Keep in mind that this will kill all of the insects on your plants—including any beneficial ones that might be living there. After it dries, diatomaceous earth will reduce the number of pests and bugs within 1 to 5 days, just depending on the type of pest. In addition to being a good option for hard to reach areas, a wet solution works well in areas that are really windy, as the dry powder would just blow away.
Because diatomaceous earth only works when it’s in powder form, it’s really important to not dilute it too much. Once it’s sprayed on the infected area, it’ll dry and leave behind a thin layer of powder, which is what will actually kill the pests.
Buy a handheld sprayer at your local home improvement store. You can buy a battery-operated sprayer for about $50 to $100, or get a manual one that you pump yourself for about $15.
It should only take 2 to 3 hours for the water to evaporate and leave behind the layer of powder. Once it has evaporated, the powder will start doing its work.
Once your plant or tree is insect-free, you’ll only need to use the diatomaceous earth whenever you notice pests creeping around again.
Diatomaceous earth is a great way to get rid of slugs, worms, mites, spiders, and fleas without potentially harming larger creatures, like birds, rabbits, or your household pets.
The food-grade powder is non-toxic to humans, but breathing in the dust can be irritating, especially if you have asthma or other similar sensitivities. A garden duster is a simple tool you can buy at your local home improvement store that allows you to disperse powder evenly.
If the forecast is calling for rain, it would be best to wait for clearer weather to use the diatomaceous earth. Rain will just wash it away and it won’t be effective at killing pests.
If you do use diatomaceous earth on vegetables, just make sure to rinse them off thoroughly before you eat them after they’ve been harvested.
If there’s no rain, the powder will last as long as the wind doesn’t blow it away, so it could be good for up to 2 to 3 days before you would need to reapply it. Reapplying the powder shouldn’t harm your plants at all. You can use it as often as you need with minimal adverse effects. The potential risk is if your plants can’t receive enough sunlight through the powder and start to look a little yellow. If that happens, stop using the powder for 1 to 2 weeks to let your plants recover.
In addition to using the diatomaceous earth, you’ll also need to treat all your linens, clothes, pillows, and other soft materials with hot water and heat to make sure they are clean, too.
Carpets and pet bedding are the biggest breeding grounds for fleas.
If you treated your carpets with diatomaceous earth and you don’t want to track it throughout your home, you may want to lay down towels or a plastic tarp so you can walk over the carpet without spreading the powder around your home. It might be inconvenient for a day or so, but before you know it your home should be pest free!
If you can’t wait 24 to 48 hours, leave the powder for a minimum of 12 hours and plan to repeat the process 3 to 4 more times over the next 2 weeks to kill any newly hatching pests. You could even leave the powder for 2 to 3 days.
Treat pests as soon as you notice them to keep the problem from getting worse.
