Diatomaceous Earth Uses For Effective Natural Pest Control

Diatomaceous earth is a favorite organic pesticide option among home gardeners for good reason! There is a lot to know about this amazing natural insecticide and how it can help you better control pests in the garden. 

But there is also a lot of misinformation about it, too. I want you to have solid answers to your questions, like "Will it kill every kind of bug?" and "What is food grade diatomaceous earth?"

Let’s take a deep dive into the topic of diatomaceous earth uses. I will explain what it is, what it can be used for, and what you are wasting your time using it for.

Safer Solutions For Your Home Garden

Modern organic gardeners have some amazing tools at our disposal for DIY pest prevention and organic pest control. If you are looking for pest control methods that break down relatively quickly without harmful residual effects, you’ll want to read MIgardener’s Guide To Organic Pesticides For Home Gardens!

In it, you’ll learn how to use natural soil-dwelling bacterium (in Thuricide) to get rid of pesky caterpillars and other chewing insects and how neem oil works as a pesticide and fungicide!

What Is Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a naturally occurring substance made from fossilized diatoms ground into a very fine powder. It feels soft to our hands, but under a microscope, you can see it has jagged, sharp edges.

Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous. In fact, “food grade” diatomaceous earth is used in a host of common products like food and beverages, water filters, skin care products, medicine, and rubber.

When used as an insecticide, it kills a specific family of pests called arthropods (a fancy word for creepy crawly critters with hard exoskeletons) by dehydrating them; its abrasive edges speed up the process. It works on contact, and insects cannot become immune to its action.

Types of Insects That Diatomaceous Earth Can Control

Diatomaceous earth effectively kills the following insects (Source):

• Aphids

• Beetles (Including cucumber beetles, asparagus beetles, flea beetles, potato beetles and more)

• Boxelder Bugs

• Crickets

• Earwigs

• Fleas

• Flies

• Mites (Learn other effective ways to get rid of spider mites and soil mites)

• Squash Bugs (Here is a complete guide on how to get rid of squash bugs)

• Garden Slugs (Use this blog post to get rid of slugs and snails in the garden)

• Tomato Hornworms (Learn how to identify and prevent tomato hornworms)

• Thrips

• Wasps and Hornets (Use these methods to avoid attracting wasps and hornets to your garden)

Read this diatomaceous earth label and instructions sheet for a full list of the specific insects that diatomaceous earth is known to kill.

What NOT to Use It For

I have been absolutely inundated with questions about how to use diatomaceous earth. People are looking for straight answers because so many people are making videos or posting on forums claiming false diatomaceous earth uses and spreading misinformation.

1. First, you need to know that diatomaceous earth is not a fungicide! I have already shared about organic fungicide options and which ones actually work. DE will not affect common fungal diseases like powdery mildew and blight, so don't use it on fungal diseases.

2. The second thing you must know is that diatomaceous earth is not a broad-spectrum insecticide! It will not control and kill every single type of insect. Diatomaceous earth will NOT get rid of fungus gnats or moths, for example.
   
   

There are countless blog posts, YouTube videos and Instagram posts out there misleading people and causing them to spend money on a futile effort. I cannot even count the number of times I have seen it being used to control an insect that it has no effect on!

How to Use Diatomaceous Earth To Protect Plants

To use diatomaceous earth, apply a light dusting of the dry powder on the soil around the base of each plant you are trying to protect and on the leaves. You will know that you have adequate coverage if there is a visible white powder coating.

Focus on the areas where you found the pest you are targeting. If possible, dust the insects directly with DE. You will need to reapply after it rains or when the white residue is no longer visible.

Pro-Tip: Whenever you use store-bought products like organic pesticides or fungicides, always read and follow all the directions on the label!

More Diatomaceous Earth Uses

Diatomaceous earth is really a great tool to have! It can be used for more than just gardening. It can protect your home and pets from fleas and other insects, too. Do your due diligence and research before using it beyond insect control.