By Michael Crose
This is a question that constantly comes up on my radio show. The Home & Garden Show With Michael Crose on the Busniss Talk Radio Network. It all started about ten years ago when someone called my show and asked about the use of diatomaceous earth (or D.E.) as a natural pesticide. I had heard of D.E. as something we used in our swimming pool filter, but I had no idea what it was made of or what it’s uses were. This was soon to change.
It did not take long for people from all over the world were sending me information about this wonderful mineral. Diatomaceous Earth in it’s natural state is s soft rock like material consisting of the fossilized remains of little dead microscopic single celled plants of fresh and salt water called diatoms. They look like snowflakes in stone. Billions and billions of these delicate, lacy shells form whole mountains of this lightweight, white to golden colored mineral we now call Diatomaceous Earth. The D.E. that is in use today has been fossilized and preserved for millions of years.
Diatoms live in salt and fresh water, although the D.E. that is used by many organic gardeners for controlling pests and soil conditioning is the fresh water lake bed mined material. It is a golden or tan color.
D.E.’s Many Uses
Diatomaceous Earth is used for many things in many parts of the world. In the west near many of the salt bases D.E. mines it is used in the manufacture of concrete. This salt bases product is also used for the filtering product that many of us use in swimming pools. Before it is sold to the consumer it is crushed then heated to very high temperatures. This make the product very fine and fluffy. It is ideal in this state for filtering water and many other liquids. In it’s natural state the fresh water lake bed mined Diatomaceous Earth has many uses that organic gardeners and others who are more inclined to use natural products enjoy.
Soil conditioning is one use that is popular as well as using D.E. as a natural form of pest control. In both of these uses the preferred product has been crushed into a fine powder but NOT heated. It is hard to find Diatomaceous Earth in this form but it is worth it as it’s effectiveness can not be beat.
Diatomaceous Earth As A Soil Conditioner
Diatomaceous Earth is very effective in breaking up hard pan. conditioning heavy clay soils and amending over-worked land.
In addition D.E. absorbs up to three times it’s weight in water. This alone will conserve and better utilize irrigation and require less water.
D.E. TIP 1.
Add Diatomaceous Earth to your potting soil. One of my listeners from Detroit tell me that she mixes one part D.E. to four parts of her favorite potting soil. She is watering much less. Containing up to 14 minerals Diatomaceous Earth also activates, fortifies and helps to revitalize the soil, resulting in much healthier plants.
Diatomaceous Earth As Natural Pest Control
One of the more popular uses of D.E. is as a natural form of pest control . Because of the many tiny sharp edges on each spec. of D.E., when it comes in contact with insects D.E. absorbs the waxy coating that covers the insect causing a laceration of the exposed tissue. This is aggravated by the insects writhing. The insect dies from dehydration, usually within a few hours.
Since I first began talking about Diatomaceous Earth coast to coast on my radio show four years ago it has become a very popular form of natural pest control. As a matter of fact I learned last year at a pest control trade show I attended that professional pest control operators from all over the country were using D.E. as an important aspect of their regular service. All that I talked to were very happy with the results they achieved for using this natural product on many insects. Here are some of the tips the professional’s are using.
D.E. TIP NO. 2.
ROACHES
Dusting your attic is very effective in stopping roaches from entering your house. If you have a crawl space you will want to dust that area as well. The difference in using D.E. for this porpoise as opposed to a chemical pesticide is that with D.E. you can re-enter the area without the fear of coming in contact with a chemical. D.E. is actually more effective, lasts longer and will not hurt people or pets.
D.E. TIP NO. 3.
Remove all switch plates in your home and using a hand duster or a plastic ketchup bottle, shoot a small puff of dust into the wall area. This only needs to be done one time. Puff some D.E. under your appliances and under the sinks, near the pipes. Look for cracks and crevices to apply the dust to. Any where roaches my hide is a good place to puff some dust into.
GET RID OF BEDBUGS WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH
Kill Bedbugs Naturally – Be Safe To Pets and People
Bed bugs are EVERYWHERE!! Get rid of bedbugs safely with Diatomaceous Earth. Bedbugs are an epidemic! Bedbugs are not your fault -you can pick up bedbugs from hotel rooms and infected places and innocently bring bedbugs home. To kill bedbugs naturally and get rid of bedbugs safely, use our Diatomaceous Earth. You can spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get rid of bedbugs with an exterminator and spread dangerous and often ineffective chemicals, or you can kill bedbugs naturally using safe, inexpensive Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth to get rid of bed bugs yourself! Diatomaceous Earth is both effective and safe.
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth is totally organic and safe. Diatomaceous Earth is Mother Nature’s product with no harm to the environment, pets or to people. Diatomaceous Earth is not actually an “earth” but it is the fossilized remains of microscopic shells created by one celled plants called DIATOMS. Diatomaceous Earth Kills Pests Naturally – No Synthetic Chemicals, No Odor or additives of any kind. The microscopic DE particles are deadly to the bedbug. The particles attach themselves to the bed bugs body and physically “scratch them to death!” Because DE kills them mechanically, they cannot become immune to it like they do with so many of the chemicals today. Because it’s a mineral once you put it down it stays there and keeps working. You may want to clean it up once and while and add more to get rid of the dead bugs and parts they leave behind but DE lasts forever.
To treat you bedbug infestation safely, do the following:
- Wash all bedding in hot water—add a little Clorox with the soap. Dry in dryer on the highest heat setting. If you can, use a steam cleaner on your mattress and box springs.
- Make sure bed is not touching any walls. Also make sure there is no skirting or any thing other than the 4 legs touching the floor.
With you hands or an applicator, dust some food grade Diatomaceous Earth into the mattress and ridges on the outside of the mattress. Dust some DE between the mattress and box springs also.
For more information and to order DE then just CLICK HERE.
