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…
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…
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…
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…
Over the past 20 years or so, diatomaceous earth (DE) has gained some significant traction here in the United States as a natural, effective pesticide that works against a wide variety of harmful garden pests, creating a barrier of microscopic, razor-sharp particles that kill insects on contact without harming plants. I didn’t start using it…
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a non-toxic, relatively easy-to-use product that’ll be a game changer in your fight against garden pests. But looking at that bag of DE in your garage or shed, you might be wondering, “Will diatomaceous earth ever expire or go bad?” Diatomaceous earth, a natural insecticide derived from fossilized diatoms, does not…
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is an incredible organic way to kill off many common garden pests. Made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms known as diatoms, it’s an organic, chemical-free product, but to use it effectively, you need to know the best way to spread it around your garden. The most effective way to…
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a great, non-toxic way to kill off all kinds of common garden pests. But even as it does so, some pesky bugs stand their ground, showing a surprising resistance to DE’s abrasive particles. So which bugs won’t be harmed or killed off by DE? As a general rule, diatomaceous earth won’t…
When I first started gardening, I was incredibly excited, especially when my tomato and pepper plants started taking off. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that gardening wasn’t just about nurturing plants—it also meant contending with bugs that wouldn’t hesitate to destroy all my hard work. I wanted to avoid chemical pesticides,…
If you’ve seen spider mites in your garden, you might have wondered if diatomaceous earth (DE) will take care of your problem. Will DE kill off or prevent spider mites? Diatomaceous earth will kill spider mites due to its abrasive qualities, but DE is not an ideal pest control method since spider mites are microscopic…