I've some reading but still confused. where would you get this? Is it organic?

Even Big Box stores are selling this. Most good garden centers have it, too. You no longer have to rely on ordering it online or through a catalog.

DE is crushed, fossilized remains of freshwater, hard-shelled algae. Yes. It's organic. I've used DE in my garden for years to control soft-bodied pests. It will not - repeat not - however, harm earthworms! Matter of fact, many vermicomposters use this to help rid their wormies of parasites. Worms are structurally different than other soft-bodied creatures. They have a slicker or 'wetter' exoskeleton can slide past the stuff and/or simply digest it and poop it out.

Be sure to get pure DE and not the diatomaceous earth that is used in pool filtration systems!

When using it (or any fine-particle product) take care when applying it. Because it's so fine, inhaling it isn't the best thing in the world to get into your lungs. Apply it to the soil - in a "ring" around your plants. I use it mostly for young seedlings to thwart cutworms. It will need re-application after a heavy rain. But, IMO, it does work.

Thanx, gardenz...Yes I read that about that about the earthworms when I did a search and found the links you had added to a thread back some tme ago.

Just a "trivial" side note, DE played a starring role in the TV show Bones last week. It was embedded in a corpse that was found in a lake.

Look for food grade Diamotaceous Earth, not pool grade or filter grade. I have seen boxes of it on the shelves on many garden centers except the big box stores.

We have a bag of it. I'll have to check and make sure that it's not pool grade. We've had it for about 5 years but I don't know exactly how to apply it.

Do you sprinkle it on the soil? Do you spray it on the plants? Do you dust the plants with it? Exactly when and how are you supposed to apply it?

Thanks for any help.

Connie, it's a soil topical....and BEFORE nasties like slugs start showing up for dinner.

quote:

Originally posted by Maltesecross:
We have a bag of it. I'll have to check and make sure that it's not pool grade. We've had it for about 5 years but I don't know exactly how to apply it.

Do you sprinkle it on the soil? Do you spray it on the plants? Do you dust the plants with it? Exactly when and how are you supposed to apply it?

Thanks for any help.

Connie, See my post above.

My goodness, Gardenz, I don't know how I missed that. I read your post. Guess I should slow down. Thanks.

The last time I bought DE, it was at a Natural Foods/Herb store, so you might check one of those.

They sold it by the pound, not bagged, and it was pretty cheap.

The problem with DE in the NW rainy areas is that it should be reapplied after rain. HA! Very funny to an Oregonian where the ground never dries out even if it does stop raining for a day or two. By the time it stops raining here for the season (it rains Oct thru July 4th...kid you not) the slugs are gone anyway (too dry).

It looks as if I am going to have to order the food grade DE online for it is not around here. How many lbs are necessary for a season? Would a 4 lb bag be sufficent? That's what someone stated at a nursery for $14..

Hey I just bought this product, that I found in a local store - Bountea. It's a compost tea system, apparently Organic Compost Tea is their website. Anyone have experience with them? I ordered their free dvd, which I'm looking forward to watching.

Another thing to watch for is "helpful" bug killers added to the DE. Was at a fancy garden store, happy I had finally found a source near by. But when I read the tag it had pesticides added to it! Why? Lisa

DE kills beneficials as well (not earthworms as stated above. It does not discriminate. I guess you have to decide if that's the route to take. I'm not sure yet if I will use it or not.