Does Diatomaceous Earth Still Work After it Gets Wet?

Does Diatomaceous Earth Still Work After it Gets Wet?

Diatomaceous earth (DE) has a well-deserved reputation as a natural and effective pest control. You’ve got to be careful when using it—which I’ll explain in more detail below—but overall, I’m a fan of DE when it’s applied carefully and selectively. The beauty of DE is in its simplicity: It’s not a chemical insecticide, but rather…

50+ Cheap Nitrogen Sources for Your Compost Pile

50+ Cheap Nitrogen Sources for Your Compost Pile

Composting is kind of magical (seriously…here’s why). You take something you can’t eat or don’t want, you toss it in a pile of other stuff you can’t eat or don’t want, then you wait several months. At the end of the process, you’ve got nutrient-rich material that your garden plants are going to love. But…

50 Plants You Should Never Compost (and Those You Should)

50 Plants You Should Never Compost (and Those You Should)

As a longtime gardener, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for composting. It’s an amazing way to turn kitchen and yard waste into incredible (and free!) soil amendments.  However, I’ve learned that I need to be selective in what I toss into my compost bin, as some plants can introduce problems into my garden rather than…

Don’t Compost These Weeds (30+ Plants to Avoid)

Don’t Compost These Weeds (30+ Plants to Avoid)

I love composting since I can reuse my kitchen scraps and yard waste by transforming them into a nutrient-rich soil amendment (instead of just sending them off to the landfill). However, things get a bit more complicated when we’re talking about pesky weeds or unwanted grasses that pop up around my property. Should they make…

Soapy Water Spray: A DIY Recipe for Simple Pest Control

Soapy Water Spray: A DIY Recipe for Simple Pest Control

Over the years, and after much trial and error, I’ve developed a simple DIY solution that’s been highly effective at stopping pests from destroying my plants: an easy-to-make soapy water spray + a highly effective treatment schedule. To make my homemade soapy water spray, fill a 2-gallon garden sprayer with water, then add 5 tablespoons…

4 Reasons Why Diatomaceous Earth Will Kill Bugs

4 Reasons Why Diatomaceous Earth Will Kill Bugs

Has anyone ever told you to use diatomaceous earth (DE) in your garden? If so, you might have wondered what DE is and why this floury-looking substance will do anything at all to garden pests. Why does diatomaceous earth kill bugs? Although harmless to humans and pets, diatomaceous earth kills bugs through physical abrasion and…

Killing Ants with Diatomaceous Earth in 7 Easy Steps

Killing Ants with Diatomaceous Earth in 7 Easy Steps

Ants can be such a nuisance. Their tiny size and countless numbers make them a real headache to deal with, especially when they’ve settled among your garden plants. Unlike chemical ant killers such as Amdro—which work great in non-garden lawns but shouldn’t be used anywhere near garden plants—diatomaceous earth is generally safe to use in…