoc, the following can help you control them :

• Remove Japanese beetles, skunks, raccoons, and snakes using garden lime. Place garden limes on the leaves and around the garden perimeter to repel these pests. 
• Try companion planting, for example, plant basil besides a tomato plant or pepper plant so it can help repel mosquitoes, spider mites, and flies. Herbs like coriander, chives, and thyme are good companion plants. 
• Use natural fertilizers because they help activate soil microbes and can help the plant grow strong and healthy. Chemical fertilizers sometimes kill these beneficial microbes. 
• Avoid using chemical pesticides that kill beneficial insects. Attract helpful insects because they can feed on garden pests and keep harmful bugs away.