Nobody wants to see this first thing in the morning when they head out to the berry patch.
And if you’re visiting my homestead during the gardening months, you’ll hear us refer to “D.E.” almost daily.
The powdery substance, also known as diatomaceous earth, is one of my favorite weapons against garden pests.
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It has saved my family from losing large portions of our garden to beetles, moths, and other crawly things.
What on Earth is DE?Diatomaceous earth, the official name for DE, is not new.
A popular topic of discussion by many gardeners in recent times, it is an organic gardening pesticide that has been used by some farmers and pest control professionals for decades.
In fact, the powder is often a go-to remedy for household flea infestations as well.
The compound is made from the ground-up bodies of prehistoric diatomic fossils.
When ground, these tiny oceanic skeletal pieces are very sharp, and produce the effect of many miniature razor blades on the respiratory systems of any smaller insect or bug that inhales it. It also causes drying of the mucous membranes of breathing holes and lungs in bugs.
Effective against slugs, beetles, worms, fleas, mites, and most any spider or insect, it is not much of a concern for larger creatures. Because the particles are so small, DE is safe to use around other wildlife, children, and pets.
Anyone who is particularly sensitive to particulates (such as those with asthma or any other type of breathing condition) will want to avoid directly breathing in the dust.
My husband is one such person, and he wears a dust mask to avoid coughing
Read more on gardenerspath.com