Anyone use diatomaceous earth?

[EstimatedProphet]

I'd like to use it, but there's one thing: it kills EVERYTHING. Of course, so do other pesticides, but it is still very indiscriminate. How do you keep it away from the good bugs?

[GardeningGal]

1. I've only used it in specific areas.

Particularly when I have a bunch of ants and I usually just sprinkle it around their hills.

[Blue Gardener]

2. It doesn't hurt earwigs

I bought it specifically to keep earwigs out of my zinnias. It didn't faze them a bit.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. You don't keep it away from the beneficial insects entirely

When you use it you be very careful as to how much and where you apply it. The more you use the better the chance of killing beneficial insects along with the pest you're trying to kill. Wait until there's a problem then use it only when and if the beneficial insects fail to show up to remedy the situation. Also, avoid using it on blooms which pollinators will be visiting.

Moderation is the key to doing as little unwanted damage as possible with DE.

[EstimatedProphet]

4. I've got the problem

Flea beetles are blasting through some of my plants, notably some of the smaller chiles. They're not flowering yet, so it should be alright for the plants that have issues. But does it drift around much?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. In my personal experience it's slightly heavy and stays put rather well

This is barring any high winds which would scatter it though. However, it's less damaging in lower concentrations so if it were to blow in the wind it wouldn't be that bad on the beneficials.

I've had good luck running off flea beetles with ground up chili peppers. I make a ring of the ground peppers around the plant. It works pretty well. Garlic juice works well as a replant on flea beetles too. You might give them a try.

[wildeyed]

6. I mound it up around the stems of plants I am trying to protect.

The sow bugs have been going after my seedlings, but if they can't crawl up the stem, they can't get at the tender new leaves. I don't think it would effect beneficials since not much eats sow bugs that I know of, and if they do, they have not been doing it in my garden.